With the passing of chief sire Poganin, the consequential chapter of Laheeb finally closes in Poland.
Born in the second season of his sire’s unprecedented two-year tenure in Poland, Poganin proved to be the most important son of multiple-international champion super sire Laheeb (Imperial Imdal x AK Latifa by Ibn Moniet el Nefous) bred outside of Israel, the product of an era-defining collaboration between the State Studs and Ariela Arabians. Laheeb’s lease at the turn of the new millennium in 1999 and 2000 marked the very first time a straight Egyptian stallion was used at the State Studs of Poland, proving himself a game-changing sire of invaluable impact and influence with his complete outcross pedigree, invaluably line-bred to legends Moniet el Nefous (Shahloul x Wanisa by Sheikh el Arab) and Nazeer (Mansour x Bint Samiha by Kazmeen), as well as the latter’s most famous sons Morafic (x Mabrouka by Sid Abouhom) and Ansata Ibn Halima (ex Halima by Sheikh el Arab).
Laheeb proved the perfect blend with the stylish and superbly conformed dam Pohulanka, a line-bred descendant of Janów Podlaski’s most important and esteemed dam line, that of Szamrajówka, the source of Poland’s prolific ‘P’ family of champions and breeding pillars. Uniquely, Pohulanka traces directly to family foundress Piewica (Priboj x Włodarka by Ofir), through both her sire – Polish National Champion Stallion and Racehorse of the Year Pepton (Bandos x Pemba by Czort) – and her exceptionally beautiful dam Pestka (Probat x Pentoda by Bandos), whose dam Pentoda is the common denominator shared by United States National Champion Mare Penicylina and international show sensation and auction record-seller Pepita.
Blessed with the best, both genotypically and phenotypically, of his illustrious heritage through both sire and dam, Poganin enjoyed an enduringly successful career as both a sire and show horse. Always scoring incredibly well on every outing as a result of his superlative structure, including his 16+ legs and feet, and his dynamic, ground-covering athleticism, Poganin amassed an impressive list of titles over twelve seasons in the show-ring including Polish National Champion Senior Stallion (2007), Polish National Reserve Champion Junior Colt (2002), European Bronze Champion Senior Stallion (2013), Prague EuroCup Gold and Intercup Silver Champion Senior Stallion (2012) and a five-time successive World Champion Top Ten Senior Stallion (2007-2011). Poganin was a refreshingly substantial and undeniably masculine stallion, standing squarely on all four corners with remarkably well-conformed limbs, decisively three-dimensional from every perspective, with a distinct aristocratic presence and ‘old world’ charm, with this trademark large, luminous and kind eyes that reflected his endearingly gentle nature and reassuring self-confidence.
Utilised successfully as a sire at both Michałów and Janów Podlaski for almost two decades, Poganin blessed Poland with dozens of invaluable show and breeding horses that continue to positively influence the breed all around the world. Among his very best sons are: Kabsztad (ex Kwestura by Monogramm), a Polish National Junior and Senior Gold Champion, European Silver Junior and Senior Champion, Sharjah International Gold Junior Champion, Menton and PSAIAHF Silver Junior Champion, and Dubai International Bronze Junior Champion, now proudly owned by Flaxman Arabians in Belgium; Polish National Silver Junior Champion Czaro (ex Cedora by Kahil al Shaqab), exported to Great Britain; and the Australian-born Elganan el Aiden (ex Elganda by Monogramm), an unforgettable show stopper last owned by Forest Dale Arabians before his premature loss.
Several daughters of Poganin enjoyed successful careers as show horses all across Europe, including the Chrcynno-Pałac-bred Chaos Persefona (ex Ceres by Ganges) and the Michałów-bred Elirdia (ex Eligia by Sanadik El Shaklan), as well as Eustomia (ex Eumenida by Eldon) and Esparta (ex Epoka by Pilot) from Janów Podlaski. The most enduring impact of the Poganin daughters, however, has been as broodmatrons, many proving to be invaluable next generation links for Poland’s precious dam lines of merit. Over the course of two decades, the best producing Poganin daughters have proven to be: Pentra (ex Peczora by Emigrant) – dam of Poganinka (by El Omari) and Protekcja (by Ekstern); Fermata (ex Felicjana by Ekstern) – maternal granddam of Ferrum (Morion x Ferrmaria by El Omari); Elgora (ex Elgina by Ekstern) – dam of Emdrona (by Medalion); Eteryka (ex Etnologia by Gazal al Shaqab) – maternal granddam of Ebonita (Haash OSB x Etruzja by Pogrom); and Bellisa (ex Bellanda by Pilot) at Janów Podlaski, the latter the source of such ‘B’ family icons as Bambina (by Kahil al Shaqab) and Babetta (Emerald J x Belinda by Kahil al Shaqab), and the mare most responsible for reinvigorating the dam family of Bandola (Witraż x Bałałajka by Amurath Sahib) – the legendary ‘Queen of Poland’.
Most fittingly, Poganin was peacefully laid to rest at home in his maternal stud of Janów Podlaski, where his journey began almost a quarter century earlier. The product of generations of Polish breeding wisdom and genius, as well as the essential collaboration of Poland with leading breeders from around the world, Poganin was a sterling ambassador for the Polish Arabian horse during Poland’s ascendancy to its greatest heights on the international stage. May the joy and inspiration of that era, and the invaluable contribution of Poganin during those halcyon decades, continue to light the way forward for the breed well into this present century and beyond.
Poganin: 29 January 2001 – 9 February 2025
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