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KORFOWE
ARABIANS
written
by us
POLAND'S
PRIVATE BREEDERS OF ARABIAN HORSES
1945 to 1997
By Roman Pankiewicz and Joanna Grootings
(Arabian Horse World, June 1997)
For close to half a century the International Arabian spotlight has illuminated
the beautiful horses of the Polish Arabian state-owned studs. What many
Arabian enthusiasts don't know is that the horses of the state-owned studs
came from Polish private breeders - some of them nobility, but many simply
individuals passionately devoted to the Arabian horse. Now the indomitable
spirit for which Poland is known is resurfacing in the surging return
of private Polish breeders to the world of Polish Arabians.
In 1989 Polish individuals were allowed to bid at their Arabian auction
for the first time. Six short years later their horses won two of Poland's
three most important horses races - the Derby and the Oaks, and set a
new track speed record at 1,600 m. The private breeders have sponsored
their own Arabian societies, a championship; established private breeder
representation with WAHO, and even a stakes race on International Arabian
Race Day. Of course, competition and self-organization have only made
these breeders stronger.
How is it that the private breeders have achieved success so rapidly?
To begin with, they have access to some of the finest mares and top state
stallions in the world. Second, there's no mass production - their studs
are confined in size and the programs individualized for the temperament
and needs of each horse. Third, with wider participation in breeding there
are many more points of view, thus less traditional breeding decisions
are made - which can bear fabulous fruit. Fourth, they have no inhibitions
to search for the bloodlines of the great stallions like Wielki Szlem,
Witraż, Bandos, Bask, etc. at the circus, or in the international marketplace.
Fifth, their horses are trained for the track with a program tailored
for each one, not by fitting the prescribed program. Finally, in their
relative isolation they have the luxury of taking risks by following their
instincts and passions.
A rich heritage permitted the postwar production of the world's greatest
Polish Arabian stallions and mares, and the current crop of private Polish
breeders will command attention in the years to come.
- Renata Stachura
Broodmares at Korfowe Arabians
Much has been wriitten about the origin of Arabian horse breeding in Poland
and the government-run Arabian stud farms. Much less has been written
about the role of the private breeders. After World War II, Arabian horse
breeding became primarily a monopoly of the state - the property of the
larger prewar studs owned by the aristocracy was nationalized by communist
authorities and the newly established state studs bought up horses from
the small farms.
Political and economic changes in Poland, whch began in 1989, nurtured
a revival of private breeding. In 1989 the monopoly was broken and for
the first time private breeders could buy Arabian horses, including purchasing
at the Polish auction. The few breeders who had managed in one way or
another to develop and keep a small band of horses gradually increased
in number, and in 1991, the Polish Association of Arab Horse Breeders
was established, incorporating the objectives and regulations of its prewar
predecessor, the Association of the Breeding of Arabian Horses. A newsletter,
Kurier Arabski, is issued regularly to the Association's 30 full members.
The members own over 25 percent of all Arabian broodmares in Poland. The
group actively promotes the private breeding of Arabians, provides assistance
to newcomers, sponsors one of the classes at the Polish National Show
(sponsorship began in 1994), a private breeder championship, and furnishes
prize money for one of the Arabian races in Warsaw.
To understand the conditions under which current private breeders operate,
a review of recent history becomes important. World War I and the Russian
Revolution completely destroyed the Branickis' Bialocerkiew Stud and Walenty
Abramowiez's Saehny Stud, and nearly destroyed the Sanguszkos' Slawuta
and Gumniska studs, the Potockis' Antoniny, Count Dzieduszycki's Jezupol,
and Prince Czartoryski's Pelkinie. After gaining political independence
during this time, the Poles energetically started to reestablish Arabian
breeding programs. Thirty-four members founded the Association of the
Breeding of Arabian Horses, the main goal of which was to develop and
improve Arabian horse breeding in Poland. To that end, the group built
a racetrack in Lwow in southeastern Poland, where the first Arabian races
took place in 1927. The first volume of the Polish Arabian Stud Book,
published in 1926, lists 56 broodmares; from 1918 to 1930, private breeders
imported 27 broodmares. Among Prince Roman Sanguszko's notable imports
were the stallions Kuhailan Haifi and Kuhailan Afas, both of whom founded
renowned sire lines.
