Being the youngest kid in the family has never been an easy task. Of course, the elders tolerated it excesses, but, on the other hand, living under a pressure of elder siblings, in a never ending drive for catching up with them, had to be very distressing. The more, that the role of unattainable, elder siblings was played by two leading Arabian horse stud farms – Janów Podlaski and Michałów. The first one gained its breeding experiences for 200 years, whereas the other one collected the highest awards in breeding and showing for more than half a century. How could Białka distinguish itself in such a competition? It was hardly able to struggle for catching up with those giants.

In 2012 we celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of foundation of the fourth Arabian horse stud in Poland. In 1982 the Minister of Agriculture decided to locate purebred mares in a former stallion depot, where since 1930 maintained were service stallions of different breeds. After fifty two years of existence the beautiful buildings constructed from yellow-tinted limestone have lived to see new residents. For Białka it was a breakthrough. From that moment on it functions as a Stud and Stallion Depot. Time has shown that it was a difficult marriage.

The foundation herd descended from Janów Podlaski, Michałow and Kurozwęki. It was obvious, that none of those studs handed over their best broodmares to a newly established one. 7 mares came from Kurozwęki, 12 from Michałow and 10 from Janów. They represented 11 damlines from 16 existing in Poland. Those 11 damlines are active at Białka until now, including a unique one, founded by Bent-El Arab DB. That damline is threatened with extinction and occurs only at Białka, prolonged by two mares – Celina and Cymra.

So in its very beginning the management of Białka faced a perspective of a hard breeding work, but, after all, nobody promised them an easy start! Neither the broodmares` band was consolidated, nor was it supplied by the most valuable producers, who were reserved for the studs gaining more breeding successes. So made were attempts to equalize the horse population, as well as to improve its quality, in order to catch up with leading studs. The changes were occurring slowly, because the horse-breeding required a lot of time, but after several years noticeable became the first signs of a progress.

In the nineties the Arabians from Białka began to win their first show awards, but above all they distinguished themselves as excellent performance horses. The stallion Pesal, out of Perforacja, made his mark in the show arenas and thanks to him his mother stud became recognizable in the world, although to its fame contributed mainly racing and endurance successes of Białka horses. Trainers willingly picked them up to their stables, especially after spectacular wins of Dziewierz, Ostragon, Al Adha, Albertina, Aryjka, El Amor or Medytator. In endurance for many years unbeaten was the pair of Jerzy Urbański and the grey Alahar. Białka succeeded also in some transactions, as the sale of Maesta in 1998, who, purchased by British customers, set a record price, reaching 130 000 USD. It indicated a clearer future for Białka, the more, that after privatization of Kurozwęki State Stud to Białka assigned were 20 good mares.

Poland’s joining of the European Union forced the owner of the state farms – the Agricultural Property Agency – to change their legal status. The process of transforming state companies into commercial law companies – under the owner supervision of the Agency – in which 100% of the shares remained the property of the state, actually already began at the beginning of the 90s of the 20th century. The era of state subsidies came to an end. The situation proved extremely difficult for companies with a strictly breeding profile. Places which had no back-up in the shape of a strongly developed agriculture production began having financial problems. Białka found itself at the crossroads. What turned out to be difficult was the reconciling of a missionary role, providing equine reproduction services for farmers, being conducive to sports development and maintaining the historically monumental infrastructure with brutal economic reality.

A lack of money puts every person in a position of an unimportant supplicant. Many doors become closed and the expectations must be adjusted to one’s capabilities. A lack of funds for investments results in painful savings which take their toll on quality. It worked like an avalanche – horses from Białka began to disappear from show arenas. Not because their quality greatly worsened all of a sudden but because the possibilities of their proper training, promotion and presentation were limited. The results could be foreseeable – after all, even a top model would rather resemble a second-rate actress of a cheap thriller, when woken up in an early morning and deprived of a proper make-up! Thus no wonder, that Białka faced a hard time – its horses were unplaced in shows, withdrawn from sales rings without any interest of the customers… One had also to convince Białka staff, that their work had perspectives.

