Stud in Sieraków

The Stud in Sieraków (Polish: Stado Ogierów w Sierakowie; French: Haras de Sieraków) is a state-owned horse-breeding enterprise based in Sieraków, Poland. It is described as the oldest stallion herd on Polish territory. The stud was established in 1829 by the Prussian authorities within the Grand Duchy of Poznań, initially as a state stud and stallion depot (Posensches Land-Gestüt). The first stallions arrived from German studs that year, and Major von der Brinken became its first manager. The horses were housed in adapted 16th- and 17th-century stables with a capacity of 120 horses. Although the stud was briefly closed in 1855, the stallion depot continued to develop and demand for Sieraków stallions grew. By the eve of World War I the stud held 213 stallions. The war did not greatly disrupt operations, but by its end 130 horses, including the most valuable, had been stolen. In 1919 the stud passed under the management of the first Polish-appointed director, Count Stefan Sumiński, whose main task was to rebuild the herd; by 1924 it numbered 185 stallions. Before World War II the stud was evacuated east to the Białka stud, and only a small part of the horses returned to Sieraków after the war. During the war the herd was under military administration and was supplemented with German stallions; it was preserved with difficulty through the efforts of many committed people. The horses returned to Sieraków in August 1946, with engineer Stanisław Hay as the first post-war director. The creation of the Horse Breeders' Association had a major impact on restoring the stock, and the post-war number of stallions reached 185. In 1977 a new administrative division of the country radically changed the areas served by the stud toward the western part of Poznań Voivodeship, Leszno Voivodeship, part of Wrocław Voivodeship and Zielona Góra Voivodeship. Until 1993 it operated as a state agricultural farm under the name State Stallion Stud Sieraków Wielkopolski. In 1993 the stud was admitted to the Agricultural Property Agency of the State Treasury and adopted the name Stallion Stud of Sieraków. From 1994 it operated as the State Treasury Stallion Stud Sieraków, and in 1997 a company named Stallion Stud Sieraków Wielkopolski Ltd. was created. In 2003 the stallion studs of Gniezno, Książ, Biały Bór and Łobez were added to the Sieraków company. Currently three stallion studs belong to the company: Sieraków, Gniezno and Książ. The stud is dedicated to horse breeding, equestrian sport, recreation and tourism. Its operating area covers about 118 hectares and the herd comprises 200 horses, including a conservative herd of Polish Konik horses. In 1980 the Polish Post issued a series of eight postage stamps to mark the stud's 150th anniversary, with designs by Professor Ludwik Maciąg.

In the 1820s the Prussian authorities decided to create the state stud and stallion depot of Poznań (German: Posensches Land-Gestüt) on the territory of the Grand Duchy of Poznań. In 1829 the first stallions from German studs were brought in; that year is considered the founding date of the stud. Major von der Brinken became its first manager. The horses were housed in adapted 16th- and 17th-century stables with a capacity of 120 horses. Soon mares were also brought to the unit, but the stud was closed in 1855. Meanwhile the stallion depot developed successfully and demand for Sieraków stallions increased. Before World War I the stud counted 213 stallions. The war did not greatly disturb the unit's operation, but at its end 130 horses, including the most valuable, were stolen. In 1919 the stud passed under the management of the first director appointed by the Polish authorities, Count Stefan Sumiński. His main task was to rebuild the herd. By 1924 the herd already numbered 185 stallions. The political situation before the start of World War II led to the evacuation of the stud eastward. The horses were moved without major losses to the Białka stud, from which only a small part returned to Sieraków after the war. During the war the herd was under military administration and its population was supplemented with German stallions. At the end of the war the herd was preserved with difficulty, thanks to the efforts of many committed people. The horses returned to Sieraków in August 1946, the first post-war director being engineer Stanisław Hay. The creation of the Horse Breeders' Association had a great impact on restoring the stock. The number of stallions after World War II was 185. In 1977, following the introduction of a new administrative division of the country, there was a radical change in the areas served by the herd toward the western part of Poznań Voivodeship, Leszno Voivodeship, part of Wrocław Voivodeship and Zielona Góra Voivodeship. Until 1993 it operated as a state agricultural farm under the name State Stallion Stud Sieraków Wielkopolski. In 1993 the stud was admitted to the Agricultural Property Agency of the State Treasury and adopted the name Stallion Stud of Sieraków. From 1994 it operated under the name State Treasury Stallion Stud Sieraków, and in 1997 a company named Stallion Stud Sieraków Wielkopolski Ltd. was created. In 2003 the stallion studs of Gniezno, Książ, Biały Bór and Łobez were added to the Sieraków company. Currently three stallion studs belong to the company: Sieraków, Gniezno and Książ.

• 2003

  Stallion studs of Gniezno, Książ, Biały Bór and Łobez are added to the Sieraków company.

• 1997

  Company named Stallion Stud Sieraków Wielkopolski Ltd. is created.

• 1994

  Operates under the name State Treasury Stallion Stud Sieraków.

• 1993

  Admitted to the Agricultural Property Agency of the State Treasury; adopts the name Stallion Stud of Sieraków.

• 1980

  Polish Post issues a series of eight stamps for the stud's 150th anniversary, designed by Professor Ludwik Maciąg.

• 1977

  New administrative division radically changes the areas served by the stud.

• 1946

  Horses return to Sieraków in August; engineer Stanisław Hay becomes first post-war director.

• 1924

  The herd numbers 185 stallions.

• 1919

  The stud passes under management of the first Polish-appointed director, Count Stefan Sumiński.

• 1855

  The stud is closed, while the stallion depot continues to develop.

• 1829

  First stallions from German studs arrive; founding date of the stud; Major von der Brinken becomes first manager.

Poland's oldest stallion stud, a state-owned breeding institution combining warmblood stallion management with equestrian sport, recreation and tourism.

• Stallion Stud Sieraków

  Main stud and headquarters, breeding warmblood stallions and maintaining a conservative herd of Polish Konik horses.

• Stallion Stud Gniezno

  Stallion stud added to the Sieraków company in 2003.

• Stallion Stud Książ

  Stallion stud added to the Sieraków company in 2003.

1. 1Stud in Sieraków – Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Haras de Sieraków – Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org
3. 3Official websitestadoogierow.eu