Trakehner mares in Poland – analysis at 7th year of PTA activity

 

Polish Trakehner Association (PTA) has organized number of horse reviews since year 2000. Breeding stallions, mares older than 2,5 year and foals divided into 3 categories (foals with mothers, yearlings and 2-years old) have been subjected for reviews. International Grading Commission, that has consisted of experts from Poland, Germany and Lithuania, has reviewed 339 Trakehner foals (some of them twice and 3 times) what has amounted to roughly 400 reviews. The breakdown by age was: 240 foals with mothers, 87 yearlings and 66 two-years old. There were more fillies (222) than colts (171).

A.Przeczewski from Różnowo (44), M.Machłowicz and K.Wojsiat from Sząbruk (33), Stud Plękity (31), M.Szabliński from Kątno (28), T.Siedlanowski from Księżno (16), L.T.Fangrat from Zerbuń (9), M.Zieliński from Uniradze (9), M.Kulpiński from Sokolnik (8), A.Gos from Tuczno (7), T.Gąsowski (6), G.Mendel (6), A.Cybula (5), Ł.Lewandowski (5), Stud Liski (5). There is a number of breeders who own one or two breeding mares, who delivered smaller number of foals, however significant as well.

 

In the given stock the most popular were horses from the maternal East Prussian families.

Therefore, similar to the maternal herd, the most popular families were:

 

Extremely valuable Polish family O – Huryska ex Husarenbraut 1935 returned from Lithuania to Poland due to purchases concluded by some of our breeders. We are pleased to notice renewed presence of descendants from families O – Flanela ex Flaggensparade 1936 (breeded A.Gos) and O – Iliada 1941 (breeder A.Kokocha).

 

Families E were number two at popularity. One has reviewed foals from the following E families:

Families T had the biggest representation at family:

and due to cooperation with breeders from Eastern Europe appeared horses from the family

 

 

Families S (consist of families that have been established by other warm-blood mares as Poznańskie, Wielkopolskie, Pomorskie, Hanoverian) were not so much popular. All together were less than ten. 

Unfortunately there was one only foal from family A – Bippi 1979 (breeder P.Szmytkowski).

 

The most of foals were out of:

Atlanta by Nektar (SK Sząbruk)                   - 6 foals

Bitwa by Jaguar xx (M.Romanowski)           - 5

Puna by Huk (M.Szabliński)                         - 5

Wejmutka by Skaleń xx (M.Romanowski)   - 5

 

Statistically wise actual offspring is much different from the foundation stock by sire lines. One can find so renowned international stars as Abdullah, Favoritas xx, EH Sixtus, EH Hohenstein, Heraldik xx that were used for breeding in Poland. There were 75 stallions in total used for breeding in this group. The most popular were:

 

The most popular sire lines were:

 

Sire lines established at the Trakehnen Stud (Pilger, Damphross, Kupferhammer – Parsival, Ararad, Tempelhuter) were represented by 87 foals; Arabian and Angloarabian lines (Fetysz oo, Esauł oo, Burgund AA, Burnus AA, Banita AA, Grey AA) were represented by 28 foals; remaining belonged to thoroughbred lines established after WWII. Geographically wise 12 foals were by German stallions (Machandel, Hamlet GO, Hohenstein, Abdullah, Sixtus, Orsini) and 58 foals by stallions bred in Eastern Europe (Lithuania, Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine).

There was a visible tendency for wider use of foreign stallions – 21% of reviewed foals compared to 11,5% of the basic stock of mares. Number of foals with Anglo Arabian blood (what is positive and global tendency) has grown mostly because of use of Burgund AA. In the scrutinized stock of foals some sire lines are not represented any more i.e. Ferro xx, while some other are at the extinction i.e. Labirynt xx (mare’s herd slightly above 6%, foals herd above 1%) and some lines are incoming as new for the benefit of Trakehner population: Gluosnis xx, Zadarit xx, Divisor xx, Sword xx, Burnus AA, Banita AA, Grey AA.

 

 

Bay and bay brown                46%     (mothers 49%)

Chestnut and dark chestnut   25%     (mothers 26%)

Black and brown                    17%     (mothers 16%)

Grey                                        8%     (mothers   9%)

There were 4 piebald foals what was the only significant difference to the herd of mares.

