“The stud farm of Prince Władysław Sanguszko (1803-1870) in Gumniska played a large role in the Małopolska (Lesser Poland) region. Its owner was the son of Prince Eustachy Sanguszko from Sławuta, the younger brother of Roman, called Sybirak, who inherited Sławuta as the elder offspring. Horses from Sławuta had been sent to Gumniska for a long time (…). In 1836, Prince Władysław Sanguszko introduced a stud book in Gumniska, where the stud’s bloodstock was entered. In the year the book was founded, there were 9 dams listed, in 1842 – 19, 1843 – 25, and in 1866 only 9. Arabian stallions mostly from Sławuta were used.” (1)

Arabian horse breeding in Poland, from the beginning of its existence, has been largely based on its own mares, which consequently created their own dam lines, distinguished by a large number of generations. Among the 15 dam lines that are present in the Polish breeding program for this breed, eight are the heritage of the legendary borderland studs, dating back to the second half of the 18th century. As a result of multi-generational breeding work, a type of Polish Arabian was created, significantly different from the original Arabians imported from the desert. Refinement and consolidation of these features have become characteristics of the Polish Arabian, significantly different from its ancestors and Arabians in the so-called Egyptian type. This type bases on the tradition of Polish breeding and cultivation of dam lines from mares born in these legendary studs.

The oldest documented borderland stud breeding Arabian horses was the one founded in 1778 by Grand Crown Hetman Franciszek Ksawery Branicki in the Szamrajówka farm in Ukraine. Its many years of existence left in Polish breeding just one (regained with great difficulty after the First World War, and then also after the next), but extremely valuable dam line: – Szamrajówka, 1810 bred by Biała Cerkiew.

Sławuta – nursery of the Polish Arabian horse

Among the borderland studs whose effects of breeding work survived in the form of dam or sire lines, the stud of the Sanguszko princes from Sławuta definitely stood out. This stud took a distinctly Arabian turn around 1804, i.e. from the time of the expedition of the Sanguszko equerry, Kajetan Burski, to Arabia for horses. From that moment until 1945, the Sanguszko breeding was carried out invariably in the Arabian direction, i.e. for 141 years (also in Gumniska near Tarnów and Antoniny). The Sanguszkos, carefully managing their estates, were so wealthy that they could afford frequent, direct imports of Arabian horses from Arabia, or their purchases from traders. Their Stud in Sławuta produced many outstanding sires, who contributed not only to the improvement of their own stud, but also, through the sale of breeding material, had a great impact on other studs, including foreign ones. In its time, it was a leading stud at national and international exhibitions, receiving numerous awards and medals.

The breeding philosophy followed by the successive owners of Sławuta is particularly worth emphasizing. “All of them: Hieronim, Eustachy, Roman “Sybirak” and Roman junior, over the years 1804-1918, always held the position that the possession of large landed estates imposed on their owners the obligation to produce a breeding elite in order to improve domestic breeding with it” (2).

The size of their breeding was significant, which allowed them to select the best horses and create and then preserve entire families. 12 dam lines established themselves there: “the oldest of the Sławuta families was descended from a mare without a name, born around 1790, which survived until the 1930s, reaching 10 generations, but no longer exists” (3).

Among the Sławuta dam lines, there are currently four that exist in Polish breeding today:

– Szweykowska b. around 1800,
– Milordka b. around 1810,
– Wołoszka b. around 1810,
– Ukrainka b. around 1815.

Equally important is the heritage of the Sanguszko breeding in the establishment of sire lines, and until now two have survived, which have produced many generations and are continued in Poland, as well as successfully in the world. They are:

– Ilderim d.b. imp. 1900 to Sławuta – today in Polish breeding represented by the progeny of Janów-bred stallions: Piaff 1997 (Eldon – Pipi by Banat), Alert 2005 (Piaff – Andaluzja by Sanadik El Shaklan) and Palatino 2006 (Pesal – Palmeta by Ecaho), the Russian-bred stallion Kurier 2003 (Egis – Kazana by Anchar) and Palert 2017 (Alert – Pericola by Kahil Al Shaqab) of Białka Stud.

