Remembering Izabella Pawelec-Zawadzka

R Remembering

Mrs. Izabella Pawelec-Zawadzka

50 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ JUNE 2015

R Remembering

Mrs. Izabella Pawelec-Zawadzka

50 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ JUNE 2015

Mrs. Zawadzka meets up with an old friend, Monogramm (Negatraz x Monogramma), at his home in Sebastopol, California, in 2013. Mrs. Zawadzka was instrumental in arranging Monogramm’s lease to Michalow Stud in the early 1990s.

T

he Arabian breed mourns the loss of its preeminent ambassador Mrs. Izabella Pawelec-Zawadzka. She was born in Warsaw, and her lifelong love of horses and passion led to a career at Animex and overseeing the Arabian State Studs in Poland — where her contributions are honored worldwide. She served in many other roles: on the Executive Committee of WAHO, as Vice President of ECAHO, and founder of the Polish Horse Breeders Association.

She was loved and respected in every country where the Arabian horse is revered.

But it was Mrs. Zawadzka as a person that made the biggest impact on me. As good friend Scott Benjamin likes to say, Mrs. Zawadzka could find something positive in any horse. Her optimistic voice echoes in my head every time I critique a horse, a wonderful reminder to find “some nice.”

My favorite story speaks of the tenacity of Mrs. Zawadzka.

We were having tea in Director Trela’s office at Janow Podlaski and looking at some studbooks from before the Second World War. When the Russians confiscated the horses after the invasion of 1939, the Poles gave the Russians these studbooks to take with the horses.

They wanted to make sure the Russians knew who the horses were so that eventually, even if it was the next generation, their blood could be returned to Poland. In the 1980s Mrs. Zawadzka was visiting the

Soviet Union and saw these books sitting on a shelf. She immediately grabbed them; hugging them to her chest, she exclaimed, “These are ours!” “Can you imagine,” chuckled the Director, “this Polish woman refusing to let go of them in the middle of Russia? That is Mrs. Zawadzka!”

There are so many horses that bear her mark, but one modern horse is noteworthy. Izabella recounted this story one pleasant afternoon in Janow: “We wanted a stallion from the Koheilan Adjuze sire line to enlarge the genetic pool. We were looking to bring the blood of Naftalin to Poland. We wanted his strength and movement. It so happens that I was in Bábolna judging. Tamas Rombauer was the manager of the stud at that time and he had Visbaden on lease, the Naftalin son out of Presnia. When they presented Visbaden, immediately I thought he could be the stallion to introduce to Poland. He had the best movement that I ever saw in my life, really! I told Director Krzyształowicz all of this, and we sent mares to Visbaden, and that is how the dam of Pogrom was bred.”

It was a perfect stroke of providence that Mrs. Zawadzka was in Las Vegas in 2013 to receive the Ambassador Award at the same time Pogrom was showing.

As we were waiting for the champion to be announced, I leaned over and asked her if she thought Pogrom would win. She gripped my arm with a strength that surprised me and whispered back with zeal, “He has to win!” When Pogrom was announced victorious, I asked if she would like to go down for the win picture. Modest and never presumptuous, Mrs. Zawadzka asked, “Do you think they would mind?”

It gives me great pleasure that I counted Mrs. Zawadzka as a teacher, mentor, and friend. She was always patient as I stumbled along with my Polish, always encouraging. We had a tradition at the Spring Show; after lunch I would hustle to buy us both an ice cream cone before the afternoon classes started. We would sit and enjoy the treat, talking about our favorite horses of the show so far. Last year was especially hot in Białka, and as we were chatting the ice cream was melting almost as fast as we could put it in our mouths. She looked up at me with a dribble of vanilla on her chin and gave a girlish giggle, saying airily, “May life always be so wonderful.” I will miss my friend.

— Jeffrey Wintersteen, Littleton, Colorado

51 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ JUNE 2015

talked long after the ice cream was consumed, then back to the car and back to the hotel. Afterward, in reviewing our afternoon, I was certain that I would never again know a stronger, more active, and more dedicated lady than Mrs. Zawadzka. “Arabian people” owe her much, and we were so fortunate to have had her among us.

— Mary Jane Parkinson, El Cajon, California

At the 2011 Polish Nationals, Krzysztof Gozdzialski and his son Lukasz of Falborek Stud, Poland, announced the sponsorship of an annual award, the “Izabella Pawelec-Zawadzka Polish National Junior Champion Colt Challenge Trophy.”

