Battle Over Gaunt Lipizzaner Horses

A skinny horse, from a herd of 74 famed Lipizzaners, is seen at a farm near Novi Sad, northern Serbia, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007, where they were brought from Lipik, Croatia, in 1991 to protect them from the war that erupted after the breakup of Yugoslavia. Serbian Agriculture Minister Slobodan Milosavljevic Thursday visited the herd amid continued wrangling between Serbia and Croatia over ownership and the cost of care. The horses, made famous by Austria's famed Spanish Riding School, are known for their elegant strutting and sprightly dancing. Earlier this week, animal protection groups and media reported that many of the horses were sick and on the verge of starvation. (AP Photo/Srdjan Ilic) (Srdjan Ilic - AP)

BELGRADE, Serbia -- A Serbian minister on Thursday visited a herd of famed Lipizzaner horses that were rescued from war but are at the center of claims of starvation and neglect.

The horses were brought to north Serbia from Lipik, Croatia, in 1991 to protect them from the war that erupted after the breakup of Yugoslavia.

The Lipizzaners have been kept at a farm near Novi Sad, 40 miles northwest of Belgrade amid continued wrangling between Serbia and Croatia over their ownership and the cost of care.

The horses, made famous by Austria's famed Spanish Riding School, are known for their elegant strutting and sprightly dancing.

Earlier this week, animal protection groups and media reported that many of the horses were sick and on the verge of starvation. Pictures of the horses on Thursday showed that they were extremely gaunt.

Serbian Agriculture Minister Slobodan Milosavljevic visited the farm with vets to examine the horses but appeared to find no problems.

"I am no expert to judge their condition, but they seem in decent state," he told reporters.

The Beta news agency quoted veterinarians saying they had examined 74 horses and all were healthy.

The farm owner has demanded $410,000 in compensation for the horses' care but Croatia has refused to pay. Serbian authorities have previously said the matter is to be resolved between the farm and the Croatian government.