Famous Quote: Bodgan Zientarski on Kuhailan Haifi Or. Ar.
In 1931 Bogdan Zientarski, accompanied by Carl Raswan went to the desert to buy Arabian horses for Prince Roman Sanguszko of the Gumniska stud in Poland. Here’s an account of Zientarski’s encounter with the stallion Koheilan Haifi, near the desert oasis of al-Jauf:
“Finally I hear a neigh, they guide the stallions… they lead the bay Kuhailan Haifi. My legs buckled under me, it is just the horse I am looking for. Not large, dry, on splendid legs without any trace of cow hocks. A long neck, a noble head, although not very small, with distended, thin and moveable nostrils; a splendid high carried tail. I feel, the first time in my life, that during the purchase of a horse I am fainting…”
Have any of you experience that near-fainting feeling when coming across a unique Arabian horse for the first time?
I have. Twice. I should consider myself lucky. I will tell you about these two electrifying encounters.
Hello Edouard:
The closest that I could get to a horse as a child, was through the pages of the horse books that I could borrow from our local library. One of the books which made a profound impact upon me was the book AND MILES TO GO by Linell Smith. The story is about *Witez II, a son of Ofir and a grand-son of Kuhailan Haifi. The picture that you posted is one of my favorite pictures, a very familiar picture, a picture that makes me happy to see it, whenever I see it. Shortly thereafter, I had the pleasure of meeting a horse by the name of Maratez, who was a son of Nitez, a grandson of *Witez II and a great-great grandson of Kuhailan Haifi. It was the first time that I had met a living, breathing Arabian stallion. While I did not faint, I was suitably impressed. Since then, I have met great horses, many of which took my breath away. However, if there is one horse who made me faint, it was the mare *Serenity Sonbolah. Seeing a who was having difficulty walking, suddenly morph into a ballerina and deliver an electrifying liberty performance was one of the most moving experiences that I ever lived. How did she do it??? I learned what real courage, real passion, and real joy was all about on that day. I will never forget her. Meeting Ansata Abbas Pasha was another powerfully moving experience. It took years before I could find the words to even describe the experience. As I start to approach the middle years of my life and while I have not accomplished all that I expected and dreamed that I would do with Arabian Horses, I am grateful for the amazing horses that I have personally known. And I ill never forget the chestnut mare, who turned my world upside down and inside out, a long time ago.
It’s also one of my favorite pictures.. that smart, quasi human look in his eyes, as if he was reading into the soul of whoever took the picture!
Hi Edouard: I understand you completely, as I know this look and have seen it…only a few times. This is why Ansata Abbas Pasha is so powerfully remembered by me–HE HAD THAT LOOK!!! His eyes were so piercing, right to my inner core, to a place that most beings are not able to reach. Somewhere inside, where the heart, soul and mind reach. When a horse does this, you know that you have met a being who is incredibly special and rare. I will never forget him.
Have a great day and many thanks for all that you do to perpetuate the real live arabian horse.
I join Ralph in saying that this is also one of the most special photos for me of an Arabian horse – and for the same reason. Horses that moved me such that they will never, ever be forgotten include Al Thay Mameluk, Jamilll, Gala, Greggan, and an aged Kaisoon daughter that I stumbled upon once upon a time in Kentucky and then imported to Israel, Habibah.
Getting back to Poland…there is brilliant article by Peter Harrigan called “The Polish Quest for the Desert Arabian Horse” that appeared in Volume III Number II [Winter 2007] of Al Khaima that is a fascinating read and covers importations of asil horses by various Polish nobles dating from the 16th Century. Highly recommended.
Regarding Kuhaylan Zaid, I have an historical question….Kuhaylan Zaid was made Babolna chief sire for 15 years, where he left extremely important broodmares. On April 29, 1933 Tibon von Szandtner wrote a letter to Carl Schmidt (later Raswan), in which he thanked him for Kuhaylan Zaid.
In his letter he wrote, “It would be very great happiness to me if I could buy for Babolna the two mares that came in the same shipment from Arabia, and I shall do everything possible so that the department should allow this and that I receive permission for the purchase.
It would be very good if you could send photos of the two mares and the young stallions, for armed with these I can better attempt the offensive against the ministerium.”
Kuhaylan Zaid was shipped together with the stallion Kuhailan Haifi, selected for Poland, along with seven other horses which according to the names I found in the Raswan Index seem to include four mares [Rabda Khuszaiba 1927, Hamdanija Semria 1930, Kuhailat Ajouz Szeikha 1923, and Hadba Inzihi 1930.]
RJ, or anyone….do you know what particular mares von Szandtner refers to here? Who were the young stallions? What became of them? Did all eight of Kuhaylan Zaid’s companions go to Prince Roman Sanguszko or did some wind up at other studs? Are there photos? And finally, was von Szandtner successful in acquiring the mares he coveted for Babolna?
Thanks!
Hamdanija Semria.1930 was by Baba Kurush, a daughter of the famous Stallion, who was later sold to Turkey.
This quote from Zietarski, is it from a book? Or a letter? Is there any reference to where to find it?
I believe the quote can be found in Ziętarski’s “Pod namiotami Beduinów” (Under the Tents of Bedouins). I would have to check, but I believe it was published as a series of articles in “Jeździec i Hodowca”.
I haven’t had a near-fainting experience, but I have been overcome with tears when seeing certain horses.