Who was Bairactar?

Bairactar was a grey Saglawi Jedran stallion foaled in 1813 and the founder of the oldest Polish Arabian sire line in existence today. Through his son, Amurath 1829, he has contributed in no small way to the existence of some of the finest and best known Arabian horses in the world today. 

There are only two pure Polish branches of this sire line in existence today, both of which derive through Bairactar's descendant, Amurath Sahib and two of his sons, Arax and Gwarny. While the Arax branch has continued to flourish primarily through his son,Tallin, sire of *Wojslaw, the Gwarny branch of pure Polish ancestry has become only one or two stallions away from extinction. Tallin was bred in Russia; however, because Tallin was used by the State Studs of Poland, was physically on the soil of Poland and became registered in the PASB stud book, his descendants are considered pure Polish. Germany's historic Marbach Stud, located in Germany, also has a Gwarny-bred stallion at stud, and has frozen semen from two others, sadly now deceased. However, their pedigrees contain numerous non-Polish (Egyptian) horses in the various dam lines

The remaining known living Polish stallions through the Gwarny branch of the Bairactar sire line are the 28 year old Safari CAHR, with a pedigree representing those horses which are descended from the Polish horses of antiquity, and Cassels Jaromir, a nine year old stallion sired by a brother of Safari's sire, named Fallkon. 

Bairactar was purchased by Baron von Fechtig, a merchant and importer of "oriental" horses into Europe on behalf of King Wilhelm I of Württemberg. Many of the horses von Fechtig imported were brought to Europe through the Italian seaport of Trieste. Bairactair was said to have sailed from Trieste after coming through Aleppo via Damascus. The king used him as a riding horse for several years before establishing him as a breeding stallion for his purebred Arabian mares. He was used at stud until 1838. He died at the age of 26. 

Bairactar was said to be the best desert stallion imported to Weil and was known for his great beauty. From the book, "The Breeding of Oriental Horses in Poland," author Piechocki wrote, "He distinguished himself with unique refinement and correct conformation, strong legs and perfect gaits. Moreover, he showed great reproductive and genetic potential . . .[during his time at stud] . . . he improved all faults brought on by other desert-bred stallions . . . in fact he sired no inferior horse."

Bairactar proved to be a superlative broodmare sire, an impressive attribute which continued for many decades through his descendants. Interesting enough, in each generation beginning with him, there seemed to be a tendency for only one specific son of each generation that continued the sire line, with more than several sired during the waning years of their lives. 

What is a Polish Arabian?

Pure Polish or "Old World Polish" . . . or both?

The Story of Safari CAHR    

Rescued from obscurity . . . an "Old World Polish Stallion" . . . and now one of the sole hopes of the Bairactar sire line through Gwarny.