– Ibrahim d.b imp. 1907 to Antoniny, represented by the offspring of Alwaro 2000 (Eukaliptus – Algora by Probat) bred SK Janów Podlaski and Wiedźmin 2002 (Ekwipunek – Workuta by Monogramm) bred by S. Redestowicz.

Stallion Ibrahim d.b. imported to Antoniny in 1907, founded a family extended by the famous Skowronek 1909 (Ibrahim d.b. – Jaskółka by Rymnik), bred by Antoniny, who went to England, where he gained international importance. In their time, horses from this line were very successful and to this day appear in the pedigrees of many Arabian horses around the world. This line was recreated in Poland after World War II by importing the stallions Naborr 1950 (Negatiw – Łagodna by Posejdon) and Negatiw 1945 (Naseem – Taraszcza by Enwer Bey) from the USSR. This family gave birth to Eukaliptus 1974 (Bandos – Eunice by Comet), bred by Janów Podlaski, its most significant representative in Polish breeding so far.

Sławuta and Antoniny shared the fate of many Polish estates in Ukraine. They disappeared from the face of the earth in 1919. With them horses and priceless archives. What survived the catastrophe in 1919 fell victim to the destructive activity of the Germans in Warsaw in 1944. The Antoniny archives were lost in the fire of the Potocki Palace. Part of the documentation on horse breeding was saved during World War I in Gumniska. However, the part of the archives that was left by the Sanguszko family when leaving Gumniska in 1939 and survived the Second World War was destroyed in the 1950s. The Polish difficult fate.

The heritage of the stud farm in Gumniska

Interesting in the history of the Sanguszko stud are family connections related to the inheritance and acquisition of estates, as well as the dowry brought by the Sanguszko ladies, which resulted in the fact that their breeding was carried out in several places in different years: Sławuta, Antoniny or Gumniska. However, all these family relationships also brought with them the tradition of continuing horse breeding, especially the purebred ones, and a real passion for breeding. Probably thanks to this, for almost 150 years, priceless dam lines known colloquially as Sławuta-lines (although they also included those from Gumniska and Antoniny) could be created and nurtured, as opposed to the Jarczowce families, which originate from a completely different breeding tradition, but also extremely valuable for us.

In the years 1836 to the 1880s, breeding of Arabian horses in Gumniska developed successfully. Especially the use of the son of the desert bred stallion Aghil-Aga, imported in 1857 to Babolna, with the same name Aghil-Aga 1881 (out of Mimiorr d.b.) brought significant results and, as W. Pruski writes, Aghil-Aga “put the stud of Prince Eustachy Sanguszko in Gumniska to its feet”. (4) Unfortunately, in later years Prince Eustachy Sanguszko became the governor of Galicia, at the same time performing the function of the national marshal, which did not allow him to supervise the stud, which significantly declined. At his request, in 1906 a special commission was appointed, which selected 12 mares for breeding and scrapped the rest. Unfortunately, the lack of stallions at the appropriate level used at the stud meant that the breeding level did not return to the state from the middle of the century.

During the years of World War I, the stud was significantly damaged. However, a lot of mares and youngsters remained (among them many outstanding ones), which became the basis of the breeding rebuilt in Gumniska. Among them, Jerychonka chest. 1909 (Nizam-Chluba by Abu-Argub d.b.) bred by Gumniska, certainly deserves a special mention. Through her daughter Porta 1931 and granddaughter Forta 1943, she founded an extremely valuable family and had a great influence on breeding, not only in Poland. In Michałów the dam line was prolonged by Forta’s daughters: Fatma and Dyska. This line was transferred to Janów Podlaski together with Furina. Forsycja’s daughter Felluka came to Białka, where she founded her own line represented today by the mare Figlarka . Thus, within the dam line of Ukrainka we have three sublines: from Dyska and Fatma, daughters of Forta, and Forsycja, granddaughter of Forta. It is worth emphasizing that despite the extremely difficult conditions during the German occupation, Bogdan Ziętarski managed to breed in Gumniska such a mare as Forta 1943 (Kuhailan Abu Urkub – Porta by Nedjari), one of the few in the country, if not the only representative of the Sławuta dam line of Ukrainka born 1815. Forta extended this valuable line in Polish post-war state breeding and – interestingly – she was not among the horses exported to Germany, but survived in western Poland, in Racot. Forta was the 10th generation of this line. Her next successor, the Michałów-bred Florissima, born in 2018, Polish Yearling Champion Mare in 2019, was the 17th generation in the Ukrainka dam line. The breeding achievements of Forta’s descendants certainly include the stallion Fuerte 2014 (Shanghai E.A. – Frymuszka by Ekstern) bred by Jan Dobrzyński. His mother, Frymuszka from Białka, came from Forta’s daughter – Forsycja 1954 by Como.