“All men’s souls are immortal, but the souls of the righteous are immortal and divine.” — Socrates he news of Mrs. Izabella’s death struck me like a bolt of lightning. Though I was aware of her progressing illness and of her recent frequent hospitalizations, I held the belief that it was temporary and that her time with us would never end. ome years ago, when I was in Poland I’ve known Mrs. Izabella for my entire professional life at Michalow Stud. I first for the annual summer week-long met her during the spring inspection at the racetrack in Warsaw. She was the Inspector celebration of Polish Arabians, Mrs. for Ministry of Agriculture at the time and was faithful to this job until she retired.

Zawadzka invited me to accompany her Following her retirement as inspector, she began part-time work with the Polish on an afternoon outing. We drove to Arabian Registry (PASB) and was also very active in WAHO. The job of Inspector Lazienki Park in Warsaw, parked her car, was her life’s passion. She was responsible for planning and overseeing the needs of the and walked a short distance along a dirt Arabian horse in Poland. She addressed every issue, concern, or question immediately. path, heavily shaded by some of the park’s Her attention to the matters at hand as they pertained to her position was incredible. I most beautiful natural growth of trees, sometimes had the impression that Arabian horses were the most important part of her a path bordered by Poland’s brightest personal life. flowers. At an outdoor cafe, we settled During the dark years of communism, when Poland was behind the iron curtain, down for some Arabian horse-talk and Mrs. Izabella organized our first trips to the European Arabian horse shows (like sizable dishes of Poland’s best-in-the-world Paris and Aachen) with grand determination and enthusiasm. She understood the importance of comparing the values and characteristics of Polish Arabian horses ice cream. Mrs. Zawadzka spoke of the with those of the Arabians all over the world. As it turned out, those trips were week’s winners at the Polish National Show and their ancestry, of the excitement very successful and established a strong position for Polish Arabian horses and their of the Arabian day at Warsaw’s racetrack, auctions globally. When she retired and was no longer able to attend the shows, she of her role in the week’s tour of the state eagerly watched them online and was always the first to offer congratulations. She studs, and of some of her all-time favorite was very concerned about the image of the Polish breeding program in the world Arabians. She reminisced about the efforts and emphasized that the success Polish Arabians experienced globally was due to the to bring the stallion Monogramm to commitment of a well-planned breeding program of great longevity.

Michalow State Stud and his outstanding As an individual, she was extremely warm and cordial. She always recognized the success as a sire there, of her several roles positive characteristics in people. Her vast number of years in the business and contact in the Polish government’s management with an international circle of Arabian horse enthusiasts gave her tremendous practical of the Polish state studs, and of her global and theoretical experience that she joyfully shared with everyone she knew. judging experiences. Mrs. Zawadzka She was one of the founders of ECAHO. After all these years, ECAHO still exists and Poland is one of the leading members of this very important organization. She also recalled in some detail the trials of daily was one of the founders of the Polish Arabian Breeders Society and acted as President life in Warsaw during World War II. for several years. She also founded and edited the popular Arabian horse publication, (Some of the bombing scars on palaces and civic buildings were still visible.) We Araby Magazine.

S

T

52 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ JUNE 2015

My most treasured moments with Mrs. Izabella were the times when we spoke of her dreams and plans of changing the world of Arabian horse breeding. She taught both in words and by example that we must persevere and remember that the value of the Polish Arabian breeding program is sacred and deserves a life’s devotion to it.

— Jerzy Bialobok, Director of Michalow Stud, Poland

I

n the early days of the Paris World Championships, sometime in the 1980s, we had a lot of fun with Mrs. Zawadzka and the Poles. We stayed at the show grounds in the evening, drinking a lot of vodka with them. In the middle of the night the Polish guys let their mares free in the show grounds.

One of the trainers from Janow was sitting in the middle of the ring with his arms held out to heaven, and all he said was, “Etruria, Etruria, Etruria…” and the mare came to him in the middle of the ring.

Mrs. Zawadzka was at that party, too. And when we saw each other at Aachen last year, we talked about that night. The good old days! It was so much fun.

I saw her on many occasions. She was always friendly, with her heart in the right place. She loved the horses.

LISA ABRAHAM PH

OTO

— Jan Calis, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Mrs. Zawadzka with Jerzy Bialobok, Director of Michalow Stud, left, and Dr. Marek Trela, Director of Janow Podlaski Stud, right.

