The Aura of *Aramus An arabian classic in three acts by Cassie Parker-Charbonneau
In Poland, the historian Zenon Lipowicz wrote that the horse is man’s companion from the cradle to the grave. Polish artwork depicts the laughing child with his pony; the farm laborer with his draft horse; the red-coated lord with his hunter and the exotic Arabian posed in an elaborate stableyard resembling a stage setting. In the United States, we have traded equine companionship for the American dream of upward mobility — large, fast cars, “go-anywhere” recreation vehicles, helicopters and private jets. However, once in a while one of the proud breed, an elegant *Aramus
Arabian horse, inspires us with feelings beyond those of horse-asornamental-stable-piece. The Russian-bred stallion, *Naborr, was one of these special Arabians; his Polish-born son *Aramus was equally admired as a horse that struck awe in the observer. These two aristocratic sires, sharing the same Saklawi strain type, were treasures such as described in “The Outermost House:”
sire Negatiw, to the Skowronek dynasty were explored. As a prolific sire and champion in his own right, *Naborr set the stage in the United States for the heralded introduction of several trademark sons from abroad. To name a few, the *Naborr imports from Poland included *Mirzaz, *Werbor, *Druzba, *Gwalior, *Faraon and *Aramus [Aramis] who was
The animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older
foaled January 1, 1962 at the Michalów State Stud and imported
and more complete than ours, they move finished and
by the Burton Arabian Farm of Wisconsin in May 1967.
complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or
Like father, like son,*Aramus, an alabaster colt of 15 hands
never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are
with the classic swan neck and smooth level croup of his line,
not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations,
stood out in silver elegance from his P.A.S.B. “class of 1962.”
caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow
Even though he proved unlikely as a racer (like his sire he won
prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth.
only two out of several starts), his movement was riveting in its
natural grace with fluid animation and genuine, floating gaits.
—Henry Beston
Furthermore, *Aramus imitated *Naborr in the most important regard in producing Arabian foals from a variety of bloodlines
Like Father, Like Son However, to begin at the source of the *Naborr/*Aramus
that were as alike as “peas in a pod.” All offspring exuded extreme presence and the sterling, share-your-tent disposition prized by Arabian lovers everywhere. Several comments from
mystique, please refer to The Arabian Horse Times, November
observers seeing *Aramus for the first time were practically
1999, pages 94 - 99, where the international adventures of
word-for-word those expressed about initial *Naborr viewings
*Naborr — foaled at Tersk in 1950, and ultimate heir, via his
— “Real excitement; perfection in a Polish import; stamps his
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ARABIAN HORSE TIMES • JUNE 2000