The King Carl XVI Gustaf with crown princess Victoria, 1980 (photo)

Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden. Born 30 april 1946. The King Carl XVI Gustaf with crown princess Victoria 1980. Lipizzans. A horse breed that is best known through the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, popular in equestrian sports mainly dressage. In connection with the crown princess being named Victoria, an idea was born from stallion keeper Josef Major. The Swedish Lipizzaner Association would donate a two-team to the princess, called the Victoria team. In the court stable there was already a carriage named after the former Queen Victoria, which was also pulled by two Lipizzaner horses in the queen's time. Two foals were bought anyway, to be trained as driving horses and given to the princess when they finished their basic training. The foals were both by 5451 Neapolitano XVII-2 and named Neapolitano Szeréna (out of mare of the same name) and Neapolitano Csillag (out of 706 Pluto Csillag) - the former bred by Karl-Gustav Lindberg, Björketorp and the other by Mona Gerhardsson, Sätila. Both were stallions and born in May 1977. After completion of running in and training, the horses were handed over to the princess in the summer of 1980. The Lipizzaner horses thus became residents of the court stables and had to continue their training as driving horses. They also got new names: Capriole and Croupade. Over the years, the two Lipizzaner horses have been ridden in official contexts and have also been given a special place in the heart of the royal family, as they were allowed to accompany them every summer to Solliden, the summer paradise on Öland. Victoriaspannet has also shown the front hooves on competition tracks together with former stable master Hans Skiöldebrand. 1996 was the last year that Capriole and Croupade were allowed to shine in the court stables. After long and faithful service, the two Lipzzaner lords have now had to retire to Ragnar Palmér's farm outside Kungsbacka. The couple retired together, as care was taken not to separate them in old age.