A

n old Polish proverb reads,“There are no irreplaceable people.”

The absence of Mrs. Izabella Zawadzka proves that some people are indeed very hard to replace. Her friends will feel her absence for a long, long time. I had the privilege of working with Mrs. Zawadzka in Poland and also during countless international trips for ECAHO and WAHO. I witnessed how her deep knowledge was supported by her personal characteristics of kindness, respect, and diplomacy together with unbelievable persistence. This is why her opinions were always received with attention and respect. In her speeches and articles, one could feel her endless passion for Arabian horses and determination for their welfare. She created standards and stayed on guard. She was kind, but very demanding. For others and myself she was an example of how to care for horses and place the interest of the breed above our own interests. For decades Mrs. Zawadzka was the most important pillar of Polish and international breeding.

I am forever grateful that I was able to spend countless hours talking with her about stallions, foals, and plans for the future.

There certainly are people that are impossible to replace.

Mrs. Zawadzka at the All Nations Cup in Aachen in 2014 with Jan Calis, and below with Etruria (Palas x Etna), World, European, and Polish Champion and dam of distinguished sires Etogram, Etman, and Ecaho.

— Marek Trela, Director of Janow Podlaski Stud, Poland

53 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ JUNE 2015

M

rs. Zawadzka was a mentor for me. She helped me to understand the breeding program of Polish horses. She also taught me something very important: that you have always to look at other horses outside your stable in a positive way and to be very critical in your own stable. She also taught me to select carefully every year.

Nevertheless she is the breeder of my stallion Extreme, who did a superb job on my Ekstern mares. When I brought his mother Elegantka to Janow Podlaski to be bred to Eukaliptus, they told us that he wasn’t available anymore for outside mares. I called Mrs. Zawadzka and she advised me to use Ararat and so we did. I am still very grateful for this advice.

I will always remember Mrs. Zawadzka as a very intelligent, wise, knowledgeable, diplomatic, trustful, pleasant, strong, positive-minded, and humble person. I never met a person with so many talents in one person in my life. I am not even sure that I didn’t forget one.

Mrs. Zawadzka will always be in my mind and heart. Every time that a pretty foal is born at my farm, I think of her and I thank her for all her advice she gave me in the past.

— Christine Jamar, Jadem Arabians, Belgium

I

’ve known Mrs. Zawadzka for nearly 20 years, and although our paths only crossed a couple of times a year, she always greeted me with the grace of a true lady. Rather than a typical hug and, “It’s nice to see you again,” she would kiss my cheeks and say “Thank you for being a good friend to the Polish Arabian horse.”

It meant so much coming from a lady whose life was synonymous with the Arabian horse.

— Stuart Vesty, Aurora, Colorado

Mrs. Zawadzka with Christine Jamar of Jadem Arabians, Belgium.

“To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

I

have always loved this quote by Emerson. When the message came in the early hours of the morning on March 27, 2015, that Mrs. Zawadzka had died, his words echoed through my mind as I struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the loss of this extraordinary human being whose dedication to the Arabian horse has had such an impact on many over the course of the last seven decades.

There are many others who are certainly more qualified to expound on the life of Mrs. Zawadzka; others who knew her longer, who worked more closely with her, and those who shared responsibilities with her in important governing positions within our industry. I can only share my experience with this remarkable woman, the perspective of an outsider on the inside of Poland, a privilege I enjoyed over the last quarter century. That privilege of being an essential “part of the family” in Poland has been a result of the unwavering support and enthusiastic affirmation of Mrs. Zawadzka.

Having known of the “First Lady of the Polish Arabian Horse” since my earliest involvement with horses in the late 1970s, I met her for the first time in the summer of 1991, during the busy days of activities of the Polish National Show and the Polish Prestige Auction at Janow Podlaski. Like so many who had their first encounter with Mrs. Zawadzka at this annual international pilgrimage, I was in awe of her from afar, captivated by her knowledgeable and intimate commentary on the horses from the State Studs in both the auction and the National Show. She was a wellspring of facts and insights, and I wanted nothing more than to know the Arabian horse as well as she did, and to hone my ability to share that understanding with the rest of the world in a compelling way. I was in greater awe of her depth and breadth of knowledge 54 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ JUNE 2015

Visiting Emigrant (Ararat x Emigrantka) at Manny Vierra’s Valley Oaks Arabians in Brentwood, CA

Mrs. Zawadzka with 2008 Polish National Champion Mare Pianissima (Gazal Al Shaqab x Pianosa), shown by Greg Gallún. of the Arabian horse after reading her written commentary of Polish Arabian horses past and present in the auction catalogs.