While the heritage of Sławuta breeding survived in Gumniska, and thanks to the mare Forta 1943 and her offspring we can continue it, the last owner of Gumniska, Prince Roman Sanguszko went down in the history of world Arabian horse breeding mainly thanks to importing to Poland in 1931 original Arabian stallions from the desert, i.e. Kuhailan Haifi d.b. 1923 and Kuhailan Afas d.b. 1930, which founded their own sire lines, highly valued in world breeding, without which both Polish and world breeding would look completely different. The son of Kuhailan Haifi, the born in Janów Podlaski Ofir 1933, had a particularly great influence on breeding, whose line in Polish breeding was represented by such stallions as Witraż 1938 and Wielki Szlem 1938, and then through Witraż’s grandchildren, Ekstern 1994, Ganges 1994, Ontario HF 1999, and El Jahez WH 2010 imported to Europe several years ago, recently exported again to the USA.

At the same time, it should be remembered that through the granddaughters of the stallion Kuhailan Haifi, the three most valuable Polish dam lines were extended (4), i.e. Szamrajówka through the mares Włodarka 1938, Sahara d.b. through the mare Mammona 1938 and Gazella d.b. through Ofirka 1938.

Kuhailan Afas, on the other hand, became famous for his son Comet 1953, born in Nowy Dwór, who was the grandson of Bad Afas 1940, born in another private breeding stud at Zabawa, in turn whose grandson Probat 1975 prolonged the line producing in Poland valuable sires and mares.

“Gumniska did a lot for breeding. Firstly – through stallions used in the country and sold abroad. Also because they imported great sires from Arabia, and also from Babolna the stallion Kuhailan Abu Urkub, son of the stallion Kuhailan Zaid d.b. The stud deserves credit for making these valuable stallions available to Polish breeders without any restrictions.” (5)

In 1930, the Gumniska Stud had 13 mares. “These mares presented themselves well, were of correct build, noble and typical.” (6) At the same time, there was a change in breeding direction with the use of the French stallion Nedjari 1926, one of the many imports of horses for racing. These were horses of a completely different type than Polish ones and their initial racing successes aroused much controversy.

Despite Ziętarski’s efforts, the summer of the German occupation was the end of Arabian horse breeding in Gumniska. Although the stud operated under the occupational supervision of the Wehrmacht and, like the stud in Pełkinie, it ran breeding work, breeding several valuable horses, but at the end of the war, during the evacuation at the turn of 1944 and 1945, the horses were dispersed and plundered by the Soviets. At this point, it should be noted that during the German occupation in the years 1940-1943, a number of valuable stallions and mares were born in the few Polish private studs stripped of valuable mares by the Soviets and Germans. One can enumerate the horses thanks to which the Polish post-war breeding was rebuilt (after their earlier takeover by the state), such as the already mentioned Forta 1943, Bad Afas 1940, Amneris 1940 or Bałałajka 1941.