The last stud book published prior to World War II listed 171 broodmares
belonging to 54 different owners. The largest stud was Janow Podlaski
with 34 broodmares; followed by Gumniska with 14 mares; Pelkinie (Prince
Witold Czartoryski) and Behen (Counts Jozef and Roman Potocki) with eight
mares each; Dobuzek (Mr. Wladyslaw Kolaczkowski) and Ujazd (Baron Willem
Bicker) with seven mares each; and Lopatki (Stanislaw Sztamler) with five
mares. Many studs (23 of them) had only one broodmare. The best breeding
material was collected at Janow Podlaski State Stud, the breeder of the
noted sires Ofir, Witraz, Wielki Szlem, Witez II, Enwer Bey, Trypolis,
and Fetysz.
Boguslaw Dabrowski with Slonka (Wojslaw x Salamandra),
Junior Champion Mare and Best of Show at the Second Private Polish Breeders
Championship, May 31, 1996, Warsaw.
While some private breeders had ambitious plans, it was difficult for
them to compete with Janow Podlaski. One of them, however - Mrs. Teresa
Raciborska of Breniow Stud - earned a place of honor in Polish Arabian
breeding for producing the stallion Amurath Sahib (35. Amurath II x Sahiba
by Nana Sahib), the maternal grandsire of *Bask, among other breeding
accomplishments.
Several private breeders exported their horses to other European countries
and the United States. In the 1930s, General J. M. Dickinson of Franklin,
Tennessee, imported *Liliana (Linkoln x Czapla by Bakszysz) and her daughter
*Sielanka (by the American-bred Antez), both bred by the Estate of Jana
Kleniewskiego; *Mattaria (Kafifan x Koneha by Sourour), bred by the Counts
Roman and Jozef Potocki, and her in-utero son *Derazne (by Taureg), bred
by Count Roman Potocki; *Latif (Antez x *Lassa by Koheilan I), bred by
Tadeusz Gniazdowski; *Babolna (15urbar x Bona by Mazepa), bred by the
Sokolowa Estate; *Ugra (Kuhailan-Kruszan x Sahara by Dzelfi Mlecha), bred
by Prince Roman Sanguszko; and *Babolna (Durbar x Bona by Mazepa), *Czubuthan
(Dzingishan III x Ryfka by Mazepa); Ba-Ida (Flisak x Pomponia II by Mazepa
I), her daughter *Kasmira (by Kaszmir), and *Aeniza (Dzingishan III x
Fanfara by Kohejlanj, all bred by Prince Witold Czartoryski at Pelkinie
Stud. Also in the 1930s, Henry Babson of Chicago brought in *Sulejman
(Fetysz x Fasila by Rasim), bred by Baron Willem Bicker, and *Azja IV
(Landsknecht x Asra by Gazal-1), bred by J. Czerkawski, Bezmiechowa Stud.
In American breeding, *Azja IV is noted as the dam of Azraff, an important
sire in the Gainey breeding program.
During World War II, many Polish breeders were killed, their studs destroyed,
and their horses lost. The Russians confiscated many dozens of Janow Podlaski's
finest Arabians, the Germans took their choices, and some horses came
to the United States as war booty. By the end of the war in 1945, Poland
could count only 71 purebred Arabian mares and fillies saved from 13 Polish
studs and one Hungarian stud. Postwar, the Gumniska and Pelkinie Arabians
became state property as a result of the so-called agricultural reform,
and some broodmares were bought by the newly established state studs.
These privately bred horses, now forcibly state property, went on to produce
some of the best for the state studs. One such mare, Balalajka (Amurath
Sahib x *Iwonka III by Ibn Mahomet), and her daughter, Arfa (by Witraz),
were purchased from Mrs. Jerzy Bakowska for Albigowa State Stud. There
Balalajka produced *Bask (by Witraz) and his full sister Bandola.
Seven mares from Pelkinie Stud were bred to noted stallions (such as Wielki
Szlem), leaving valuable progeny like Abu Afas, Arcus, *Carycyn, *Czester,
and Badr Bedur. The Dobuzek mares also founded valuable families. From
Ujazd Stud came seven mares, the most precious of which were Elza, the
dam of Celina (by Witraz), a ehampion mare in Great Britain; Ellora, the
dam of the stallions Ellorus (by *Krezus), EI Azrak (by Faher), and *EI
Paso (by Czort); and *Elzunia, the dam of Etna (by Faher), who produced
the stallions Eternit (by *Bandos PASB), Etnograf (by Engano), Etap (by
Celebes), and Etan (by Czort) and the mare Etna (by Faher), who produced
Etruria (by Palas) - Polish; European, and World Champion Mare.
