Arabische Pferde IN THE FOCUS Nr. 1/2020 (Vol. 21) - Preview

Gidran XXVII-48 (Kötörö) - the naming and
numbering follows the old Austro-Hungarian
system. -
Gidran XXVII-48 (Kötörö) - die Namensgebung
und die Nummern folgen dem alten
österreichisch-ungarischen System.
Difficult War Times
Being bred only in one stud, the breed was
never very numerous. But when Romania invaded
Hungary in 1920 (Hungarian–Romanian
War), they took 74 mares as loot. This
left Hungary with only 13 mares, and the
breed close to extinction. Between the two
world wars, stallions of the Kisber breed (a
half-bred horse), such as Maxim V and Kozma
III, were used as well as Shagya Arabian
stallions, such as Mersuch III *1918, Siglavy
VI *1922 and Gazal III *1912. This choice
was followed with good results and the anglo-arab
character of the breed was consolidated.
However, when the Romanian army took
those 74 mares as loot, some of them were
brought to Radautz Stud, where they started
to breed the Gidrán horses with 55 mares.
These horses were bred for some time
as pure Gidrans, but in 1989 their numbers
were reduced and the horses sold and lost
for registered breeding. Until recently, Radautz
still had some Gidran stallions at stud,
for example Razbeg and his offspring, but
today, they are all gone. They were of a more
heavy type than the Gidrans at Mezöhegyes.
With careful breeding the number of mares
in Mezöhegyes was raised, and by 1944 the
stud numbered 90 mares again. But the war
hit the breed again, and numbers were down
to only 28 mares, regained from Bergstetten
in Germany, to where they were evacuated,
which then were returned to Mezőhegyes. In
1957, the stud was moved from Mezőhegyes
to Dalmand. The breed was revived in 1975
when the purebred population consisted of
3 stallions and 16 mares. A new stud was
established in Borodpuszta and Gidran IV,
a purebred Gidran stallion, whose bloodline
plays a decisive role in today's herds, was
imported from Romania.
Considering the close co-operation and
swapping horses among the Austro-Hungarian
Studs in the 19th century, it is not surprising
that Shagya-Arabians and Gidrans share
some common ancestors. And actually, there
is a Gidran strain in the Shagya-Arabian,
which was bred in Radautz and there are Gidrans
with Siglavy Bagdady in their pedigree
even today.
The Return of the Gidrans
In Hungary, the Gidran returned in 2018 after
six decades to the National Stud of Mezöhegyes
and thus came back to the cradle
of this breed. Alltogether 96 horses were
re-purchased to found the breeding stock for
a new venture.
At present, the stallion Déva Gidran-13 (Riadó)
*1993 is used, whose sire was Deva xx.
This new English Thoroughbred influence
is to improve nobility and elegance and to
maintain the suitability for sports. Riadó
was a successful sports horse with a bery
good training and working ability, as well as
winner of the most important breed show in
2009. Gidrans are especially good in eventing,
where they achieve excellent results also
at international level. One example, the mare
Gidran Sohaj *1997 has been added to the
broodmare band at Mezöhegyes. She placed
18th at the World Young Horse Championships
2004 in Eventing under William Fox-Pitt
(GB).
An Endangered Breed
The Gidran is a strong and noble breed in
every respect, and represents a correct, elegant
half-blood horse. The breed is characterized
by ground-covering movements and
dry, strong limbs. The large eyes and the wide
forehead, the play of the ears and the fine
coat indicate the Anglo-Arabian ancestors.
His size is aimed to be 160-165 cm.
Because of its low number, the breed is one
of the endangered populations (200 mares in
Hungary, 300 worldwide), but could always
give internationally successful sport horses
for sport. As a traditional gene reservoir, it
is both culturally and genetically valuable in
the Hungarian animal breeding. Some of the
female lines have a breeding history as long
as 20-25 generations.
Gudrun Waiditschka
Zucht
Gidran Soháj - she was highly successful in
eventing, here at 22 years as broodmare. -
Die im Sport sehr erfolgreiche Stute Gidran
Soháj im Alter von 22 Jahren als Zuchtstute.
1/2020 - www.in-the-focus.com
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