A groom from SK Janów Podlaski, who saved the valuable stallions Witraż and Wielki Szlem from death during the carpet bombing of Dresden.
He was born in 1898.
Jan Ziniewicz started working with horses as an 18-year-old young man in 1916, when the stud was evacuated deep into Russia during the First World War.
After returning to Poland, he worked as a groom in a stud with mares, and then with foals. In 1921, he started working in a racing stable. Every year in the season he went to the tracks in Lviv, Lublin, Piotrków and Przemyśl. In 1937 he won the Olsza Oaks and in the same season the Comparative Award on Lowelas (by Koheilan I).
He especially fondly remembers his stay in Lwów, where in 1939 the war found them. Under the command of trainer Szyszka, they rode to Białka, but their horses were taken there by the army. The following were lost to Polish breeding: Skrzyp, Kasztelan, Sumak, Rozmaryn, Robak, Rdest and Ramajana.
From Białka, they walked for 5 days to Janów Podlaski. During the occupation, Ziniewicz worked in the head stable as a groom. He took care of, among others, Witraż, Wielki Szlem and Werset. In 1943, he transported the stallion Witezia and two mares, Wierna and Zalotna, to the Hostownia Stud (Czechoslovakia).
During the evacuation of the stud farm in 1944, he initially took care of 8 horses. During a stop at the station in Biała, he had a great desire to return home, but he was alone in the carriage and "didn't have the heart to leave the horses unattended".
On February 13, 1945, he and his horses found themselves in Dresden at the time of the carpet bombing of that city. He led Witraż and Wielki Szlem. He did not let go of the horses even for a moment, even when incendiary bombs were falling next to them. He recalls the exceptional calmness with which our Arabians reacted to the "hell" around them. After the stud reached Nettelau, he was the commandant of the leading stable until he returned to Posadów in autumn 1946. As part of his leave, he went to Janów and stayed there (at the instigation of R. Kajetanowicz).
He worked there for 3 years with stallions and went with them to mating points. After returning to the Janów Stud, he moved to the head stable and worked there as a commandant until his retirement in 1963. His beloved horse was Wacpan, whom he took care of until his death.
Author: Antoni Święciki
Source: "People of the Janów Stud" (1967)
Entry updated: 31.05.2024/XNUMX/XNUMX
Jan Ziniewicz died on April 26, 1975 at the age of 77. He was buried at the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Janów Podlaski (52.190278, 23.215833).
Publications in the Polish Digital Equestrian Library:
Click on the links below to access related materials in the Polish Digital Equestrian Library (will open in a new tab):
"People of the Janów Stud" (1967) - Antoni Święcki
Mark Trela
Bow. vet. Arabian horse breeder, in the years 2000-2016 president of the Janów Podlaski Stud, vice-president of the World Federation of Arabian Horses (WAHO).
Janów Podlaski Horse Stud
On October 6, 1816, Tsar Alexander I of Russia signed a decree establishing the State Stud Farm and Stallion Stud. The over 200-year history of this stud farm is a beautiful history of Polish and world Arabian horse breeding.
Andrzej Krzyształowicz
SK in Janów Podlaski is inseparably associated with the figure of its long-term director. He became a legend while still alive.
STAINED GLASS (OFIR – MAKATA)
Stained glass - played a significant role in the world's purebred horse breeding. Even in Australia, Aladdin's son has recently become a champion.
GRAND SLAM (OFIR – ELEGANTKA)
Very correct build, deep, broad in the chest, medium movement, head not large, large dark eye.”
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