Famous Hungarian Warmbloods

Tags: Hungarian Warmblood Horse, Breeding, Competition, Show

 

Since the Second World War, there have been a handful of Hungarian Warmbloods that have done more than their fair share of promoting the breed, whether it was through their offspring or their own amazing achievements. Here are just a few of the most famous Hungarian Warmbloods that have made significant contributions to the breed and its development in the United States.

Hanpolgar IV was a stallion that was bred at the Kisber Royal Hungarian Stud and foaled in 1943. After World War II, he was imported to the United States with the Remount Service. He was assigned to rancher Jim Edwards in Butte, Montana, who purchased the stallion after the Remount Service was disbanded in 1949. By sheer coincidence, Hanpolgar IV was discovered by Baroness Bessenyey, a Hungarian breeder with a ranch nearby, who recognized the stallion. The horse went on to stud for both the Baroness's Bitteroot Stock Farm and the Cooksley family.

Hanpolgar's first colt born at the Bitteroot Stock Farm was H. Kallo. Kallo went on to sire thirty-five registered Hungarian offspring. His contributions to breeding were so important that he was never shown in competition, but his offspring were champions in disciplines such as Hunting, Jumping, Eventing, Dressage, Endurance Riding and Competitive Trail Riding.

Another son of Hanpolgar was H. Big John, who was bred by the Cooksley family. Big John was their number one stallion and he is found in most of their pedigrees, and he was also at stud at the Bitteroot Stud Farm. Despite the many requests from trainers and handlers to let Big John be shown in competition, the stallion couldn't be spared at the ranch, and with over eighty-five offspring as registered Hungarians this should come as no surprise!

M. Brado was foaled in 1959 and under the direction of trainer Linda Tellington, this Hungarian Stallion went on to have a very versatile and impressive career in California. In 1968, they won the Best Conditioned Horse Award at the Colorado 100 Mile Endurance Ride, and five weeks later he was named both Champion Hunter and Jumper in Concord. For two years running, the horse won the Open Jumping Gamblers Stakes at the Oakland International Horse Show, and a week later placed in the top ten of the Telvis Cup 100 Mile One Day Ride. What makes this last placing so impressive is that the horse drew 127th place to start, so that he had to pass more horses than any other in history in order to achieve his final position.

Another important early stallion was M. Sobricska, who was foaled and raised by Judith Gyurky. Not only is this stallion found in the majority of bloodlines produced by Gyurky, but he was also at stud at the Bitteroot Stock Farm and over fifty of his offspring became registered Hungarians. Many of his offspring went on to become important in breeding and his descendants including winners such as M. Dobbin, who was an unbeaten steeplechase mare, and M. Witch, who was an Intermediate Event Champion.

comments powered by Disqus