1831 French report on the Prussian Studs
Towards the end of 1831, the French National Stud’s Journal dedicated a series of articles to the Prussian studs. French imports of horses for cavalry remount from their eastern neighbors, including the Prussians, had been massive for several decades. This matter was indeed of utmost importance to the French and this report provides interesting details on several Arabian stallions used in Prussia during the early 19th century.
The first report of this series is devoted to the private Stud of the King of Wurtemberg in Stuttgart (which became renown as the “Weil Stud”). The use of “Oriental” stallions was first reported in 1818 with the use of Persian, Turkish, Nubian and other stallions, but more importantly a good number of Arabian stallions. Fifteen to eighteen of them were maintained at the Stud. However by 1831 only five of them remained and are described as follows:
– Bairactar (aka Bayracdar): a magnificent dapple-grey stallion, bought in 1817 aged 4 in Trieste for the King by Colonel Baron Von Gemmingen and used at stud since 1819. For 4 years, he was one of the King’s mount, and without a doubt one of the most magnificent. He was after appointed head stallion for the stud and had a great reputation as a sire: the pride and beauty of the stud.
– Siglavy (aka Saclawi): a chestnut stallion, not quite as noble as Bairactar, but with remarkable size, strength and powerful body, a bit long pasterns (although this latter point was not transmitted to his progeny).
– Sultan-Mahmud: a silvery grey of remarkably high size and nobility, bought in 1828 for the King by his medical adviser M. Von Hoerdt from the Greek dealer Glioccho, first jumps at stud in 1829.
– Aleppo: another desert-bred stallion, roan bay, bought aged 3 at Marseilles (France) by the King himself, the latter being very pleased by his progeny. He was also used as a personal mount by the King who enjoyed his great velocity, flexibility and elegant gaits.
– Abou-Dahman: not as noble as the preceding stallions, thus not used in the private stud of the King.
By 1832, Aleppo and Abou-Dahman do not appear anymore inside the listing of the stallions standing in Stuttgart. They were replaced by a black Arabian stallion named Mamelouck and the home-bred purebred Arabian stallion Bournu (aka Burnu), a dapple-grey.
The Stud of Neustadt-Dosse, directed by M. Strubberg, was standing in 1832 two Arabian stallions used on some of the broodmare band, which included 2 “oriental” mares among a total of ninety. They are described as follows:
– Koylan (aka Koglan): a bay desert-bred stallion bought in Constantinople by the former stud director M. Ammon. (Note: this stallion was very successfully used a was lengthily described in former issues)
– Djedran: a chestnut stallion, bought two years ago in Vallhi (?)
The Stud of Graditz was standing one Arabian stallion in 1832 (not described), plus 4 part-bred stallions out of Arabian or Thoroughbred bred mares from Neustadt. They were used on “standard riding mares”.
The breeding program at the Stud of Trakhenen in 1832 included the use of Thoroughbred stallions over “oriental” mares (either born in Orient or Prussian bred) and the other way around. No further description of specific horses is given.
The breeding program at the Stud of Marbach in 1833 included the use 206 broodmares of “oriental”, Thoroughbred, Mecklembourgh, Normand and Kladrup bred. The Royal Stud of Weil would send every year to Marbach 8 to 9 stallions to serve them, either “oriental” ones or Anglos. Among them 12 Persians and 10 Arabians mares, but also every part-bred Arabian mare, bred specifically to Arabian stallions.
RJ, is this Siglavy the same as the Siglavy here: http://roster.alkhamsa.org/pedigrees/S/Siglavi_(BAB)00003.HTML
and if so, should be revisit that entry?
The Siglavy in Amelie’s post is chestnut.
The “Great” or sometimes as “Schwarzenberg” called Siglavy was a grey one.
Not the same horses, i think.
Best wishes,
László
Yes indeed this Siglavy was a chestnut, this is recorded twice in 1831 and 1833. At this point, I would say there is tones of possibilities about him regarding pedigree or origin. But he cannot possibly be = Schwarzenberg’s Siglavy, who was much older and grey. But he could be either another desert-bred Saklawi stallion, which would rise the number or Saklawi boys used by the Prussians and Austro-Hungarians to 4 different sire-lines. Or he could be a home-bred son of Schwarzenberg’s, “Siglavy” being a logical name to be given in such case (and there is so far no record of him being desert-bred or not), so a half-brother of Sady III. Or a possible match for the golden chestnut Siglavy recorded at the 1827 visit of Babolna. His description does not match Siglavy-Gidran but the “other” Siglavy was not described. In such case, maybe a trade of old Schwarzenberg and this golden Siglavy occurred. It would be a good explanation regarding the “confusion” between both stallions but I have not found any record of such trade ever happening so far.
Edouard,
I believe, in that time everywhere was bred many kind of mixed arabian horses.In the Prussian Studs, in the Kingdom of Wurttemberg,in the french Pompadour,or in Egypt too. For example Mohamed Ali, the Great covered arabian mares with Dongola (!!) stallions (but without success- states Prince (Fürst)Pückler). The reason was everywhere the same.The pure arab horse was almost perfect, but mostly smaller than an ideal horse for the cavallery. This is the reason, why was born the Anglo-arab race, the Thrakener, the Gidran(!) and the Shagya of our times.
But this does not mean that, Mohamed Ali or later other Pashas did’nt bred – knowing the importance of the pure blood – pure arab horses.
Another example in Europe, His Majesty,the King Wilhelm von Württemberg. He was fanatic in the question of blood, sent his agents everywhere for the purest of the pure. Don’t forget, his agent bought in Egypt among others the famous Gadir….
Best wishes,
László
We’re not forgetting Gadir, I assure you!
…and Koheil Agouz,etc.,etc…and bred horses like Amourath 1829.
The things in the post of Amelie are real,yes, it belongs to the fullness of the image of the past 200 years.
This year the Weil/Marbach Heritage celebrates its 200th anniversary. But if someone really interesting in this subject,ask Gudrun Waiditschka,or read her new book. It will be released ( the Vol.I.) this month. According to the German recommendation the author evaulated thousands of files of and various archives about the imported horses, about the horsetraders,with countless quotations from the contemporary press…
It will surely be interesting for all of us..
http://in-the-focus.com/de/2017/01/koenigliche-pferde-das-gestuet-weil-unter-koenig-wilhem-i/
Best wishes,
László
I
Djedran above is likely the Dgiedran recorded in the German catalog, and bought from Slawuta Stud of Prince Sanguzko (recorded Dzedran by the Poles). He was quite used both by King Friedrich Wilhelm and also at Graditz. He was not bought in 1829 as mentioned above but in 1827.
Notes from the Polish researcher Wojciech Kwiatkowski: “DZEDRAN OA was a chestnut Seglawi Jedran, purchased in 1818 in the desert around Hama for Prince Eustachy Sanguszko the Elder by his stud groom Tomasz Moszynski and Franciszek Swierczynski. In 1828 he was sold to King Freidrich Willhem stud at Neustadt.” Others purchased in the same expedition included the stallions Dzielf, Hajlan, Bejan, Rabdan, Seglawi, Kbeszan, Semran, Nezdy and a mare called Seglavi, They arrived at Slawuta in November 1818.