About 25 years ago, when I still was a college student, I ended up in Amsterdam. I escaped from the city life and went for a bike-ride in the country. Cycling through the smooth Northern ‘Polders’ (low hills, wide views), my attention was drawn by some beautiful horses, playing in a field.
Since I’d always been a passionate horse admirer and occasionally jumped a fence too, I couldn’t resist contacting the owner of the horses, who luckily was residing in a very nearby mansion. It was then that I’ve met Mr. R. Den Hartog Sr., who opened the door when I was on my quest for knowledge. Surprised, yet somewhat charmed by my enthusiasm, he agreed in showing me around at the Kossack Stud. I admired all those lovely horses, not knowing I’d ended up at Europe’s biggest and most successful stables.
With some flyers and magazines and a pile of ‘Arabian Horse World’ I finally returned to Amsterdam. ‘Arabitis’ had gotten a hold of me. It was a virus that would never let go of me. A passion that has ignited and only has increased since that very day. Up until now, I’ve dedicated all my time and energy to the quest of knowledge about the fabulous and glorious history of this brilliant horse … and I will continue in doing so, for as long as possible.
The passion and love, the dedication in my caring and concerns, merely are a reflection of what I have received already. “An Arabian will take care of its owner as no other horse will, for it has not only been raised to physical perfection, but has been instilled with a spirit of loyalty unparalleled by that of any other breed.”
In 1988 I started my exploration to find a horse witch matched my criteria. I was looking for a strong proven mare, with a good conformation and background. Not so easy those days to find a good mare for a reasonable price, as the market was still very strong that time .
Spending more then 2 years visiting farms and breeders trough Europe, with all kind of different bloodlines, I came to the farm of the late Mr. & Mrs. Moonen from Haras Thadia in Holland, who where dedicated breeders for many years of Pure Polish bloodlines, and with great success.
After my second visit to their farm I bought my first Pure Polish mare, from them. Zyada (Abu – Afas x Zygota) –a real treasure with her rear old Kuhailan bloodlines, she stool my heart immediately when I saw her the first time. Zyada was that time in foal to Pedant (Gondolier & Pentoda), and had a filly, (Zygane HT) at her side also by him.
One year later Zyada gave birth to another filly, (Zyanina). So I was already sure from her offspring in my stables with two daughters from her . That time I decided to rebred Zyada to the best stallion I could find that moment , never easy these decisions but I remember I had seen the full brother to Eukaliptus in Germany .
While visiting farms there I visited also the stables from the Thoerner family (Gestut
Ostenfelde). They owned the nice flea-bitten Euben (Bandos & Eunice). My decision was quickly made as Eukaliptus was one of my all time favorites . So Zyada was sent to his full brother in Germany.
One year later another filly was born Zapraszka, she was full of my expectations. At that time, my friends in Poland Mrs. & Mr. Grootings from Korfowe stud asked me to sell them Zyada – my foundation mare, after long negotiations Zyada finally left to here roots.
I had 3 daughters from here at home so I could take the risk, but with pain in my heart. After a few month I decided that I need another mare, this in replace for Zyada as her 3 daughter where to young to start with.
While visiting Poland in 1999, I went to the sale, race and auction organized by Polish Prestige. There I fell in love with the Pepton daughter Perla,she was the daughter of the well known Petarda and of the famous P-line from Poland, less important for me was that she was in foal to Balon ( Gwarny & Ballada) , and I guess the luck was on my side, I could buy her for a very reasonable price that moment , and a few months later she gave me a wonderful filly by Balon, which I named Pepeszka, a dark-bay filly without any marks only her head has a little stripe.My dream was born, 5 breeding mares for the future was ok for me.
During all those years, I became a passionate admirer of Polish bloodlines ,started with collecting books and all kind of written articles about the Polish Horse, I started myself writing articles about the history of the Polish Arabians. Trough all those years I wrote several articles for magazines about the shows ,racing ,sales and history in Poland .
Trough all of them I created a group of friends around me with the same passion, The Polish Arabian, and the Arabian horse in general of course people from who I learned a lot. In the year 2000 when Christine Jamar from Jadem Arabians leased Ekstern from Michalow stud, I decided to bred 3 mares to him, Zapraszka by Euben & Pepeszka by Balon. Both where home bred mares and I was happy I get an agreement to lease Padanta “HT” (Pedant ( PL) – Padan/Sedan (PL)) from Haras Thadia. Padanta “HT”is the full sister to Platoon “HT”one of Halsdon Arabians chief sires , Platoon HT also bred by Mrs.& Mr. Moonen and he is the son of Janów-bred Pedant and grandson of Sedan (Comet-Salwa) bred in Nowy Dwór (Poland as well).
Padanta “HT” gave me a very strong elegant and type filly named Pechinka. Zapraszka gave birth to the typey and athletic Zorin, that died after a tragically accident in the fields when 6 months old.
Pepeszka, my favorite mare gave birth to a most elegant and typey black filly, we named her Pepreszka, she became National Champion filly at 4 months old. At that time she was sold to a good friend Bernard Van de Putte, who changed his long time breeding program from Straight Egyptian to Pure Polish, this after he had seen the exquisite Ekstern .
The same year I rebred Pepeszka to Ekstern again , and guess she gives me a replica to her full sister Pepeszka! – we named her Perlista.
In the year 2002, I had to look around again for a new stallion, as Ekstern returned to Poland, and was happy to hear that Jacqueline Van den Biggelaar from Vlasakker Arabians in Holland leased Piaff (Eldon & Pipi) from Janow Podlaski,for me the perfect match for Pepeszka , and I can tell you we are very happy with the result of Perlik.
The same year I leased my mare Zapraszka to a friend who had bought the stallion Alcjzyk HT (Europejczyk & Alaska) also out of the herd of Mrs. & Mr. Moonen. This stallion had had some great race results under the colors of his last owners, and is a perfect match to Zapraszka with her old classic bloodlines. A strong athletic and elegant colt was born with great race and endurance ability .
Later that year I sold Zapraszka to my friends ,she runs now next to Alcjzyk with her son in the fields, I never have seen a stallion treating his mare like a lady in the fields with passion and care for his family.
At this time we have 3 mares in our breeding program: Pepeszka ( Balon & Perla), her daughter Puduhepa by Alegro, and Pechinka by Ekstern Perlik (Piaff & Pepeszka) – our 2 year old colt that will go to the racetrack in Poland to start his racing carrier and to improve himself.
Pepeszka she is in foal now for a 2005 Marwan Al Shaqab baby, and Pechinka will be bred to our Exotic (Emigrant & Egzotyka) – bought in utero by Mr Blincoe ( USA) and then bought by me as a yearling during the championships in Borgloon (Belgium)
Through all those years I met so many admirers and passionate people and I’m thankful to know each of you. All of you, friends, with who I can share the same passion for the history and preservation of the Pure Polish Horse.
Daniel Renders
http://www.zyada-arabians.be
Photos from the stud’ archives