Upon meeting her for the first time during the National Show that same summer, I was spellbound by her grace and composure, her kindness and compassion, and most of all by her indomitable optimism. She emanated positivity, always seeming to find the best in every horse and every person she met. She had a knack for identifying strengths and talents in people, and for encouraging those she cared about to chart their own courses in life in unconventional ways.

Mrs. Zawadzka was the sunshine at each and every breeding inspection in Poland for all her years of service, never missing an opportunity to point out the best attributes of the generations of horses she had the privilege to know. I particularly loved those moments when she left her seat of honor at an inspection to pat a beloved horse, reminding us all just how special these horses were to her.

Mrs. Zawadzka had the privilege to work with two of the finest horsemen and breeders the Arabian world has ever known: the late Directors Andrzej Krzysztalowicz from Janow Podlaski and Ignacy Jaworowski from Michalow.

From these men she gained her appreciation of the Arabian horse as well as her sense of history, how to evaluate breeding stock and how to

make the tough decisions required of all horse breeders. She was the perfect complement to these brilliant, yet challenging men, lending her optimism and communication skills. The success of Polish Arabian breeding over the last seven decades is a direct result of the cooperation and dedication of these three champions of the Arabian horse.

Mrs. Zawadzka was directly involved in so many of the transformative activities in Poland of the last five decades, including the annual Polish auction, the Polish National Show, the annual visits to the State Studs and the record-setting Polish Ovation sale in Scottsdale. She served as the Polish delegate and was on the executive committees of both WAHO and ECAHO from their inception — organizations that have defined, altered, and guided Arabian horse activity around the world over the last half century. She was also the first president of the Polish Arabian Breeders Society, an organization she helped found, and one that has brought together the efforts of the State Studs and the private breeding programs of Poland.

Mrs. Zawadzka was the “Face and Voice” of Poland, advocating for the Polish Arabian horse in all her responsibilities. I cannot imagine another person more perfectly suited to the role of spokesperson and PR campaign manager for Poland and the Arabian horse. She was an inspiration to all of us who love and steward the Arabian horse all around the world, and in recognition of her lifetime of commitment and achievement she was awarded the Ambassador Award by the AHBA at the 2013 Arabian Breeders World Cup in Las Vegas.

55 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ JUNE 2015

Imagining a world without Mrs. Zawadzka fills me with sadness, as did the losses of both Krzysztalowicz and Jaworowski before her. Her passing marks the end of an era in Poland, the final pillar from the post-war era of Polish breeding to leave us. I miss her laugh, her smile, her quiet confidence and her optimism. I think a part of me will always look for her each August under the marquee, at the spring and autumn breeding inspections, at the events in Poland and around the world that have relied on her presence and perspective for so many years. I know that I will find her each time I look, for the spirit of Mrs. Zawadzka lives on in the Arabian horse that she so deeply loved, and in each and every one of us who had the honor and privilege to know her. It is the end of a great journey for Mrs. Zawadzka, but just the beginning of a responsibility we all now share to ensure that her perspective and positivity thrive on, ensuring a better and brighter future for the Arabian horse.

Thank you, Mrs. Zawadzka, for inspiring us all through example and for giving the best of yourself to the world. The world is an infinitely richer and more wonderful place because you have lived. Our appreciation, our gratitude, and our love for you is boundless and unending ….

Mrs. Zawadzka and Anette Mattsson visit with *Ecaho (*Pepton x Etruria) at Haras de Cardenas, Santa Ynez, California.

— Scott Benjamin, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

W

ords cannot express the immense pain and sadness that I feel of the loss of my dear friend Mrs. Zawadzka. She was an amazing inspiration to everyone that met her — with her positive attitude, huge knowledge and great passion for the Arabian horse.

I feel truly blessed to have known her for 30 years and life will not be the same without her in it. I will miss her and our talks.

Thank you dearest Iza for everything you have done for the Arabian horse, for our precious friendship, and all the great memories, I will cherish them forever.

Rest in peace my wonderful friend.

— Anette Mattsson, Sweden

Mrs. Zawadzka and George Zbyszewski.

M

rs. Izabella had a tremendously positive impact on my life, especially as it pertains to judging horses. She taught me to first look for the positive qualities and attributes in a horse as opposed to immediately seeking their faults. One of my favorite memories of Mrs. Izabella is from the Arabian Breeders World Cup Show in Las Vegas when she received the AHBA Ambassador Award in 2013.