In 2010 Białka saw a change of the management board. The Stud Director`s post, instead of Jerzy Urbański, was entrusted to Marian Pacewski – the specialist from outside the horse business. With small steps, laboriously, as though climbing up a steep and slippery hill, Białka was beginning to be drawn out of the shadows. The first step in the right direction was using in Arabian horse breeding a grey son of Ekstern – the stallion Esparto (out of Ekspozycja), bred at Michałów. He was put to stud at Białka for the seasons 2009-2010, after a two-years-long lease to Arab Emirates (Ajman Stud). This breeding decision proved exceptionally accurate – both foal crops sired by Esparto were enchanting! The brightest stars of that lot were revealed in the show season 2011. The beautiful Egema (Esparto – Egira/Emigrant) is placed in the top of all shows she participates. For the half of a year she already represents her new owner from Sudan, but she will never lose her Polish origin. The

outstanding Peron (Esparto – Perolia/Gazal Al Shaqab) has a chance to replace the unforgettable Pesal in the future. Appeared also some perfect mares, especially Gazal daughters: Perfirka out of Perforacja by Ernal, Perolia out of Pereira by Eldon and last year`s Pride of Poland star – Fabryszka (out of Fula by Partner), sold to Saudi Arabia for 150 000 Euro. Up the sleeve kept are fantastic Ekstern daughters and a new generation of strong, elegant fillies by Piaff. Surely the staff from Białka has something to work with.

In last years we got used to treat Białka, its staff and horses, as permanent “lame ducks” – losers in shows and sales. Nevertheless, only some small changes were enough to prove that as well the people, as the horses, were the same, even if not completely alike. In 2011 Białka seemed to become a newly discovered continent.

Now it seems that Białka, above all, needs time. It needs time to put itself together in the frantic “rat race” of our days, to struggle the unwanted “demons of the past” and create solid foundations for the future. It also needs plenty of good will and good luck…

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I remember how emotional was the report of Mrs. Izabella Pawelec-Zawadzka from the Vilhelmsborg (Denmark) show in 2001. She came back transfixed by the looks of a bay, yearling colt, presented by the Al Shaqab Stud from Qatar. She said she got weak at knees when looking at him – she has never seen such a beautiful animal! Similarly impressed was Ferdinand Huemer, an experienced breeder and international judge, the owner of La Movida Stud and the President of ECAHO for two terms. Such a successful performance was a beginning of the European show career of Marwan Al Shaqab – now one of the most popular sires in the world.

He gained more and more successes so no wonder that in December 2001 he won the title of Junior World Champion Colt. That result was even more satisfying, when at the same time his sire Gazal Al Shaqab was claimed Senior World Champion Stallion. Seven years later Marwan

came back to Paris, to run for the title of Senior World Champion Stallion. And he achieved the goal, still looking as a breathtaking piece of art. Nowadays the semen of both Gazal and Marwan costs a fortune and the access to it is limited, as to a priceless medicine.

Years passed and another generation of grandget, or even a great-grandget of Gazal appeared in show arenas. Marwan was used for breeding very early, because Marieta Salas (Ses Planes) leased him to Mallorca as a 2-year-old. Between dozens of his sons and daughters from European and American countries some proved mediocre but, on the other hand, some won a world renown, as Marajj, Baanderos, Mardigras, Abha Palma and of course QR Marc.

