Why We Need All of Us

Poganin (Laheeb x Pohulanka), photographer unknown

Poganin, a 2001 stallion, is sired by Laheeb (Imperial Imdal x AK Latifa) and out of Pohulanka (Pepton x Pestka). He is the sire of the mare, Esparta (see YouTube video below), the dam of Estonia. By virtue of his pedigree, he is 50% Egyptian. A little more than 10% of his Egyptian blood represents the influence of Moniet el Nefous (Shahloul x Wanisa), through her daughter by Sid Abouhom, Mabrouka. Another 10% of his Egyptian blood comes by way of *Ansata Ibn Halima, while the stallion, Sameh (El Moez x Samira) contributes 5%.  The mare, Bint Sabah, foaled in 1925, represents a smaller percentage but her influence comes by way of her daughter, Bukra and daughter *Bint Bint Sabbah. It is interesting that a little more than half of the Egyptian bloodlines are dominated by these 4 horses.

On the "Polish" side, I found a similar phenomenon, however, with still fewer horses! You will remember from Estonia's pedigree, that she carries 6 lines to Piewica (Priboj x Wlodarka); 3 lines by way of the paternal side of the pedigree and 3 lines on the maternal side. Two of those 3 maternal lines (one of which is Poganin's matriline) are contributed by Poganin, at a percentage that is nearly equal to Moniet el Nefous' or  *Ansata Ibn Halima's percentage of influence on the Egyptian side. The stallion, *Bandos, contributes an even higher percentage of almost 20%. So I found it interesting that on this side of the pedigree, more than half of the "Polish" side is represented by only 2 horses! Of note, the stallion, Probat (Pohaniec x Borexia) was recognized for passing correct bodies. Although we find only one line to him in Poganin's pedigree, because we find him closer up in the pedigree, he contributes 12.5% genetic influence, which is a little less than half of the combined influence of *Bandos and Piewica. So, in reading the pedigree to understand the individual we see with our eyes, we focus on these 7 horses: Moniet el Nefous, Ansata Ibn Halima, Sameh, Bint Sabah, Piewica, Bandos and Probat, combined to produce a horse of sound body, mind and spirit.

I'm not sure what I like most about Poganin, as not only is there a lot to like (there really is) but he is a substantially built, close-coupled stallion, with a well-sprung rib cage, deep through the heart girth and generously muscled in the forearm, as well as the gaskin. He is broad of chest and wide in the back and yet, he is a most balanced horse, a quality that I attribute to the presence of *Ansata Ibn Halima in the pedigree. His skin quality is fine, very deeply pigmented, enhancing the sculpted look, through the prominence of bone and vein. His head is short, wide with large, luminous black eyes, intensifying the look of a noble desert horse. While the stallion Probat was praised for his strong and correct body, he was also recognized for a beautiful head, a trait that we also find in Poganin. 

Over his show career, he was an extremely successful show horse, named a Polish National Champion Stallion in 2007, as well as a 4-time Top Ten World Champion Stallion at the Salon du Cheval, in addition to wins all over Europe, namely in Aachen, Prague, Moorsele and Verona. No matter where he was shown, his correct body, type and charisma were recognized and rewarded, winning new fans and satisfying those who already were in love with this horse. He has proven himself as a sire, his continuing legacy strengthened by mares like Estonia.