Breeding came somewhat more naturally. Her program has been a reflection of her own taste in Arabians, built largely from Polish, Egyptian and Russian stock. She recalls when her interest in Polish bloodlines was sparked. They had gone to the European Championships, in Ostend, Belgium, in 1986, to show a couple of horses, and she fell in love with Pilarka, who was named Champion Mare, and Penitent, Champion Stallion. It would be several years before Pilarka joined the Halsdon Arabians broodmare band, but on that day, Shirley Watts became fascinated with the ‘P’ bloodline of Janów Podlaski Stud. Four years later, she and Charlie attended their first Polish Sale and National Show, and since then, they have missed very few. “You couldn’t keep me away,” she says. “I’d say, ‘I’m not going to buy anything this year.’ Charlie kept threatening to tie my hands to my ankles.” Her smile is apparent. “He’d just go to get a cup of coffee …” Over the years, Halsdon Arabians became home to many top horses of Polish ancestry. The ‘P’ line was in residence—among others, there was the stallion Piechur, who died recently at the age of 33, and Platoon, Pilot and Pikieta—and in time, Michalów’s ‘E’ line was added. An Egyptian perspective that included the stallion Simeon Sadik was introduced, along with a dash of Russian, and a selection of British and American horses. And through the years, Halsdon Arabians has accounted for a steady flow of national titles all over Europe and Scandinavia.
Piechur
Platoon
Pikieta
Simeon Sadik H alsdon a r abians
Pilot