Sports beginnings
Damar was born in 1993. As a three-year old he was brought to Wrocław race track to try his hoof as a race horse. He was trained by Tadeusz Dembowski. Damar proved an average runner, but was making up with his extraordinary beauty. Sable, with a beautifully angled head and marvellously curving neck, he was catching everybody's eye. What's more, he had the spirit and that hard flicker in his eyes, which always adds to a horse's charm. "I noticed him already at the time. He would just grab your eye. He was gorgeous, sleek, even demonic" remembers Jerzy Sawka, the director of Partynice.
Horse casting
Damar went from Partynice to Gniezno, where he was used as an eventing horse. At the time Jerzy Hoffman started his work at "Ogniem i Mieczem" [With Fire and Sword], and the horse became one of 200 that went to the set. It was there that the Bohun's horse casting was held. "One thing was certain. It must have been a horse appropriate for a Cossack warlord. So when Damar stood before the committee, he outclassed his competitors. It was clear that the search for Bohun's horse was over. You're in the army now! Damar spent several months on the set, and then became a military horse. But he didn't have to toil wandering through forests trails. Again, his looks proved helpful and the horse ended up in the Representative Troops. Soon enough his health problems started: the horse went lame. "I decided to but him off anyway. After all, it proved a minor contusion" remembers Jerzy Sawka. And this is where the joint adventure of Damar and the current director of Wrocław Horse Race Track begins. The horse whisperer Damar was not a meek horse. He was vicious, stubborn, and often bolted. Such a horse is not appropriate for leisure riders. "At the time a new line of approach to horses was getting popular, a psychological one" adds Sawka. Together with Damar, he passed a horse whisperer course. It wasn't easy, but ended up with complete success. "Today Damar is a perfect example of obedience. He reacts to whistling, plays tag, takes a bow, and never bolts while riding. And this is very important, because he can now serve as a saddle horse for children or the elderly" says Sawka. Quite a flock of offspring The horse's beauty was the reason for a long line of breeders lining up to Damar to sire many foals. How many of these horse liaisons proved successful is not known, however. "I think he bred ca. 100 mares. He sired ca. 70 children. It's quite a lot" says Sawka. The PR horse Despite his elderly age - Damar is 21 today, which is quite a lot for a horse - he will never face boring retirement. The horse is now the property of Fundacja Rozwoju Jeździectwa w Polsce [Foundation For Equestrianism Development in Poland]. He came back under his own vine and fig tree, though: Wrocław Horse Race Track leased him as a PR specialist. "We want the residents of Wrocław to know that here they can meet a genuine horse superstar. After all, nearly 7 million people saw him on the silver screen - adds the director of Partynice track. "Now he will be available for snapshots, petting or riding.
For Damar it won't be hard work. As every genuine celebrity he likes to be the centre of attention. The horse will be showed this Sunday during another race day at Wrocław Partynice race track.
Bej
Photo: Zenon Żyburtowicz and private archive.
