Countries that breed Arabian horses can often name one foundation stallion whose influence far exceeds all others and extends far beyond the borders of the country to which he was originally imported: Saklawi I for Egypt, Mesaoud for Britain, Bairactar for Germany. In Poland, this title belongs to Kuhailan Haifi, although, compared to the others, he was a latecomer. While they were all imported during the 19th century, he only arrived in 1931.
In the last issue, I have already described the background of the last Arabian-buying expedition from Poland, which was led by Bogdan Zietarski and Carl Raswan on behalf of Prince Roman Sanguszko. It may be useful, though, to take a closer look at the importance of the Sanguszko family for Arabian breeding in Poland, and indeed the world.
Polish Arabian breeding can be traced back to the 18th century and started with the private breeding programs of aristocratic families. The Sanguszkos played a particularly prominent role in this. In fact, all the famous old Polish stud farms from which the Arabian horses of Poland originate belonged to members and associates of the Sanguszko family. The original Sanguszko stud was established in the 16th century at Slawuta, birthplace of those notorious Polish foundation mares of whose background nothing is known but that they came from Slawuta. This made some breeders doubt the purity of Polish Arabian horses, leading to the creation of the Blue List and select breeding associations such as the Asil Club and Al Khamsa. But the lack of information on these mares is hardly surprising if we consider that they were foaled over 200 years ago. Slawuta’s stud records did not survive the numerous wars and upheavals that ravaged the country. The fact that these mares were the foundation of Polish Arabian breeding is undisputed. In the late 19th century, when other countries were only just beginning to breed Arabians, Polish Arabians were already winning gold medals at the World Exhibition at Paris and being exported to other countries.
“… finally they led in the bay Kuhailan Haifi. It is just the horse I am seeking. Not large, dry, on splendid legs, no trace of cow-hocks. A long neck, a noble head not very small, with distended thin, movable nostrils, a splendidly high-carried tail.”
In 1835, Wladyslaw Sanguszko established the Gumniska Stud, which was continued by his son Eustachy and grandson Roman. This
