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Shagya as a distinct horse breed and the English Thoroughbred XX as the founder of the A-line breeding line 999 Anselmo 

Origin of the mares in the Austro-Hungarian imperial stud farms

• Bábolna at its foundation (1789, decree of Joseph II): According to Wikipedia (de), the foundation stock was ‘a colourful mix of mares of the most diverse breeds’. These included:
  • Arabian mares;
  • Lipizzaner;
  • Spanish (Andalusian) mares;
  • Moldavian mares;
  • Transylvanian mares.
  This diversity stemmed from the fact that Bábolna initially served as a quarantine station for imported horses.
• Due to the long period of Turkish occupation, the native mares of the region already carried a significant amount of Oriental blood. However, they were not purebred Arabians.
• Later, in order to increase size and calibre, individual mares of English Thoroughbred (XX) and Lipizzaner stock were also specifically introduced. This was always recorded in detail in the stud books.
• A specific example: the mare line 59 ‘Siebenbürgerin’ (Erdélyi), born in 1786 in Transylvania, produced numerous leading sires at Bábolna, including Shagya XX (1914) and Gazal II (1922).

In 1816, Vienna decreed that the mares of Bábolna were to be covered only by Arabian stallions. This year is regarded as the breed’s year of origin. The selection was therefore Arabian on the paternal side, with a mixed maternal lineage.

As confirmed by official sources

• The Bábolna stud itself states that the Shagya is ‘firmly separated from the purebred Arabian, mainly because of its type, height, size and skeleton’.
• The English Wikipedia states that the Shagya stallion was mainly used for cross-breeding and has no pure Arabian descendants today.

Suggested wording

‘The Shagya Arabian is a distinct breed that has been developed since 1816 in the state studs of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy through pure breeding and selection: on the sire’s side exclusively with purebred Arabian stallions, and on the dam’s side from a mixed broodmare base (Lipizzaner, Spanish, Moldavian and Transylvanian mares, and specifically also English Thoroughbreds). The description ‘largely based on purebred Arabians’ overlooks this mare lineage.’

The case is similar to that of the Haflinger: a half-Arabian as the founder (El Bedavi XXII → 249 foal) crossed with native mares, followed by a closed, independent breed. You may use this comparison in your argument if you wish.

Sources:

• Wikipedia (de) – Shagya Arab
• Wikipedia (de) – Bábolna Stud
• Wikipedia (en) – Shagya Arabian
• Bábolna National Stud – Shagya Arabian
• shagya.ch – Mare line 59 Siebenbürgerin
• In the Focus – ‘Shagya’ – A sire line as well as a breed name