GREAT PEOPLE ALWAYS PASS AWAY TOO SOON - ROMAN PANKIEWICZ 1924 - 2016

Roman Pankiewicz, an unsurpassable authority on Arabian horse breeding and history, a man with an unusual sense of humour, passed away on 6 December at the age of 92. The story of his life abounded in events that could easily make up half a dozen biographies.

Roman Pankiewicz was born in 1924 in Kapłanowice. He and his mother were deported to Siberia in 1940 – 1946. After returning to Poland he graduated from the Agricultural University in Olsztyn and in 1951 started work at the State Horse Stud in Albigowa, which became the birthplace of the stallion he bred, which changed the course of history. Since then nothing was the same.

We refer to the magnificent Bask, born on 9 February 1956, son of the legendary Witraż and beautiful Bałałajka, which became an American superstar. Pure-bred Arabian breeding worldwide cannot be imagined without this Polish-bred stallion. Bask made Polish Arabian breeding famous, his achievements being constantly present in the form of the bronze statue in front of the entrance to Kentucky Horse Park.

Roman Pankiewicz remained in Albigowa until 1958. He then worked in the State Stud in Michałów until 1967, and subsequently in the State Stallion Depot in Bogusławice.

He was the author of numerous books and articles about Arabian horses and co-founder of the Polish Arabian Breeders Association.

We shall always remember his kindness and his unchanging passion for Arabian horses. His books remains an invaluable source of knowledge for future generations of breeders and horse enthusiasts.