Poland

Stallions

Ofir

Ofir's desert-bred sire, Kuhailan Haifi, was brought from Arabia by Prince Sanguszko of the Gumniska stud in Poland. Ofir was foaled in 1933 at Janow Podlaski. In 1938, while still in Poland, Ofir sired the famous Wutraz, Wielki Szlem and Witez II. In addition, the stallion Wyrwidab was foaled. Witraz and Wielki Szlem returned to Poland to re-establish a breeding program there at the end of World War II. Witez II became well established in the United States while Wyrwidab made his mark in Germany.
      Ofir began his stud career at Tersk in 1940 and was used there through 1947. His most valuable contribution to the Tersk stud was his daughter Mammona, who can be traced in practically all of the pedigrees of the major Russian stallions in North America today.
      In general, however, Ofir did not sire the same quality stock at Tersk that he did in Poland. During his seven years in Russia he produced over 100 foals, the great majority of which were small and had limited jumping capabilities. His two best sons, Optik and Omar, were progeny-tested at Tersk and then removed from the farm.
      Six Ofir daughters were born after their dams were transferred to Tersk and were added to the program when they reached maturity. They were: Galka (x Halina), Kohirda (x Kahira), Kralia (x Konfederacja), Kritsa (x Krutica), Nikdella (x Narada), and Osa (x Satura).

Skrzyp

Skrzyp was chosen for function, not type. He was thought to be the source of some of the tremendous hock action seen in this line. Skrzyp was the sire of Sputnik, who won all of his principal races in 1948 and 1949, and was a record setter on the track.

Taki Pan

Ofir's half-brother Taki Pan is noted primarily for having sired the mare Taktika. A beautiful mare in her own right, at the age of fifteen she was named champion at the All Union Exhibition. Taktika's contributions to the Tersk breeding program were through her daughters Platina (by Priboj) , Trapecia (by Pomeranets) and Ptashka (by Priboj), and through her sons Pietuszok and Topol (both by Priboj). One daughter, Potencja (by Priboj), foaled in 1952, was sold to Poland.

Piolun

Piolun was born in Poland in 1934. A powerful stallion and a very successful racer, he stood in Russia for three years, leaving 55 offspring before his death in 1944. Piolun was a horse with good structure. His head was slightly plain, but dry, and his neck looked to be of reasonable length, but was rather straight. He had a deep shoulder with relatively good slope, and a strong, relatively short back. He exhibited nice length of croup.
      Piolun established a sire line at Tersk which traversed Priboj, the best son of Piolun, and Priboj's Triple Crown-winning son, Topol.

Priboj

Piolun's most significant son was Priboj. Out of the Crabbet-bred mare Rissalma, Priboj was foaled in 1944 and stood for ten years at stud. He sired 203 progeny, of whom 48 were retained for use. Priboj is shown on a recurring basis through most of the Russian pedigrees, particularly those of outstanding athletes. Innumerable race records have been set by Priboj sons and daughters. He died in 1958, and was succeeded at stud by his son, Pomeranets.
      Pomeranets (out of the tap-root mare Mammona) was foaled in 1952, and was unquestionably one of the best sons of Priboj. Not only was Pomeranets an outstanding racer and sire of race winners, he was a beautiful individual as well. Pomeranets was named Champion at the All Union Exhibition in 1955 and again in 1960. Pomeranets stood 15.3 H, and his offspring have been horses of size, athletic ability, and style.
      Sport was a Priboj son of marginal breeding use but of outstanding athletic potential. Foaled in 1957, Sport was out of the Skrzyp daughter, Solianka II. He was a winner of many races in the Soviet Union, but was best known for winning the 4,000 meter steeplechase in 1964, defeating 11 other participants, including eight Thoroughbreds.
      The Priboj son Profil, like Sport, was a horse of extreme athletic capability. Foaled in 1954, Profil was Champion of Russia in three-day events in 1961.
      There are 25 mares currently in use at Tersk who are daughters of Priboj, Pomeranets and Sport.
      One of Priboj's fine producing sons was the stallion Pietuszok. He was sold to Poland in 1958 and then to Canada in 1973. Another Priboj son used extensively at Tersk was Topol. A full brother to Pietuszok, Topol stood 15.3H. The recurring mention of size in this family points out the fact that this line is the largest of the group, on the average, offering proper conformation and fine athletic ability. Topol was put into service at Tersk at the age of 13.
      Three Priboj daughters of note at Tersk were Platforma, Ptashka, and Neposeda. Platforma, out of Figurantka, was foaled in 1954 and died in 1965.
      Ptashka was a great producer at the Tersk. Six of her daughters were retained for use. Ptashka, a full sister to Topol and Pietuszok, was Champion of the All USSR Show in 1956.
      Neposeda was a premier broodmatron at the Tersk stud. Out of Nomenklatura (by Naseem), Neposeda's production years extended from 1961 to 1975 and included 12 foals, ten of whom were graded "elite" in the stud book. Neposeda is remembered as the "Queen of Tersk" At the age of 16 she was named 1971 Champion of the All USSR Show. Her three daughters, Nestavennaja (by Salon), Nemezida (by Arax) and Nega (by Aswan), won Certificates of First Degree at the same show.
      After World War II three other Polish stallions — Semen, Elfur and Arax — were added to the Tersk program.
      Semen (Laur x Sokora) was imported to Tersk in 1962 and some of his offspring were successful on the track. Elfur was used at Tersk between 1972 with limited success.