Wodzislaw Stud, founded in 1934 by Count Antoni Lanckoronski, saved three
mares including Amneris (Amurath Sahib x Elsissa by Floks), the dam of
Aquinor (by Miecznik), whose line is valued for beauty and refinement,
and *Aramus (by *Naborr), U.S: and Canadian National Champion Stallion,
Canadian National Champion Park, and U.S. National Champion Formal Driving.
Some of the members of the Polish Association of Arab Horse
Breeders.
From Gumniska came Ferha (Kuhailan Abu Urkub x Udzda by Kuhailan Kruszan)
who produced the stallion Faher (by Trypolis), the grandsire of Banat,
a champion in Great Britain and maternal grandsire of Penitent, 1985 Polish
National Champion Stallion, 1987 European Supreme Champion Stallion, and
sire of Kawalkada, 1993 U.S. National Champion Mare. Gumniska also produced
Forta (Kuhailan Abu Urkub x Porta by Nedjari), the dam of Czort (by Wielki
Szlem), noted Polish race sire and sire of 'El Paso, 1976 U.S. National
Champion Stallion.
From the Zarczewskis' Oplytna Stud came Sabda (Miecznik x Safta by. Pielgrzym
Thuja), the dam of Sabellina (by Abu Afas), an outstanding race mare in
Poland and dam of Sambor (by Czort), U.S. National Champion Racehorse.
The only mare saved from Roman Krainski's Zabawa Stud was Eleonora (Witraz
x Zmora by Caid), who produced'Exelsjor (by Aquinor) and El Trypoli (by
Trypolis). Zlota Iwa (Arax x Cesima by Witraz), originally owned by Mr.
J. Maryanski of Bratkowice Stud in the province of Rzeszow, came to Michalow
State Stud in 1963, where she became an esteemed broodmare and founded
a large and valuable family.
Breeding Arabian horses in the immediate postwar years of communist Poland
was far from easy, as Arabians represented the prewar aristocracy to those
in control. (Only one private breeder was listed in the first postwar
stud book.) At the end of the 1950s, even the state studs were forced
to cut back on the number of mares, and several valuable broodmares -
among them daughters of Witraz and Wielki Szlem were sold without registration
papers to local farmers as workhorses. European circuses became major
buyers from the state Arabian studs.
One little mare sold to a Polish farmer focused worldwide attention on
Polish breeding through her descendants. Lafirynda (Miecznik x Lala by
Amurath Sahib), purchased from her farmer owner in 1960 by Mr. Cwaklinski
from Pincezow (near Michalow State Stud) was sold one year later to Patricia
Lindsay of Stockings Farm, England. There she produced the filly Lalage
(by the Polishbred sire Gerwazy), who was sold to Sweden. Lalage was bred
to Nureddin (by Witraz), a stallion bred at Albigowa and sold to a Swiss
circus in Poland's leaner years, and produced Aladdinn, 1979 U.S. National
Champion Stallion and sire of four U.S. National Champion Stallions and
one U.S. National Champion Mare.
Private breeding in Poland regained its first real toehold through the
purchases of Zygmunt Braur of Dobrow, a local farmer who purchased Wielka
Zorza (Wielki Szlem x Zorza Pelkinska by Nana Sahib I) and Murcja (Comet
x Muszkatela by Witraz) in 1960, making him the senior private breeder
in Poland. Wielka Zorza produced only one foal for Braur, the filly Wielka
Este (by El Trypoli) who was sold to Sweden where she left valuable progeny.
But Murcja became the foundation of Braur's Oaza Kuhailan Stud. Two of
her descendants were sold to Sweden, including her daughter Melhafa-Ed-Areg
by El Trypoli, (who was later sold to the United States), with her son
Ibn Czardasz (by Czardasz), who became a chief sire at Mr. Saeter's stud
in Norway. Megaraa (Murcja's daughter by Branibor) produced the stallion
Mehmet Ibn Sabbat (by Sabbat) and the mares Merzich-Hanum (by Sabbat),
Medres Aga (by'Mellon), Medressa Kufi (by'Mellon), and MuFarah (by Algomej),
the latter of whom is still producing. In 1982, Megaraa-was sold in foal
to Banat at the Polish Prestige Sale to Patterson Arabians and exported
to the United States.