I had the privilege of tending to Mrs. Izabella during the four-day event and treasured every minute of it. I asked her if she was interested in seeing one of the Vegas shows on the strip. I warned her that the shows run very late in the evening, most not beginning before 10:00 p.m. and suggested it might be too late in the evening to enjoy. Her response was perfect, “That’s not too late George, we can go out dancing afterwards.”

Truly classic … truly special … forever in my heart.

— George Zbyszewski, Ocala, Florida

56 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ JUNE 2015

I

have been so very fortunate to know Mrs. Zawadzka since the middle 70s. Mrs. Zawadzka is renowned for her knowledge of the Polish pedigrees. A gentle, beautiful lady, loyal, with her whole heart given to the Arabian horses of Poland. Fortunately for me, Mrs. Zawadzka always appreciated the horses I bred and so she came to the farm several times through the years.

We will miss Mrs. Zawadzka for her knowledge of the Polish horse and the horses themselves.

I will also miss her so very much for the encouragement she gave me through the years on my breeding program and the horses I was breeding. Godspeed, Mrs. Zawadzka, and thank you.

— Sheila Varian, Arroyo Grande, California

Mrs. Zawadzka with Sheila Varian and Desperado V (Huckleberry Bey x Daraska), in 2013.

I

t was August 1991 — Poland was in the midst of a transition from a totalitarian system to a democratic free market economy. That was my first visit to Poland, and that’s when I first met Mrs. Zawadzka. We talked about horses, of course, but Poland’s future was very much on everyone’s mind. “We feel very free in our country,” she said. “All these patriotic traditions — they are alive now.

However, this transition … is very, very difficult. Mentally, people are not ready for it, especially the older and middle-aged people. They are not prepared for the rather tough responsibilities which accompany the free market systems.” She was concerned, too, about the possible privatization of the State Stud farms. “There are so many examples of private farms whose breeding programs ended with the death of the owner. All the breeding lost. That’s why it’s important to continue in spite of politics.”

She was right, of course. A friend of hers told me recently, that Mrs. Zawadzka coped under communism, but the day democracy arrived, she threw it off and embraced freedom and the new order as though it had always been so. An adaptable and pragmatic woman.

I think about her cloud of snow-white hair, the cadence of her singsong voice, and the way, on that summer day in Poland so many years ago, she took me aside to point out her favorite mares, beaming with pride and love. And by sharing that love, I couldn’t help but love them too.

— Denise Hearst, Arabian Horse World, California.

57 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ JUNE 2015

T

he mid 80s — my first Arabian horse auction at Janow Podlaski. The bidding is swift, auctioneer Marek Grzybowski keeps on accepting higher and higher offers and when I thought the hammer would fall and he would shout “Sold,” a silence spread over the gathered crowd and a warm voice began to tell a tale about the presented mare — a tale of beauty, pride, courage.

That’s how Mrs. Zawadzka spoke about her beloved horses. I was fortunate to get to know her better in later years during the preparations of subsequent auctions — when she painstakingly chose music from vinyl albums and cassettes — individually for each horse, because “every horse is different, each one deserves to have its best traits emphasized by music,” she said. Looking through dozens of photographs done by Zofia Raczkowska for the sale catalog she told tales about every horse, its descendants, its produce, victorious races and — much to my surprise — she said all this straight from memory. She was a true walking encyclopedia of the Arabian horse.

After retiring Mrs. Zawadzka continued to work at the Polish Arabian Stud Book, remained active in international organizations, was the president of the Polish Arabian Horse Breeders Society and still found time to fulfill her biggest dream — a publication devoted to Arabian horses. And so in 2006 the first issue of Araby Quarterly (since 2012 under a new name of Araby Magazine) became available at newsstands.

Looking back today, as I flip through the tens of published issues, I see how strongly Mrs. Zawadzka wanted to acquaint readers — both breeders and Arabian enthusiasts — with certain horses, their stories, present people associated with breeding, but also to highlight breeding problems and bring coverage from current events. Every article was illustrated with photographs personally chosen by her — she was a perfectionist. We often ended work on the magazine late in the night, asking collaborating photographers to still change a photo Mrs. Zawadzka and Alina Sobieszak look on as Scott or two.

Benjamin presents the 2011 Polish Best Breeder Award to Michalow Stud Director Jerzy Bialobok.

