Royal Lipizzans: An Interview with Rebecca McCullough
By Gina McKnight
Archived from the February 2026 Issue of Florida Equine Athlete.
No Duplication Without Permission.
Meet Rebecca McCullough, the only granddaughter of Colonel Ottomar Herrmann Jr.,
founder of Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions in Myakka City, Florida. As a fourth‑generation horse trainer and performer, Rebecca has spent her life
preserving and sharing her family’s extraordinary Lipizzan legacy.
Her deep connection with these rare, intelligent horses has shaped not only her work in the arena but also her writing. Inspired by years of living and training alongside them, she now brings their remarkable abilities and personalities to the page.
In this interview, Rebecca opens the gate to her world — the heritage she carries, the horses who shaped her, and the passion behind her storytelling.
Welcome, Rebecca!
GM:
Growing up as the only granddaughter of Colonel Ottomar Herrmann Jr., what do
you remember about meeting your first horse and how did that moment
shape everything that came after?
RM: My
first horse was actually a pony and since I was an only child, he quickly
became my best friend. I spent every day with him while I was little. I didn't
get my first horse until I was about 10 or so.
RM: A typical day is busy. My daughter and I live on the farm so we wake up and go down to the barn to take care of the horses and they're the last thing we see before going back to the house for the evening. We literally live and breathe our horses here, which is the way we were raised going back to my great grandfather.
RM: The Lipizzan is one of the most intelligent horses in the world. They are also calm, patient, and compassionate. Our horses are our family and that's what keeps us going year after year.
RM: Since Florida is such an agricultural state, family legacies are very important to us, especially in the rural area where our farm is located. I thoroughly enjoy sharing not only the history of our farm and our horses, but the pride we have in carrying on this tradition for so many generations.
RM: Unfortunately, I lost my heart horse a little over a year ago. I had him for over 23 years and then lost him to cancer. He and I were so in tune with each other that I didn't even have to speak and he knew what I wanted completely by body language. Since then it has been difficult for me to connect strongly to any of our horses. It will take time to find that special connection again.
RM: Any performer will tell you it's showmanship that sells whatever you are promoting. Fortunately for us the Lipizzan is such a diverse and athletic breed, we can showcase everything from their floating lateral dressage to their use as war horses. We also showcase the origins of the Lipizzan, which allow us to delve into both the Arabian and Andalusian breeds. This is very important for us in Florida because Florida was settled by Spain, so I weave both the Lipizzan history with the Spanish history of where we live. At almost every performance a guest will compliment our historical information.
RM: A young horse requires a lot more patience and guidance, whereas a fully trained horse already knows what's happening the moment their tack goes on. The easiest analogy would be a new hire versus an old hand. New hire's are going to make mistakes and so we just have to guide them through it; old hands are so good at what they do, they will train the rider on where to be.
RM: Actually, that isn't very hard at all. My grandfather was all about history and how the horse was used. While he did focus primarily on dressage and we are more about the diversity of how the Lipizzan evolved, the classical dressage he employed is the foundation for the war maneuvers and weapon use we demonstrate, so it all ties together.
RM: My books are inspired by the intelligence and compassion of the Lipizzan, as well as their willingness to accept new experiences. From what people have told me, they thoroughly enjoy the books and look forward to reading more. For those guests who have visited the farm over the years, many of them recognize which horses are in the books and they readily agree with the characteristics they display.
RM: I think the Lipizzan is well on its way to becoming more prominent in the US. We've already seen more and more of them being used in competitive dressage, but here on the farm, we're showing people that the Lipizzan is a very user-friendly breed and should be considered as an everyday trail or companion horse. They are so smart and versatile, they can be used for almost every equine activity. I believe that by making the breed more approachable, we'll be seeing more and more people purchasing and breeding these rare horses thereby ensuring the breed's continuing growth and success. These are all things my daughter also cares deeply about so I'm certain we will always have Lipizzans here.
RM: To me horsemanship is a respect for the horse as a partner, not a pet. Since we live and breathe our horses here and view them as family, that is how we train. Just as you have to be a parent to your child, we have to be "parents" to our horses. To me that means we have to guide our horses by teaching and setting boundaries, but doing so with respect for their intelligence and individuality. Not every horse can do everything, and to be a good trainer you have to approach every horse as a unique individual and highlight their very own talents. Every horse on the farm is different and all of them have their own personalities. The trick is figuring out how to treat each and every one.
https://www.herrmannsroyallipizzans.com/
Facebook: Herrmanns Royal Lipizzan Stallions
The Light of Dark Things
Planet of Equus
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| Jagger head crop, Jagger 3/4 Lipizzan, 1/4 Andulusian, and a fan favorite. |
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| Damascus Rear Crop is Damascus, our Arabian, and Rebecca |
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| Achilles Garrocha crop is Achilles, our, half Andalusian, half Lipizzan, with my daughter Sydney McCullough |
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Myakka, Lipizzan, and Rebecca |
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