The stallion Farah-Tai-Pan (*Pepton x Farah Aisha), bred
and owned by Andrzej Ou.
In 1967, Murcja foaled Ben-Comet (by Czardasz), who became the first privately
bred Arabian permitted to race at the Warsaw track in postwar Poland (only
horses bred by the state studs had raced until that time). Ben-Comet raced
three seasons, established a good race record, and was sold in 1973 to
Leon Rubin; owner of Sir William Farm in Hillsdale, New York. BenComet
claimed a US Top Ten Park title, and was eventually sold to Elsinore Arabian
Stud in California, where he sired a number of foals.
Murcja must also be honored for her production of Murat Hanum (by Muharyt)
in 1974, a very beautiful Kuhailan mare, who died in 1993. Murat Hanum
produced the sons Murat-Gazon and Murat-Bej (both by Gazon), chief sires
at Mr. Braur's stud; Murat-Akbar (by Aloes), used for four years in private
breeding until his exportation to Italy in 1992; and Murat-Nur (by Banat),
at one time on lease to Mrs. Eleonore Hussmann of Romerwall Stud in Germany
and now used in private breeding in Poland.
In 1995, Mr. Braur's Oaza Kuhailan Stud was comprised of nine-Arabians,
including the two broodmares Mu-Sahra (Banat x Mu-Farah) and Mu-Gaza (Muharyt
x Murat-Hanum), and four stallions Murat-Nur (Banat x Murat-Hanum), Mu-Nazir
(Banat x Mu-Sahra), Murat-Gazon (Gazon x Murat-Hanum) and Murat-Bej (Gazon
x Murat-Hanum. A breeder of Arabian horses for 38 years, Mr. Braur was
honored in 1994 by the Polish Association of Arab Horse Breeders for his
many efforts on behalf of the Arabian breed.
The
mare Farah-Buffi (Argo x Farah Aisha), winner of the 1994 Oaks, bred and
owned by Andrzej Ou.
Just before the Nowy Dwor horses were transferred to the rebuilt Janow
Podlaski State Stud, in 1960, Kazimierz Galuszko of Kurdwanow (near Krakow)
bought Musailima (Wielki Szlem x Tecza by Nizam Pasza) and Gastronomia
(Marabut x Ofirka by Ofir). Both mares produced colts by Comet. Musailima's
son Mustafar, rescued from a Swedish circus, became Swedish National Champion
Stallion in 1970, was imported to the United States in that same year
and was named 1974 U.S. National Top Ten Park AOTR. Gastronomia was purchased
by Michalow State Stud in 1963; there she produced Grojec (by Comet),
an important stallion in England and the United States; Gedymin (by Gwarny),
sire of Scottsdale, Buckeye, Regional, and National winners in the United
States; and Gilza, the grandam of the race stallion *Gil (by Probat).
A few years later, in 1964, Wladyslaw Sadowski of Stobno in the province
of Poznan became the owner of Dakaszma (Kaszmir x Dalama by Dzingishan
III), a 1944 mare bred at the Adamowka Stud of the Princes Czartoryski.
Dakaszma foaled Dzamila (by Cedr) in 1965, and Dzamila produced the 1977
filly Daula (by El Azrak) who became the foundation mare of Tadeusz Skrok's
stud in Rynarzew, Bydgoszcz province, central Poland. In 1988, Daula foaled
a colt, Dodatek, who was exported to Germany; then in 1992, Daula, with
her 1990 daughter Dogrywka (by Algomej), was sold to Italy.
In the 1960s, sales of state-stud bred horses were sporadic and very limited.
Some sales were under "very adventurous" conditions and occasionally some
of the privately owned Arabians were not allowed registration in the Polish
Arabian Stud Book. But some sales had long-lasting and positive effects.