Known and valued internationally, her name often “opened closed doors.”

We were able to interview famous breeders, trainers, handlers, and experts, as a We often drove together with clients recognition for her great authority. to the studs and during those travels Mrs. She was resolute as a person, but always very warm, and the sight of animals — Zawadzka always managed to interest the especially horses and cats — always brought a beautiful smile to her face. guests with the stud’s history and the people It was she who showed me the magical world of Arabian horses; it was from working there — always with passion, but her that I learned about the history of horses and studs; it was thanks to her that also with a sense of what is most interesting I met plenty of wonderful people. Since 2006 she shared her passion with the for a given person. She also used this as an readers of Araby/Araby Magazine quarterly — “her baby.” She was so happy with the opportunity to speak about the history of publication of the latest issue. She had so many plans, ideas, articles waiting to be Poland, about the difficult times of war, after finished. Though bedridden in the hospital, she still spoke about the next issue … which Polish Arabian horse breeding rose why must we talk about it in the past tense? like a phoenix from the ashes, about horses Mrs. Zawadzka passed away on March 27, 2015, at the age of 77. that had a great influence on world breeding.

— Alina Sobieszak, Warsaw, Poland She had the gift of being able to interest others with her passion and always shared her knowledge. She always said that she “learned from the best — Director Andrzej Krzyształowicz and Director Ignacy Jaworowski,” whereas later the directors’ successors turned to Mrs. Zawadzka for knowledge and advice. In one of its last issues Araby Magazine published a conversation-type interview of Mrs. Zawadzka with Director Marek Trela. I recorded that conversation and planned to write it down later. But after listening to the first couple of sentences I knew I Mrs. Zawadzka with 1995 Polish National Reserve Champion Mare Erlanda could not put it down. It was a fascinating (*Eukaliptus x Emigracja), and from left, Ignacy Jaworoski, then Director of Michalow conversation between two people in love Stud, Jerzy Bialobok, then Assistant Manager of Michalow Stud, handler Tadeusz with Arabian horses, who understood each Wojtal, and Urszula Bialobok, then Assistant Breeding Manager of Michałów Stud. other in a flash.

58 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ JUNE 2015

I

first met Mrs. Izabella in 1973 when she began her job as Inspector of the Polish Arabian State Stud Farms for the Ministry of Agriculture. We liked each other immediately and shared a special bond owing to our love of the Arabian horse.

In the dark days of communism, Izabella brought a window of optimism and shared her tremendous wisdom of Arabian horses with everyone she met.

She was always very well dressed and due to her knowledge of several languages, she represented the Polish Arabian breeding program throughout the world.

Her beginning years as Inspector were pretty difficult because of the need to cooperate with two huge individuals at the State Stud farms, Director Krzysztalowicz of Janow Podlaski and Director Jaworowski of Michalow. Her class and wonderful personality helped her pass the test with flying colors. She established a very strong position in the world of Polish Arabian horses. She was so detail oriented and articulate and demanded hours of rehearsal prior to the auctions at Janow. She insured there was proper music selection for every single horse and made certain that there would be no unexpected events.

Following her retirement as the President of the Polish Arabian Horse Society, she remained very involved. The last time we spoke was moments before

the annual meeting. She phoned from the hospital to wish us a successful meeting.

Mrs. Izabella was also a treasured friend of my late mother whom she visited in Warsaw frequently. She attended my mother’s last birthday (her ninetieth). My visits to Warsaw were infrequent, but when I did go, we shopped, enjoyed wonderful meals together and supported each other with personal health issues. I truly admired her will and strength. Sometimes when I was physically unable to continue, she would insist on seeing the foals in the barn. She never had enough of the horses.

I viewed Mrs. Izabella as immortal. The news of her death hit me like a bolt of lightning. I could not believe that it had happened. Her death closed once and forever a chapter of our professional and personal lives. A person with her qualities will not come again in our lifetime. I am very sorry that I could not attend her funeral due to my own health issues. She appeared in my dream sitting on a bench in a blue meadow surrounded by her favorite Arabian mares grazing nearby. Farewell.

— Urszula Bialobok, Breeding Manager, Michalow Stud, Poland

Mrs. Zawadzka’s stately funeral procession on April 5, 2015, led by Eutona (Etogram x Euterpe), El Dorada (*Sanadik El Shaklan x Emigrantka), and Cirka (Borek x Cuma).

59 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ JUNE 2015