//
//
olska’s last
daughter, who
came with her
when the
Gaedes got her
from the Duisburg Zoo in
1983, was Kaipoleika. Like
most of Polska’s foals, she
was by the Nazeer son
Kaisoon, and she was one
of the finest: a striking dark
chestnut with a flaxen
mane, and a wonderful
broodmare. She had her
first foal, a filly named
Saipora by the pure Polish
stallion Saudi (Dardir x
Sake), in 1988. This was the same year that Polska
gave birth to her last foal, also by Saudi. I remember
rushing there the morning after he was born, and
seeing this tiny foal lying in the straw covered with a
plaid blanket, Polska standing watch over him and
looking nothing like her 28 years. He was named
Polot, but we always called him “Polski.” He and his
three-quarter sister Saipora were pretty much
inseparable while they grew up.
One year later, Kaipoleika had a colt by the
straight Egyptian stallion Madmaymour (Madkour x
Maymoonah), a full brother to Messaoud, the sire of
*Imperial Madheen. A mutual friend named him
Moutard d’Or, which means “little golden boy” in
French. He started out chestnut, so it suited
him perfectly.
As I mentioned last month, the Gaedes, small
backyard breeders themselves, also helped a
number of other small backyard breeders get
LAST MONTH, I WROTE ABOUT THE GAEDE FAMILY AND THEIR WONDERFUL
GROUP OF BACKYARD HORSES, AND THEIR OLD MARE POLSKA. THIS IS A
SEQUEL OF SORTS, BECAUSE IT CONCERNS SOME OF POLSKA’S CHILDREN.
IT’S ALSO A CAUTIONARY TALE, BECAUSE IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE.
started. Most of those who
bought their youngstock
were young people who
had just caught the
Arabian bug, often directly
from their contact with
Polska and her extended
family. But things do not
always go well.
In the fall of 1989, a
young woman bought
three of Polska’s children
and grandchildren:
Saipora and Polski, who
were yearlings, and
Moutard d’Or, who had just
been weaned. This was
pretty exciting for the extended family of friends
and fans of the Gaede horses, who were always
ready to welcome new members. And because
there was this extended family, another young
couple, who were also just getting started with
Gaede Arabians and who’d had an eye on Moutard
d’Or themselves, went to visit him at his new home a
year or so later, to see how he was getting on. At
least, that was the plan.
One evening in November 1990, I got a phone call
asking me to come out to the farm and bring my
camera. It was already dark when I got there, but
the reason for the urgency was glaringly obvious.
Moutard d’Or was back, and to say I was shocked
would be an understatement. In fact, if I hadn’t
known, I would never have recognized him. The
strapping, spirited young colt that had left the farm
had turned into an unkempt, filthy, emaciated
creature with no muscles, no mane, and no spirit.
LITTLE GOLDEN BOY
MOMENTS IN TIME
KAIPOLEIKA (Kaisoon x Polska) with MOUTARD D’OR
by Madmaymour in 1989.
Story and photographs by Betty Finke
P
AHW > 46 < 08.19
sharon
(sharon)
#1