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 Roman Pankiewicz |
SEVEN SPLENDIDS
ROMAN PANKIEWICZ
Published by:Korfowe Arabians, 1996
INTRODUCTION
Breeding is to know the largest number of ancestors and to make proper use of them.
The present book contains characteristics of 7 pure-bred Arabian stallions, who contributed to the development of Polish breeding after World War II. I had the honour to know all these perfect horses and in most cases to work with them personally. Their detailed descriptions are given on the following pages, but I would like to recall their personalities here.
Far the most beautiful stallion was Comet, who was also gentle and trustful to people. When in action, he managed to perform at the same time as a massive athlete and as a light mover - like a plump woman at dance!
Of all the stallions Witraż was my best friend. I rode him for the longest time and never wanted to replace him with a more manageable horse. He was proud and hard to manage but was also the first pure-bred Arabian horse which I rode and one never forgets one's first mount.
Wielki Szlem was closely related to Witraż but had a completely different character. His gentleness and trustfulness resembled of Comet. One could even call it "a lack of character".
I did not work with Amurath Sahib directly, but I loved his daughter Bałałajka, who was full of charm and with a kind disposition. Even before I began to work with Arabian horses - a picture of his beautiful head hung over my bed.
Trypolis represented the older type of Arabian horse, with his characteristic high action. He proved to be so precious that I regret that I did not use him properly in Albigowa.
I could see Aquinor only at breeding parades. He looked heavier than other horses, but despite this was able to sire very valuable horses. His son Tryptyk I knew better. I rode him when preparing him for exportation to Sweden.
Knowing about Skowronek's reputation, I always wanted to use his grandson Negatiw for Polish breeding. My wish came true. While his son Nabor was already used in Poland, Negatiw created his own history and won a great renown for the foals he sired.
I think that I managed to know more splendid stallions than splendid people, and thanks God for it!
I would like to thank everybody who contributed to publishing "Seven Splendids". My special thanks are due to Andrzej Krzyształowicz and Ignacy Jaworowski for their remarks on the stallions; Krystyna Chmiel for translating the text into English; Andrzej Novak-Zempliński for allowing to reproduce his painting of the stallion Bask on the cover; Tomasz Więch for skilfully putting tables and text on the computer and last - but not least - Joanna and Peter Grootings, without whom this book would not have been published.
Roman Pankiewicz
Price of the publication (excluding mailing costs): $10.-
