Bask, a Polish Arabian horse, was a very influential and well known Polish Arabian Horse in the 1960’s. He was the 1964 U.S. National Halter Champion.
First, this has nothing to do with Henry’s story. But, it is a part of interesting modern history. How often do you find a direct connection between a famous Polish horse and Scottsdale Arizona?
I met Dennis Krise recently while purchasing some photos I’d taken for a professional headshot. When I mentioned t
he blog, he asked me if I had ever been to the Arabian Horse show in Scottsdale that is held every February. He went on to tell me about his years spent training and showing Arabian horses all over the world. At one point he trained Arabians for the Wrigley family.
He then asked me if I had heard of ‘Bask.’ It turns out He sired many horses and many national champions trace their bloodlines back to Bask. At the International Museum of the Horse in Lexington, Kentucky, there is a life-size statue of Bask; he is buried there at the Park’s Champions Cemetery.
Reading further I discovered the Polish Arabians were actually a side effect of war. Poland was invaded by Mongols, Tatars and Turks, all who were excellent horsemen. Their horses became prized spoils of war and the Polish Arabian came to be bred. They are known for their beauty and incredible performance.
Turns out had I visited Poland in August I could have attended the 35th Annual Polish National Arabian Horse Show.
Editorial – I realize you can name a horse anything you want – but the current Polish National Champion is named ‘Pogrom’, as featured in the Arabian Horse World, October 2013. There’s even a well-produced video advertising the horse. In English, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a ‘pogrom’ as an ‘organized massacre of helpless people; specifically a massacre of Jews.’ Is it just me, or is a prize horse named ‘Pogrom’ politically incorrect, racially insensitive or just a bad translation to English?
Photo courtesy Arabian Horse World Magazine.