Mrs. Anna Debska, then of Warsaw, purchased the mare Maciejka (Sedziwoj
x Mira by Wielki Szlem) in 1966, the same year that Muharyt (Witraz x
Munira by Kaszmir), "the forgotten Witraz son," was discovered in a military
riding club and purchased by Mrs. Wanda Jackowska of the province of Warsaw
(Mrs. Jackowska helped organize the Polish Prestige Sales). Muharyt was
sold to Mr. Andrzej Ou of Rozalin in the province of Warsaw, another veteran
of private breeding, and left a number of valuable broodmares in private
breeding studs. Later, he was purchased by Janow Podlaski State Stud,
where he was used until 1978.
Anna Debska also purchased the stallion Mokan (Grand x Mokdiara by Hadjar),
bred by Michalow State Stud, to whom *Maciejka and her daughter Murhejka
(by Muharyt) were bred. In 1977 *Maciejka's daughter Marunka (by Mokan)
was foaled and later purchased by Mrs. Jackowska to become her foundation
mare. Marunka and her offspring were transferred to Hanna and Jan Iganski
in 1991, shortly before the tragic death of Mrs. Jackowska. One of Marunka's
sons, Marc (by Alcazar), has been very successful at the race track, placing
fifth in the 1992 European Prize before being sold to the United Arab
Emirates where he successfully carries the banner for Polish Arabian racing
bloodlines. Jackowice Stud (in Mrozy near Warsaw) has 10 Arabians, including
four broodmares descended from *Maciejka.
In 1985, *Maciejka's granddaughters *Murkana (Mokan x Murhejka) and *Mgla
(Banat x Mgielka by Mokan) came to America: *Murkana to Betsy Burger,
Oeala, Florida; and *Mgla PASB, imported by Anna Debska who now lives
in the U.S. That same year, Mrs. Debska transferred three mares - Macierzanka
(Mokan x *Maeiejka), Medium (Bukszpan x Mgielka by Mokan), and Maranta
(Dambor x Miszka by Muharyt) to Andrzej Waliszewski at Cholewy near Warsaw,
where they became his foundation broodmares. After being used for breeding,
Macierzanka and Medium were exported to Italy, and Maranta was sold to
Belgium. At Waliszewski Stud at Cholewy there are nine Arabians, of which
the four broodmares are all descended from *Maciejka.
Over the years, resourceful private breeders, although shut out by the
state studs, saved some significant horses for all Polish Arabian breeders.
In 1972, Andrzej Ou purchased his foundation mare Falbanka (Banio x Fanfarona
by Rozmaryn) from the Polish State Agricultural Farm at Kruslewice, where
she was used to pull carriages.
Falbanka's granddaughter, Farah-Buffi (Argo x Farah-Aisha by *Probat),
won the 1994 Oaks, one of Poland's most prestigious races, and is notable
as the first privately bred Arabian to win such an important race in postwar
Poland. In 1997, Andrzej Ou's winning Sheika Arabians numbers a mere two
mares: Farah-Buffi, who was bred to *Pepton for a 1996 foal; and Farah-Bersa
(Pers x Farah Aisha by *Probat), who is in race training at the Warsaw
track.
In 1986, a second generation of private breeders came into being, among
them Krystyna and Stanislaw Duda of Mylnczyska (near Kurozweki State Stud
in the province of Kielce). They were the first Polish citizens permitted
to bid at the Polish Prestige Sale, where they bought two mares: Aktorka
(Embargo x Arena by Gwarny), bred at Kurozweki, and Wiklina (Fason x *Wieczerza
by Tryptyk), bred at Bialka State Stud. The Dudas also persuaded Zygmunt
Braur to sell them the mare Mu-Farah (*Algomej x "Megara by Branibor),
their third foundation mare. These mares continue to be valuable broodmares
for Polish breeders, and Wadi (Wieden x Wiklina) and Ahmed (Wieden x Aktorka)
have won and placed at the track.
Other private breeders who became active in the late 1980s include Lech
Blaszczyk from Lucmierz (in the province of Lodz), who bought the mare
Magnolia (Fason x Maskotka by *Bandos PASB), bred by Bialka State Stud,
at the Polish Prestige Sale. In 1990, he acquired Albania (Gwaryo x *Aleksja
by Czort) and, in 1991, Galicja (*Algomej x Gromadka by Tryptyk). The
offspring of all three mares went to race training at the Warsaw Traek.
Albania's daughter Abisynia swept the 1995 Kuheilan I Stakes, Bialka Stakes
and Sambor Stakes. In addition to Albania and Abisynia, Mr. Blaszczyk
owns Pliszka (Gwarny Y Pardwa), Alba-Rego (Alegro x Albania), Passa (*Eukaliptus
x Pascha) and Erudycja (*Probat x Etola).
