Sireline KRZYŻYK DB, imported in 1876 to Jarczowce (PL)

The sireline of Krzyżyk DB, imported in 1876 to Jarczowce, is the oldest one from the sirelines recommended by the Polish Program of Arabian Horse Breeding, elaborated in 2001. In the pre-war period distinguished himself the stallion Kaszmir, grey, 1929 (Farys II – Hebda / Hermit DB), almost unbeaten in the racecourse (17 wins for 18 starts). His Coefficient of success, reaching 8,75, set a record of Poland valid until 1984.

After the World War II, on a small scale, in Polish breeding used was his son Geyran gr. 1937 (out of Zorza Pełkińska / Nana Sahib I), who, however, neither was raced, nor prolonged the sireline. Only his son Bohun gr. 1957 (out of Bint Canaria / Wielki Szlem) was placed first in his age group, gaining Cs = 3,27. In general, good racers were obtained out of Kaszmir daughters. By other stallions from this sireline descended the Derby winners: Sasanka, ch, 1968 (Almifar – Santa / Czort), bred at Janów Podlaski, Cs = 8,61; Piechur, gr., 1979 (Banat – Pierzeja / Bandos), bred at Janów Podlaski, Cs = 7,92; Traf, ch. 1980 (Elef – Trema / Gwarny), bred at Kurozwęki, Cs = 8,52; the Oaks winners: Sasanka, Samarra, b. 1969 (Arragon – Sala / Czort), bred at Janów Podlaski, Cs = 3,57; and Aryjka, b., 1994 (Arbil – Arabella / Fason), bred at Białka, Cs = 7,60; the Criterium winners: Sasanka, Samarra and Piechur; as well as the Produce winner Arlet, b., 1989 (Piechur – Arteria / Probat), bred at Michałów, Cs = 5,71.

Since long distance, endurance races came into fashion, the horses from Krzyżyk sireline distinguished themselves in this competition. In the years 1990-2015 the following descendants of this sireline were placed I-III in the Endurance Championships of Poland: the gelding Herb gr. 1987 (Wigor – Heraldyka / Palas), bred at Kurozwęki; the gelding Walc ch. 1992 (Gabaryt – Walia / Partner), bred at Kurozwęki; the stallion Artbi b. 1992 (Arbil – Alanga/ Palas), bred at Janów Podlaski; and the gelding Ewing gr. 1996 (Arbil – Ewiwa / Aloes), bred at Janów Podlaski.

Foals from this sireline were mostly bay, what pleased Kuhailan fans, as Zygmunt Braur or Krzysztof Czarnota, the owner of Mąciwoda b. 1994 (Arbil – Małmazja / Wermut), bred by A. Waliszewski – the most widely described „Krzyżyk” in the literature, passed away on Oct.1st, 2017. 

Sometimes born were brown or black colts or fillies – those colors are very popular in some breeders` circles, because they seldom appear in Arabians. That was the color of such breeding stallions, as El Azrak, brown, 1960 (Faher – Ellora / Witraż), Czako, bl., 1979 (Banat – Czapelka / Magnat); his son Cyprys br. 1988 (out of Cyranka / El Paso); Equin br. 1992 (Arbil – Equitana / Aloes); and his son Karamba br. 2008 (out of Kobra/ Borek). Most „Krzyżyk” horses were strong built, thick-boned, well-muscled, often highly excitable, but rather lacking refinement required from show horses.

Sometimes, however, even they were highly placed in shows, especially in the beginning of exportation of Polish Arabians to the US, when the exagerratedly dished heads weren`t fashionable yet. At that time popular became the stallions Ardahan gr. 1954 (Trypolis – Adis Abeba / Amurath Sahib), Mohacz gr. 1955 (Trypolis – Mimonka / My Kismet) and Cytrys b. 1957 (Trypolis – Cissa / Wielki Szlem), as well as the US and Canadian Champion Mare Arwistawa gr. 1958 (Geyran – Arfa / Witraż). The titles of British National Champion Stallion went to Banat b. 1967 (El Azrak – Bandola / Witraż) -  Patricia Lindsay`s love of life - and his son Gabaryt gr. 1982 (out of Gambia / Bandos). Even later, when in judging boards prevailed Kuhailan fans, in 1993 the Michałów-bred filly Wiaźma b. 1991 (Arbil – Wizja / El Paso) was granted the Junior Champion Mare of the Spring Show at Michałów, whereas in 1998 the Janów-bred filly Eula b. 1996 (Arbil Euterpe / Probat) was elected the Junior Champion Mare of Poland.

In contemporary Polish breeding the sireline of Krzyżyk DB is coninued mainly by the branch Banat – Arbil. Tje representatives of this branch distinguish themselves by a high use value (the average Cs per head of Arbil progeny reached 1,26, whereas the colts were significantly better – 1,44). Arbil himself, during his race career, was placed fourth in his age group, with the Cs = 3,78. An excessive nervous excitability, assigned to the whole sireline, characterized just this branch and it could be passed on by Bandola, who, according to Roman Pankiewicz, had an independent and willful character. It had rather something to do with hypersensitivity, bringing additional problems for the stable staff.

Arbil sired seven sons used in Polish breeding, but from them standing at state studs was only Wachlarz, d.b. 1990, distinguishing himself with an extreme dryness, long neck, horizontal topline, but also with a long, plain head. In a more advanced age he got whitewash stains around the eyes, what reflected on the dark background. He was raced for three seasons, achieving the Use Value Index 0,99-1,4-III, showing his high stamina and late maturing. He was put to stud in 1997, standing at Janów, Michałów and Białka, used also by many private breeders. He lived up to an advanced age of 27, leaving behind many broodmares, as well for state owned studs, as for private breeding. Unfortunately, in 2017 remaining were only 4 of them – Alameda b. 1990 (out of Alejka / Palas) at Janów, Dagma b. 2012 (out of Daga / Gazal Al Shaqab) and Wazira b.2006 (out of Wróżka / Ganges) at Michałów and Orelia b. 2002 (out of Oriana / Europejczyk). In 2019 there were only Alameda, Dagma i Orelia.

Wachlarz sired 8 stallions used in breeding, including 3 standing at state studs.  Esturion b. 2000 (out of Etra / Pepi), bred at Janów Podlaski, at his mother stud was mated to some mares, whereas later on he was used only by private breeders. The reason was, that mares were fetched to him by the fans of working Arabians, not showy ones, because Esturion himself was rather a strong-built, coarse stallion, achieving the Cs 1,97, combined with the coefficient of persistence reaching 1,8.