He and his relatives show their talent at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.
Tuli the Lipizzaner looked like she had no chance of ever performing a show.
Following his rescue from the defunct Hungarian stud farm, where he had been kept in a dirty, cramped stall with no exercise and denied frequent access to water, ten UK owners rejected the horse as not able to train him.
Charlotte Bailey, a trainer and instructor in riding, came to his rescue. She bought him for a guinea – £1.05.
Tuli is 18, and after eight years’ of love, professional training, custard doughnuts, and expert instruction, she dances for joy.
Take a look at our pictures! Tuli was abandoned by 10 owners when Charlotte Bailey took him in.
He has mastered classical dressage moves such as a capriole – a controlled leap with a kick out of the hind legs – and a pesade – rearing up high with his forelegs drawn in.
Tuli is now featured in magazine photoshoots and can be hired for wedding venues.
He and Miss Bailey (41), switched on the Christmas lights last week in Congleton.
Miss Bailey, who has 16 horses at the farm where she lives with her parents, said yesterday: ‘When he came here off the lorry he couldn’t bend his hocks and dragged his back feet up the yard.
‘My mum said that she thought he was a really old horse but he was only ten. He was quiet, and he was even a bit withdrawn. Tuli just wants to be cared for – and that’s how he has achieved his full potential.’
She added: ‘It was just a matter of not putting any pressure on him to perform, that’s what works best.
‘The first time we worked together I just let him run and play games, with no pressure on him to do anything for me.
‘These are very highly trained manoeuvres and are not for Bob the cob.’
Tuli loves custard doughnuts and is rewarded with one once a week ‘if he has done something super special’, and on his birthday.
After eight years of loving, training, and occasional custard doughnut treats, Tuli (18) is now dancing for joy.
Tuli loves custard doughnuts and is rewarded with one once a week ‘if he has done something super special’, and on his birthday
Lipizzans are used in the world famous performances known as the ‘ballet of the white stallions’ by the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria.
This breed is a result of the 1580 Austrian Imperial Stud.
Tuli was brought back to the UK when he was five by a friend of Miss Bailey’s who saw a social media post about a stud dispersal sale.
Miss Bailey said: ‘He spent five years in the UK and had 10 different people in his life before he was offered to me. His temperament was criticized.
‘He was then gifted to me for one guinea. It was the best pound and five pence I have ever spent.’
Tuli is now estimated to be worth ‘well over £10,000’ but Miss Bailey said: ‘To me his is priceless and I would never sell him.’