| TOOLS OF WAR | | | | America.) |
| Polish Arabian horses have a history that is inextricably | | | | THE DISSIPATION OF THE HERD |
| entwined with war. Lacking natural boundaries, Poland | | | | While World War I was devastating to the Polish |
| has been a stomping ground for one invader after | | | | Arabian breed, World War II was an unmitigated |
| another: Mongols, Tatars, Turks, Germans and | | | | disaster. In 1939, under the threat of the advancing |
| Russians have all taken their turn. Horses were | | | | German army, Russia removed a dozen of the finest |
| valuable weapons in wartime. Due to Arabian horses' | | | | stallions and 42 mares from the Janov stud. Included in |
| superior agility and stamina, cavalries in possession of | | | | the rescue - or theft, depending upon the point of view |
| Arabians would have a military advantage over their | | | | - was Ofir. Although the Poles protected their horses |
| opponents. | | | | as best they could, many were lost. Iwonka III |
| Polish horsemen were at first victims on the receiving | | | | (grand-dam of Bask) and Witez II were shipped to the |
| end of Arabian horses' astonishing abilities. The Poles | | | | United States and auctioned off. At the end of World |
| captured the agile, fearless mounts as prizes of war | | | | War II, Poland lost its autonomy once more, becoming |
| from Asian and Middle Eastern foes. Polish stud farms | | | | part of the Soviet Union. What remained of the |
| were established as early as the 1500's to propagate | | | | legendary Polish Arabian studs became the property |
| the herd and level the playing field. Ironically, a truce | | | | of the state. |
| with Turkey in 1699 cut off the supply of Arabian | | | | DOMINANT TYPES IN POLISH ARABIAN HORSES |
| horses acquired in battle. Knowing how fleeting peace | | | | The Polish Arabian breeding program has always |
| in their country generally was, the Poles sought to | | | | been driven by two types:o Seglawi |
| maintain their light cavalry's superiority. It was at that | | | | This type designates those horses possessing great |
| point that the Poles sent expeditions to obtain | | | | beauty and refinement. |
| bloodstock from the Bedouins. | | | | The color is predominantly grey.o Kuhailan |
| RISE OF THE GREAT STUD FARMS OF POLAND. | | | | This is the athletic ideal. |
| The breeding of Polish Arabians accelerated during the | | | | The color of these horses is predominantly bay. |
| eighteenth century. The Slawuta stud, founded by | | | | THE PROVING GROUND |
| Prince Sanguszko, was stocked with imports from | | | | The proving ground for three-year-old Polish Arabian |
| Arabia. The first state-run stud farm was Janow | | | | horses is the Warsaw track. There, breeders judge a |
| Podlaski, established in 1817 by decree of Russia's | | | | horse's soundness, speed, and ability to recover |
| Alexander I. Antoniny, the great stud farm that | | | | quickly. The most proficient horses are sent to the |
| ultimately produced the stallion Skowronek, was | | | | stud farms to be bred. The others are sold. |
| established in 1850. | | | | THE AMERICAN CONNECTION |
| VICTIMS OF WAR | | | | Apart from Henry Babson and General Dickinson in |
| The Polish cavalry was an essential weapon in | | | | the 1930's, Poland was not a source for very many |
| wartime, and thus a target by Poland's invaders. By | | | | American purchases until the late 1950's. At that time, |
| the end of World War I, the Polish Arabian breeding | | | | Patricia Lindsay, a British breeder who had become |
| program had been virtually destroyed, with only two | | | | interested in the Polish Arabian breeding program, |
| dozen mares and seven fillies remaining. In 1926, the | | | | learned the language and made an excursion to |
| Poles formed the Arabian Horse Breeding Society, | | | | Poland. While buying horses for her own program, she |
| publishing their first studbook in 1932. In 1927, racing | | | | also became a purchasing agent for interested |
| was introduced as a means of testing the mettle of | | | | Americans. |
| their herd. | | | | POLISH ARABIAN HORSES FOR SALE |
| IMPORTANT IMPORTED SIRES | | | | Each year, on the day following the Polish National |
| Although the Polish Arabian breeding program has | | | | Horse Show, an auction is held. This is the only |
| always been based on its broodmares, two sires | | | | opportunity for foreigners to buy horses for export. |
| imported in 1931 had significant ramifications to the | | | | The stock consists primarily of broodmares. After a |
| Polish Arabian line.o Kuhailan Haifi: known for his athletic | | | | couple of seasons at stud, or sometimes fresh from |
| prowess.o Ofir: sire of the 3-W Stallions, Witraz, Wielki | | | | the track, young Polish Arabian stallions are offered for |
| Szlem (the foundation for Poland's post war sire lines) | | | | sale through a silent auction. |
| and Witez II (who would spread his influence in | | | | |