Teodor's Horse

*Witez II

*Witez II, foaled in April of 1938, is representative of the level of excellence that the Janow Podlaski breeding program had reached, in the 20 years since the end of WWI. A son of Ofir, out of Federacja, a daughter of the mare  Koalicja, who was rumored to be a great beauty, possessing "a dry, classical head with soft, expressive eyes."* There has been so much written about *Witez II already, including several books, countless magazine articles and a variety of social media messages and posts. What more can I possibly offer about *Witez II, that hasn't already been written somewhere else? Then, out-of-the-blue, I read The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy, written by M.J. Evans and published by Dancing Horse Press in 2023 and suddenly, this blog started to gradually come together. 

The story begins in 1943, approximately 4 years from the start of WWII, in Hostau Czechoslovakia, where we meet Teodor, his mother and father, who has just told his little family that he has joined a resistance movement, to fight the Nazis. Once he leaves, Teodor, 11 years old, and his mother, Agata, will never see him again. With his father no longer supporting his household; Teodor and his mother fall on hard economic times, despite Agata taking on a variety of odd jobs, work that she can do from her home, while raising her autistic son.  One day, while walking across the village square, she happens upon a conversation that 2 men are having about the increased number of horses, including a recent shipment of Arabian horses from Janow Podlaski. There have been more horses shipped into the Hostau Stud farm, than there are grooms to care for them.  Agata realizes that this may be an opportunity, to better socialize her son, give him a skill set, as well as reducing the burden  she felt financially. Strategically, Agata, suggests a walk to Teodor, to see the new horses. It is sheer magic, when Teodor meets *Witez II for the first time. 

"Teodor looked into the depths of the horse’s liquid, brown eyes. A link of understanding passed between them that surpassed mere affection. An assortment of intensely strong emotions washed over the boy. It was as if this horse was a long-lost friend, or someone he had been waiting to meet his entire life. His gaze remained locked on the eyes of the horse. This is where he belonged." - The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy by M.J. Evans

Dr. Rudolf Lessing, a veterinarian at the Hostau Stud farm  witnesses the encounter between Teodor and *Witez II and promptly decides to hire Teodor as as a groom, specifically in charge of *Witez's care. From there, the reader accompanies Teodor on his development as a horseman, as well as *Witez, who matures into the classic Arabian stallion that his ancestry promised him to be.The book, for the most part, is based loosely on historical accuracy,  for the events occurring in Hostau Czechoslovakia, as a result of WWII. Like Linell Smith's fictional characters of Stasik and Stacia, written into And Miles to Go; M.J. Evans created the fictional character of Teodor, an autistic boy.  However, his character is unique, as autism, in this period of time (1930s and 1940s) was not recognized or even, understood. I don't think the story would be as endearing, if Teodor had been anything other than "peculiar." Throughout the story, I wanted to read of Teodor's successes with *Witez II. Easy to read, I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

Additionally, there are a couple books also published concerning the rescue of the horses captured by the Nazis and stabled in Hostau, Czechoslovakia. Both books are more historically accurate and focus primarily on the Spanish Riding School's Lipizzaner horses, however, the following 2 books weave an equally thrilling rescue of the other breeds of horses kept at Hostau, particularly the Janow Podlaski Arabians and  specifically, *Witez II. Elizabeth Letts, published The Perfect Horse, a NY Times Best Seller. The author picks up the story in the last remaining days of the war and while she focuses on the overall story, *Witez II is not only mentioned but appears in the story as well, one of many characters that Elizabeth Letts has assembled for the story.

If M.J. Evans' story is the Steven Spielberg blockbuster and Elizabeth Lett's book is like a History Channel movie dramatization, then Frank Westerman's Brother Mendel's Perfect Horse (as translated by Sam Garrett) is the PBS Nova documentary, as this book delves deeper within the darkness of the time and the genetic engineering that defined the breeding "experiments" under the Hitler regime and the drive to develop a "superhorse" utilizing the Lipizzaner breed. At times, it reads like a thriller and will make your heart race. While the story's primary equine characters are the Lippizaners, you will also be surprised whenever Witez's name appears.

Summer is now upon us, and as we grab that one must have book, to pack with the rest of your summer vacation belongings, maybe anyone of these books will be your summer read of 2025?

Happy summer everyone!

*Many thanks to The Arabian Horse, Poland's National Treasure, written by Zenon Lipowicz & George Zbyszewski, published by Arabian Horse Times, Inc.