Arax

Arax was the most significant. He was sent to Tersk in 1958. Sired by Amurath Sahib, out of the Wielki Szlem daughter Angara, he was foaled at the Michalow state stud in Poland in 1952. Arax sired six foals in Poland, the most noted being the US Reserve National Champion mare, Boltonka. Arax was transferred to the Tersk stud when he was six as the result of a trade with Poland for a number of mares. The Tersk stud breeding program would soon prosper with his addition.
      Arax made an invaluable contribution to the breed by providing superb and totally functional structure. As an individual he was noted for his overall smoothness and balance.
      Although slightly thick in the throatlatch, Arax's neck was of adequate length, but not as well set on as is currently fashionable. His well-shaped, clean head was highlighted by large, black eyes — traits that uniformly have been hallmarks of this line. Arax was known for his disposition — a prepotent trait in his line of offspring. The Arax linebred horses reflect good working attitudes and are generally happy, with quiet temperaments.
      Arax was used extensively at Tersk between 1959 and 1969. At age 17 he was sold to Holland. Unfortunately, he died in an accident while en route.
      The line progenitor for Arax was his son Nabeg, foaled in 1966 out of the Naseem daughter Nomenklatura. Tragically, Nabeg died at the age of 12, and the loss of this fine breeding stallion was monumental. Seventy-seven Nabeg sons and daughters are listed through Volume IV of the Russian Arabian Stud Book citing production years beginning in 1972 and extending through 1979.
      Arax daughters are greatly sought-after worldwide. His daughter Magnolia, foaled in 1960, was the last daughter of Mammona, who was one of the last daughters of Ofir. Magnolia is unique in the annals of the breed when her production record is analyzed. She is one of the few mares at Tersk to have had five sons win international championships. In 1964 Magnolia won First Degree honors at the All USSR show.
     In reviewing the dominant placings of Arabian horses shown at the All USSR Show, it is interesting to note that six Arax get were awarded the prestigious "Certificate of First Degree," which is analogous to the US Reserve National Championship.
      In 1964, in addition to Magnolia, two other Arax daughters, Podarok and Palba, shared First Degree honors. In 1970, the Arax son Nadir, out of Nitochka, earned the certificate. Unfortunately, Nadir died in 1976. Nemezida, out of Neposeda (by Priboj), captured the award in 1971, and her full brother, Namek, won in 1977 as a 13-year-old.
      Two All Union speed records were established by Arax get. In 1968, at age four, Mramor (x Metropolia) set a track record for the 1600 meter distance at 1:45:2. A filly, Sapina, by Arax and out of Solianka II, established a 2400 meter record as a three-year-old in 1962 with a time of 2:42:5.
      Many European breeders were quick to recognize the value of Arax blood. They imported 42 of his offspring, beginning in 1962. Seventeen Arax sons and daughters were sold to Holland, with the remaining 25 going to England, Germany, Poland and Italy.

Mares

Many mares of the group taken to Russia in 1939 made a valuable contribution to the Tersk breeding program. One example is Gazella II. She was most noted for her daughters, who produced excellent sires. For instance, Elegantka was the dam of Wielki Szlem, Makata was the dam of Witraz, and Taraszcza was the dam of Negativ.

Mammona

But irrefutably the best of the Polish mares, judged by the quality of her progeny, was Mammona. One of the last daughters of Ofir, Mammona has been honored by being called the foundress of her own family group. Her name in Polish means "treasure" and this magnificent mare, foaled in 1939 (out of Krucica), also produced treasures. She had 18 offspring between 1944 and 1960. Counted among her important sons and daughters are Pomeranets by Priboj (1952), Nomenklatura by Naseem (1954), Monopolia by Priboj (1956), Metropolia by Priboj (1957), Malpia by Priboj (1958) and Magnolia by Arax (1960). Mammona, Taktika, and Taraszcza together represented the best mares at the stud farm.
      In all probability, the younger stock arriving from Poland suffered in development and future productivity because of the hard times of World War II. Many of the very special Polish mares — Gazella II, Dziwa, Kewa, Fryga II and Elegantka — arrived at the stud as elderly broodmares, and were therefore unable to fully contribute to the Tersk program, because of limited productivity.
     In 1945, at the conclusion of World War II, a number of mares were transferred to Tersk from Germany to be incorporated into purebred program.
      The best of the mares were daughters of Lowelas: Laba, dam of Lak and Lopuska; and Madila, dam of Mak, the USSR eventing champion. A half-sister of Laba, Lagodna, was the dam of Naborr, and certainly proved her value through the production of this son. However, the balance of the mares brought in from Germany did not prove to be valuable enough as producers to be retained at the stud, and were excluded from the pedigreed stock.