| From the very beginning, the stud books have been kept with great care and list as
foundation mares a number of broadmares whose descendents have come down to the present
day - up to more then 20 generations!
Besides the foundation mares, desertbred stallions and mares were bought and brought back from expeditions to the Arabian
countries. One of the imported stallions was SHAGYA of the Kehil / Siglavi, born 1830 and imported 1836, who had a height of
1,60 m. He took a considerable influence on the young race which was called "Araber Rasse (= Arabian Race)" at that time. The
name of this stallion was found worthy to provide a name for the entire breed in 1979.
Most influential sires were: Dahoman 1846, Gazlan 1821, Koheilan 1876, Siglavay 1811, Maanaki Sebili, Mersuch 1898, Nibeh
1906, O'Bajan, Amurath Sahib 1881, Koheilan I 1888, Kuhailan Haifi 1923.
Some of the imported stallions influenced both the purebred and Shagya Araber lines at Babolna.
This special breed became so famous in Austro-Hungarian Monarchy that other state studs acquired breeding stock from
Babolna and began flourishing breeding programs as there are Radautz (in Carpathian), Topolcianky (Chekoslovakia), Janow
Podlasky (Poland), Borike (Yugoslavia) or Kabiuk (Bulgaria) and Mangalia (Rumania).
Shagya-Araber from Babolna had some success at international horse-shows for instance at the world horse show 1900 in Paris
when a mare from Babolna won the World Championship. Later on it was the stud leader , a great horseman the
General Tibor Von Pettko-Szandtner who had his largest influence on World
Arabian breeding, Shagya and Lipizzan. He also was a great carriage driver and horses from Babolna were soon known as he won a
couple of great driving competitions all over the world.
WWII did not stop at the gates of Shagya-Araber stud farms and it was on Tibor v. Petko-Szandtner who evacuated Babolnas
horses to Bavaria towards the end of the war. After the war part of the purebred and Shagya Araber remained in Germany and
became the foundation stock of German Arabian studs. 11 breeders owning 13 eligible horses in Germany founded a new breeding
association. Its first president was no other than Oberlandstallmeister Dr. h.c. Gustav Rau with Landstallmeister Ernst Bilke
for vice-president. Dr. E. Frielinghaus was chosen as general secretary. Due to his initiative precious stallions and
broadmares were imported form Babolna to Germany between 1960 and 1963. He was assisted by Landstallmeister H. Rudofsky, a
special expert and supporter of the Shagya-Araber breed. On the associations 10th anniversary in 1959, there were 108
members owning 150 horses, including 52 registered Shagya Araber with 21 stallions and 31 mares.
Also in other European countries Shagya-Araber were bred after WWII. Especially in Austria, Denmark and Switzerland a great
number of breeders started their acitivities. |
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| Since then, the breeding rules of the registry give a clear definition of the
Purebred Shagya Araber:
"The name SHAGYA-ARABER which was authorized by WAHO at the 1978 convention at Hamburg, is applied to such horses as
conform to the desired type, can be traced on both their sire's and dam's side to the stud books of Babolna (Radautz),
Topolcianky, Mangalia, Kabijuk (Kolarovgrad), Janow Podalski, Borike, Karadjordjevo, and to Purebred Arabians and have been
bred according to the system of Babolna. In cases of doubt the breeding committee will decide after hearing a commission from
the Shagya breeders. At the age of three years stallions should measure at least 1,56 meters at the withers and mares at
least 1,53 meters. From now on the papers of all horses that meet these requirements will carry the designation SHAGYA-ARABER". |
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