Roman Pankiewicz with Biquest (*Bask x *Negotka) at Korfowe
Arabians.
In 1989 Krystyna Chmiel from Zamosc, in southeastern Poland, acquired
Farah-Itaka (Muharyt x Falbanka) from Andrzej Ou as a foundation mare.
Her 1990.fillies Farah-Aneta (by Boryslaw) and Walentyna (Monogramm x
Wilnianka by Tallin), purchased in 1994 from Michalow State Stud (where
Monogramm was on lease from the United States) are presently at stud.
She is leasing the stallion El Amor (Wermut x Elstarna) from Bialka Stud
for the second year. Also in 1989, Iwona and Wojciech Janowski from Opatowiec
(near Michalow State Stud) purchased Kaskada (Banat x Kasetka by Etap),
bred at Janow Podlaski. They also purchased the mare Areta (by *Set) from
Harry-Sven Karlsson of Royal Sweden Arabians, who kept some of his Polish
broodmares at the Janowskis' stud. Now they have three mares: Kora (Wagram
x Kaskada), Ezla (*Wojslaw x Etruska) and Ewita (*Wojslaw x Elleida),
and they purchased the stallion Expo (Wermut x Eksplozja) from Kurozweki
Stud. In 1991, Boguslaw Dabrowski from Klepacze in southern Poland bought
two Janow-Podlaski mares: Wiktoria (*Aloes x Wineta by Etap) and Salamandra
(Alegro x Saragossa by Argo).
Andrzej Wojtowicz was one of the top 15 money winners at the track in
1996. He has eight young mares: Matnia (Palas x Milada), Faszyna (*Probatx
Fascynacja), Medytacja (*Europejczyk x Mekka), Gwaraneja (*Piechur x Gizela),
Malwa (*Europejezyk x Malwina), Minoga (*Arbil x Miranda), Ela (*Europejezyk
x Ettoria) and Piwnica (*Eldon x Pilina).
Joanna and Peter Grootings founded Korfowe
Arabians, in Kampinos near Warsaw, in 1991. They purchased three broodmares
from Krystyna Duda: Mu-Farah, Aktorka, and Wiklina, plus their sons by
Wieden (Palas x Wieza by Doktryner). In 1992, they bought three Michalow
broodmares: Dulcynea (*Set x Dulka by *Gedymin), her daughter Dania (by
*Endel PASB), and Glowica (*Pepi PASB x *Glownia by *EI Paso). A few months
later, they acquired the Tersk-bred mare Namibia (*Moment x Narta by Topol)
who produced Nehmesis (by Prizrak).
In a reversal of the usual importing/exporting pattern, the Grootings
brought Polish Arabians from the United States to Poland: two mares of
old Polish bloodlines - *Petite
Fleur (Arbor x Portia by Pohaniec) and SH
Carmen (SH Patton x FTL Eleana by *Fortel) - and they leased the stallion
Biquest (*Bask x *Negotka by Negatiw), the first *Bask son to be used
in Polish breeding. Two stallions came from the Polish National Circus:
Engar (*Bandos x Engracja by
Comet), bred at Janow Podlaski, and Erfurt
(*Bandos x Elwira by Elf, bred at Michalow. Earlier in 1995, the Grootings
purchased the mare Etruska,
sired by *Aloes and out of World Champion Mare Etruria, from Royal Sweden
Arabians. Korfowe, with 33 Arabians, became the largest private stud in
Poland. In 1995 they enlarged their operation, opening a racing stable
with Michail Pietriakow, Poland's 1994 Jockey of the Year, as trainer
and jockey.
Dania (*Endel PASB x Dulcynea) with Damascus by Engar at Korfowe Arabians.
