Dongola

photo: archive

When Wilhelm II of Wuerttemberg passed away in 1921, his daughter, Princess Pauline zu Wied, inherited the Weil Stud and its renowned Arabian horses. Driven by her passion for breeding excellent Arabian horses, Pauline sought to enhance the bloodlines by introducing Egyptian Arabians, including the distinguished grey stallion Jasir, imported from Mohamed Ali’s stud in Egypt. Jasir, sired by Mabrouk Manial and out of the noble mare Negma, became a foundation sire at Weil Stud. After Weil was dispersed in 1932, Jasir was transferred to Marbach State Stud where he produced daughters who left lasting legacies such as Jacaranda, Jatta, Isabella, Jemen and Jadine. Another one was Dongola.
Dongola's dam was the grey Weil bred Doris. Doris was sired by Dardziling, a bay stallion born at Chrestowka Stud of the Sanguszko family in Poland. Dardziling came to Weil as an exchange for Sonntag (purebred, Weil 1908), served as a sire at Weil from 1914 to 1917 before being traded for Djeiran to Trakehnen. In 1930, he was moved to Graditz, but his later whereabouts remain unknown. Known for his poor ankle joints, Dardziling was not considered a good producer.
Doris' family is still vital at Marbach today through her daughter Dinarsad by Dynamit.
Standing at 153 cm or 15.1hh, Dongola was a characteristic representative of Marbach's 'D'-line which still exists today: strong riding horse qualities and an elegant tail carriage but not that fine in type as the Straight Egyptians held at Marbach.
Producing no foals at the Swabian Stud, Dongola was purchased in 1935 by Landstallmeister Ehlert for Trakehnen.
Outstationed in Bajohrgallen/Goltzfelde, she served there as a broodmare from 1935 to 1944. She produced 4 Trakehner foals. In 1942, Dongola gave birth to her first Arabian purebred: Donata by Fetysz. Two years later followed her last foal, a full-brother to Donata. In 1945, Dongola, along with her stablemates from Trakehnen, was evacuated to Germany. However, she was captured by the Russians and transferred to Kirow Stud, together with her daughter Donata. Neither Dongola nor Donata was able to establish a lasting family in Russia, and their line is now lost for the Arabian horse breeding. However, Dongola's daughter Donna established a small, but vital Trakehner family, especially through her four daughters Donau, Donauwelle, Domglocke and Donnerwolke.