Post by Nadia Kilian on Apr 23, 2019 8:18:28 GMT
The Birkenheim Gestüt was founded in 1756, near the eastern border of Eastern Prussia. Its main goal was breeding and training horses for the military, working with Königlich Preußisches Hauptgestüt Trakehnen to create the highest quality Trakehners for prussian cavalry. After the World War I Birkenheim's focus shifted from breeding and training to training and competing. Unfortunately, the bad management and decreasing need for horses in general caused the stables to sell more and more animals and close off more and more buildings. In the end, in 1936, Birkenheim ceased to be.
During World War II all the facilities stood forgotten and decaying with no one to take ownership. The bullet holes found on the walls before renovations indicated that there might have been some minor battles in the area, but nothing that the history decided worth mentioning. It was only after the war that the complex was used as a state-owned collective farm, still focusing on horses in general. It state was worsening year after year, and when, in 1991, the state-owned collective farms were closed down and auctioned, some of the buildings had to be demolished as they were at risk of collapse.
That was the state in which Antoni Kilian, long time horse lover, rider and trainer with work experience from many stables, found the Birkenheim upon buying. Even though it wasn't officially called that anymore, many of the locals stuck to that name. Antoni put his money, time and heart into renovating the buildings, on many of which he worked himself. In 1999 first horses were bought and Birkenheim, under official name Stadnina Koni Kilian (eng. Kilian Equestrian Centre) was alive again.
Unfortunately, as it often happens, the luck wasn't long-lived at all. The owner fell sick and couldn't take care of his dream stable anymore. All the horses had to be sold, with the exception of his granddaughter's horse - Malopolski stallion KLN Rembrandt, who was moved as a boarder to other facility. Antoni Kilian passed away in 2014, leaving Birkenheim to Sara and Nadia Kilian, his granddaughters.
Under our ownership, the stable begun as a general english sport stable and warmblood breeding centre. Soon, we shifted our main focus to competing in dressage and promoting polish horse breeds around the world.
MEET THE STAFF
Nadia KILIAN || Sara DZIEDZIC-KILIAN || Daniel DZIEDZIC || Dominik KRASKI
NADIA is a co-owner of Birkenheim and the younger of the Kilian sisters. She also competes in Eventing with some of our horses.
SARA also is a co-owner of Birkenheim. She's the elder Kilian sister and more confident than her sibling. She trains our riders in Show Jumping, in which she also competes. She's married to Daniel and has a 10-year-old son, Patryk.
DANIEL, Sara's husband, is our Dressage trainer and rider. He can come off as grumpy and broody, but he has a heart of gold and is very focused on what he's doing. He's also a father of a 10-year-old son, Patryk.
DOMINIK, is an old family friend living in a small town near Birkenheim. He used to spend his every free moment in the stables and knows the surrounding lands better than anyone. He competes in Show Jumping.
SARA also is a co-owner of Birkenheim. She's the elder Kilian sister and more confident than her sibling. She trains our riders in Show Jumping, in which she also competes. She's married to Daniel and has a 10-year-old son, Patryk.
DANIEL, Sara's husband, is our Dressage trainer and rider. He can come off as grumpy and broody, but he has a heart of gold and is very focused on what he's doing. He's also a father of a 10-year-old son, Patryk.
DOMINIK, is an old family friend living in a small town near Birkenheim. He used to spend his every free moment in the stables and knows the surrounding lands better than anyone. He competes in Show Jumping.
