Skowronek

PAGE 3 of 3

By Eva Dano, (c) 2003

-Last updated on June 5, 2003-


Raswan said: "Skowronek ("Skylark"), foaled in 1909, was bred by Count Potocki at Antoniny Stud in Poland."
Painting of Skowronek at Antoniny
In reality, the Antoniny Stud was located in Russia, not in Poland. The borders in that part of Europe have fluctuated many times over the years, so the confusion is easy to understand. So why do we refer to Skowronek as Polish, rather than Russian?

Let us analyze that:

For one, we have always been TOLD that Skowronek was Polish. For another, the horses found in Skowronek's pedigree appear, other than thru himself or his 3/4 brother Ornis, only in Polish bloodlines. None of the pre-revolution Arabian bloodlines survived the revolution in Russia; so, except for these two, the only source for any pre-revolution Russian bloodlines is thru the Polish connections.

Another point: What springs to mind when we refer to "Russian Arabians" is the post-revolution breeding program at the Tersk stud, which was founded originally on Arabian horses from Crabbet, Poland, and France, and was later augmented by imports from Egypt.

Skowronek's 3/4 brother, Ornis (by Ibrahim out of a daughter of Jaskolka), was exported to Spain and left many descendants there. You will also find some other Ibrahim get in modern day pedigrees, though Skowronek was by far the most influential.

Skowronek and Sikora (dam of Ornis) are the only foals of Jaskolka to survive in today's Arabian pedigrees, but most of Jaskolka's ancestors are present in other Polish lines.

Jaskolka, Skowronek's Dam


Skowronek at a show Skowronek posing
Skowronek and Lady Wentworth Skowronek and Lady Wentworth
Skowronek and Lady Wentworth Skowronek
Skowronek on a stamp
Stallion Skowronek.
Polish Issue to commemorate the 150th
anniversary of the Podlaski stud farm.
Skowronek trotting
Skowronek trotting.
Skowronek posing
Skowronek closeup
These two animated GIFs are HUGE,
so don't select them unless you have
a fast connection or a LOT of patience.


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