The latest generation of private breeders includes Katarzyna and Michal
Bogajewicz at Niewierz Stud near Poznan in western Poland. They have ten
Arabians, including four broodmares, daughters of Eternit, *Set, *Arbil
and Europejezyk. The stud of Marek Kalinowski, in northern Poland, numbers
eight Arabians with three broodmares, daughters of Pepton, Woroblin, and
Partner. Andrzej Strumillo, of Mackowa Ruda in northeastern Poland, has
three mares, daughters of Etogram, *Wojslaw, and Pamir. Stefan Schaedler's
two mares in his stud in western Poland are sired by Europezjczyk and
Falsyfikat. At Bydgoszcz: Malgorzata Falkiewicz owns seven Arabians, including
three - Mu-Farah, Wiklina, and Wedrowka (*Algierczyk x Wiorsta by Banat)
purchased from Joanna Grootings, along with the stallion Zuraw (*Set x
Zolna by Palas).
The number of owners, breeders, and Arabian horse lovers continues to
thrive in Poland's new political and economic climate. For the past 40
years, the breeding of Arabians has been dominated by the state studs,
and the prices obtained at the annual Polish Prestige Sales kept most
Poles from buying. Now, persons who formerly could only dream about Arabian
horses, are able to buy foundation stock and breed their own Arabians.
More and more Arabians are used for recreation, and in long distance competition
in which their owners train and ride their own horses. Privately owned
Arabians are causing a stir at the Warsaw track. In 1995, the Association
organized the first show for privately bred fillies and colts. Private
breeders now have access to the best state-owned stallions, a factor which
contributes greatly to the quality of the foals they produce. Many of
the best Polish professionals in horse breeding and veterinary care provide
their knowledge and expertise to the community of private breeders, and
the state studs find a growing market among the private breeders.
Private breeders were more active than ever before during the 1995 and
1996 seasons. Joanna and Peter Grootings were the most successful private
breeders and owners of Arabian racehorses at Sluzewiec. The sum of their
earnings was third only after Michalow and Janow Fodlaski. In 1995 their
four year olds Wadi (Wieden x Wilkina by Fason) and Ahmed (Wieden x Aktorka
by Embargo), both bred by Krystyna Duda, won the Grade A (Produce) and
Kurozweki Stakes, respectively, and Dekor
(*Fawor x Dekada by Eternit) broke the track speed record at 1,600 m.
In 1996 their four year olds Dekor, Dandy (Boryslaw x Dania), and Whiski
(Wermut x Wedrowka by *Algierczyk) won the Derby, the PTKHA Stakes, and
the Kabareta Stakes. In 1995, the Grootings sponsored the Korfowe Arabians
Stakes, a 1,800-meter outing for three year olds.
In other 1995 races, these privately owned horses were contenders: Andrzej
Ou's Farah-Bersa (Pers x Farah-Aisha by Probat) and his Farah-Tai-Pan
(*Pepton x Farah-Aisha by Probat); Stefan Rakoczy's Buli (Eksponat x Bosnia
by *Gil) and his Zawisza (Eksponat x Zima by Embargo); and Andrzej Waliszewski's
Margabia (*Gabaryt x Margilla by *Gil). At the 1995 Polish National Show,
Michal Bogalewicz's Matura (*Arbil x Mitrega by *Probat) and Andrzej Ou's
Farah-Buffi (Argo x Farah-Aisha by *Probat) competed in Mares Four to
Six Years Old. At the 1995 Polish Prestige Sale, Leszek Tomaszewski of
Lesna paid $6,000 for a Michalow-bred mare, Warszawianka (Balon x Warsowia
by Tallin), bred to Cyprys, while Andrzej Wojtowicz paid the sarne amount
for Faszyna (*Probat x Fascynacja by Etap); a 1988 mare bred at Janow,
bred to *Arbil. In 1996 private breeders spent $23,000 for the four mares:
Pytia, Arwistawa, Flauta, and Ekselencja.
On May 10, 1997, the Association of Friends of the Arabian Horse in Poland
was formed. The founders are an illustrious group of artists, breeders,
and others: Joanna and Peter Grootings, Ludwik Maciag, Andrzej Novak-Zemplinski,
Zofia Raczkowska, Stanislaw Ledochowski, Marek Poray-Heywowski, Zbigniew
Prus-Niewiadomski, and Roman Pankiewicz. They plan to document and popularize
Polish Arabians through an iconographic and historical archive, publishing
activities (including CDs), and artistic events featuring the Arabian
horse.
Just as it is very difficult to imagine postwar state breeding without
the contribution of the private breeders, it is difficult to imagine the
present revival of private breeding without the contribution of state-bred
horses. Let us hope that very soon the world will no longer make a major
distinction between state-bred and privately bred and owned Arabian horses.
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