He was born in the US, in 2005, bred by Vicki and Luis Doyle. The beginning of his show career was reserved but successful enough to arouse the curiosity of the breeders. His pedigree was as intriguing as the horse himself. Its male side was rich in the most renowned sires of the 20th Century, as Nazeer, Morafic, Shaikh Al Badi, Ruminaja Ali, Anaza El Farid, Gazal Al Shaqab and of course Marwan. He was inbred to Ruminaja Ali, the grandsire of his dam – a small, but

good-looking chestnut mare Swete Dreams. Such a cross nearly guaranteed a show success! Christine Jamar-Demeersseman spotted him and contributed to his import to Europe in 2008, by the Belgian breeder Paul Gheysens. One can`t guess for sure what was the main reason of the media fuss about him – was it his refinement or his record-setting price? Nevertheless, as soon as QR Marc put his hoof on the Continent, he became renowned from the very moment. On the way to Europe he took part in the Al Khalediah Show in Saudi-Arabia and won its Championship.

For the rest of the year he devoted himself mainly to his breeding duties, but already in December 2008 he made a great entrance, gaining the title of World Reserve Champion Stallion, being defeated only by his exceptional sire. Such a fierce but equalized struggle between those strong horse personalities was unofficially commented for a long time. Apart from his quality, also his perfectly elaborated publicity campaign contributed a lot to his popularity. In the last two years as much portions of his semen were sold as would be needed to inseminate more than 500 mares. Despite the high stud fee he became one of the most widely used producers in recent years. His owners did us a favor of making his semen available also in Poland.

Thanks God, the directors of our state studs have never been slaves to any trend, but knowing about his unique results made them decide to use QR Marc’s semen already in 2008. In 2009 15 foals by him were born in the state studs – 11 at Michałów and 4 at Janów Podlaski. It was a low number, but of an extreme high quality. During the spring inspections their long and well-shaped necks, expressive eyes and stylishness were noticed. The filly Palatina (out of Palmeta by Ecaho) was enchanting, the colt Pogrom (out of Pętla by Visbaden) – terrific, the filly Eferada (out of Efuzja by Emigrant) – very elegant. In fact, there occurred no inferior foals from those matings. Also at Michałów some nice colts were born, as the dry and refined Diaspor (out of Diaspora by Ganges) or well grown-up Cherubin (out of Chimera by Emigrant). Especially fillies were strikingly beautiful: the stylish Wieża Marc’a (out of Wieża Marzeń by Ekstern), well-developed and expressive Piacenza (out of Primawera by Emigrant) or – making a class in herself – Zigi Zana (out of Zagrobla by Monogramm).

Already at the Białka Junior Spring Show the yearlings by QR Marc were unbeaten. They captured championships both in colts and fillies. Pogrom, from Janów, proved incomparable, whereas his stablemate Palatina got the highest point score of the show, remaining unthreatened from winning her class to gaining the Champion title. The grey Zigi Zana, gaining a Reserve Championship at Białka, at Janów got the title of Polish National Junior Champion Filly. Successful in Aachen, for the time being reached the European Junior Reserve Champion Filly title at Moorsele, Belgium. Now let`s wait for her start in Paris! (Zigi Zana won the Top Ten Junior Fillies title as well as her stablemate Piacenza.)

We must admit that in his first breeding season in Poland QR Marc got excellent partners, well-proven as broodmares. Nevertheless, he fulfilled his producer`s tasks on a perfect level. Almost all his foals distinguish themselves with a plenty of refinement, good, long lines, an elegant movement and lack of markings. They showed no “human eyes”, bright eyelashes or depigmentations. His progeny is marked with long, thin and well-set necks, shapely heads with broad foreheads and small ears.

Of course, we must thoroughly follow the development of junior champions and avoid an excessive haste in evaluating the breeding potential of QR Marc. On the other hand, aren`t Palatinas, Pogroms and Zigi Zanas a sheer delight to look at? We shouldn’t be too cautious, neither too optimistic.

At Michałow Stud foals born in 2010 are growing. Some matings were repeated, several new mares were given a chance to meet the breeders` expectations. Certain private breeders may also take pride in QR Marc Progeny. Next year the results of the new crosses would be tested at Białka. Perhaps they would also try to catch up the world elite in the international shows. Or just the opposite – maybe the rest of the world would be forced to catch up with us? Who knows?

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