 

It is not possible to analyse and compare dimensions of foals at age from 6 months to two and half years old, however relying on the opinion of outstanding expert judges significant progress at breeding and growing was achieved at many studs and at small farms as well.

 

International Grading Commission judged foals with 70 points scale.

 

Type.

Grading for type was in range from 5 to 10 points.  Two foals from the stud of A.Przeczewski achieved 10 points. Those were Piaffa by Gluosnis xx and Jawor by Apogej.

Ten foals achieved 9 points and need to be mentioned as they demonstrate some tendencies at the selection of stallions for mating. Those were: Armatic by Gluosnis xx, Centra and Pompeja by Elpar xx, Liberator and R-Lady by Ignam, Chulija (from Lithuania) by Esauł, Elita by Favoritas xx, Nigeria by Wiec and Wigor and Wilnia by Apogej. The average grading for type was high and amounted 7,33.

 

Grading ranged from 5 to 9. The highest score achieved Carmen by Burgund AA (breeder H.Waśniewski), Elita by Favoritas xx (breeder J.Skrzypiec), Jawor by Apogej (breeder A.Przeczewski). Thirteen foals scored 8,5: Alize by Ignam, Alpeja and Wigor by Apogej, Armatic, Jurata and Kasim by Gluosnis xx, Czikita and Platyna by Radiator, Irraq by Burgund AA, Konwalia by Winword xx, La Rochelle by Arianin, Nigeria by Wiec, Olette by Banita AA. The average grading for body was 7,27.

 

Grading ranged from 4 to 9. The highest score achieved Piaffa by Gluosnis xx – 9, Seniorita by Radiator and Jawor by Apogej 8,5. The average score was 6,77.

 

Grading ranged from 5 to 9,5. The highest score achieved Asam by Grey AA 9,5, Bello Nemo, Carmen and Kamelot by Burgund AA and Nagasaki TS by Apogej achieved 9 points. The average score was 7,08.

 

Grading ranged from 6 to 9,5. The highest score achieved Piaffa by Gluosnis xx 9,5. Eleven foals achieved 9 points. Those were: Aristo by Burgund AA, Artica by Kaliniec, Aspiracja by Safran, Centra by Elpar xx, Czedar by Ignam, Jowisz by Aragonit, Kadma by Szewron, Ponti and Wiktoria by Ogar, Seniorita by Radiator, Wernyhora Di by Dinar. Average grading for trot was 7,27.

 

Grading ranged from 5,5 to 9. The best results achieved: Bella Lancastra by Aragonit, Carmen by Burgund AA, Centra by Elpar xx, Czekolada by Ignam, Dior and Piaffa by Gluosnis xx, Ekwador by Viskis, Jawor by Apogej, Seniorita by Radiator, Wiktoria by Ogar. The average result was 7,25.

 

Grading ranged from 5 to 9. The best results achieved: Centra and Pompeja by Elpar xx, Elita by Favoritas xx, Jawor by Apogej and Piaffa by Gluosnis xx. Average score was 7,21.

 

 

Total points ranged from 41 to 62,5. The highest grade during eighth reviews achieved Piaffa by Gluosnis xx (breeder A.Przeczewski) - 62,5; Jawor by Apogej (breeder A.Przeczewski) – 61,5; Centra by Elpar xx (breeder Plękity stud) – 60,0; Seniorita by Radiator (breeder Plękity stud) – 59,0; Wiktoria by Ogar (breeder M.Machlowicz) – 58,5; Carmen by Burgund AA (breeder H.Waśniewski) – 58,5.

The average grading given to Trakehner foal in years 2000-2007 was 50,21.

 

Comparison of new generation to the basic stock that comes mainly from the state owned studs leads to the conclusion about the positive tendencies in breeding. Use of renowned sport stallions (Polish and foreign) as Ignam, Burgund AA, Gluosnis xx, EH Sixtus proves growing awareness of breeders who belong to PTA.

The average grading higher than “good” demonstrates progress at breeding in general, while legs with its grading at 6,77 is still a matter of concern and needs to pay stronger attention when selecting stallions and mares for mating. The next, probably the most interesting phase of breeding, is monitoring sport results and overall usability. This phase needs more time and patience. Visible progress at breeding gives us a hope to see good results at sport soon.