Contrary to the slightly exaggerated theory about the rebuilding of the Janów herd by the Germans in the years 1940-1944, nothing significant for breeding was born in Janów, despite the fact that the Germans tried to gather there the most valuable mares they had in occupied Poland and tried to breed Arabian horses in Poland, however, as it turned out, with poor results. In 1945, during the evacuation to the west, the Gumniska Stud, not having enough employees (who had previously escaped from the approaching front), had to leave their horses in Racot. Among the fillies born in 1943 were the fillies Forta (Kuhailan Abu Urkub – Porta by Nedjari) and Ferha (Kuhailan Abu Urkub – Udźda by Kuhailan Kruszan d.b.), born in 1943 in Gumniska, and several yearlings and two-year-olds by Kuhailan Abu Urkub. Bogdan Ziętarski, who did not leave the horses to the end, unfortunately did not leave any mention of this difficult period of his life. Perhaps, as suggested by Roman Pankiewicz, it was too much of a shock for him? “After all, the stallions and mares that he searched for throughout Europe and Arabia and which he kept for almost twelve years were missing.” (7) In this way, the history of the breeding of the Sanguszko princes, conducted continuously for over 150 years, first in Sławuta, from which Gumniska and Antoniny were also established, came to an end. Antoniny and Sławuta were destroyed during the First World War, Gumniska survived the Second World War, but disappeared with the agricultural reform and the confiscation of the remains of horses by the new state, which placed a school in the palace in Gumniska, and workshops in the stables. However, the horses and their families remained, which, in accordance with Polish tradition, carefully nurtured by successive generations of breeders, today constitute our cultural heritage. Private breeding, revived after 1989 in Poland, thanks to its diversity, has in recent years become a valuable supplement to state breeding, which, admittedly, grew on the foundation of the communist agricultural reform, but undoubtedly reached a high level in the post-war years and became the pride of our country, as at the end of the 19th century were Sławuta, Gumniska and Antoniny.

Footnotes:

(1). W. Pruski „Dwa wieki polskiej hodowli koni arabskich (1778-1978) i jej sukcesy na świecie” Warszawa 1983.
(2). As above.
(3). As above.
(4). R. Pankiewicz „Polska hodowla koni czystej krwi arabskiej 1918-1939” Warszawa 2002.
(5). R. Pankiewicz „Polska hodowla koni czystej krwi arabskiej 1918-1939” Warszawa 2002.
(6). W. Pruski „Dwa wieki polskiej hodowli koni arabskich (1778-1978) i jej sukcesy na świecie” Warszawa 1983.
(7). R. Pankiewicz „Polska hodowla koni czystej krwi arabskiej 1918-1939” Warszawa 2002.

Emotions after the classes had barely subsided, and it was time to sharpen the senses again for another exciting spectacle, which were the finals. At certain moments, and rightly so, they resembled a real fight, and the show ring, figuratively, was a boxing ring. And there was a lot to compete for, because the best horses won medals and titles of champions, and their owners also won substantial financial prizes and cars. Thus, they are also granted the right to set trends in world breeding.

On Saturday afternoon, breeders from around the globe, some physically in Qatar (there were over a thousand people in the VIP area at the same time), others following the live broadcast, awaited the medalists.

A charismatic announcer

It was a great pleasure to listen to the charismatic voice of Nabila Al Ali, a well-known speaker from Kuwait, during the following days of the festival. Nabila introduces the commentary of the show to a high level in a professional manner. For several years, she has been often invited by the organizers of shows from the Gulf countries and has gained considerable popularity here. Polskiearaby.com had the opportunity to talk to Nabila about her work and how she prepares to run the show. Anyone who has had the opportunity to hear her warm voice live, when she recites excerpts from the Quran between the horses’ performances, is always impressed. Nabila told us that she prepares such special commentaries in advance, and these are not only excerpts from the Quran, but also poems on topics related to the Arabian horse. Even though she recites in Arabic, here emotional charge, excellent diction and voice, which is never tiring, leave listeners in constant admiration. If you add to this the sophisticated environment in which the show takes place, you will find yourself at the level of exquisite elegance at its best in the world. The cultural tradition of the hosts is clearly emphasized everywhere.

Among the 26 judges invited to Katara, there were two judges from Poland, who had previously also judged the Arabian Peninsula Horse Show, Anna Stefaniuk and Alicja Poszepczyńska. While in the classes the judging panel consisted of 12 judges, in the championships this number increased to 18, judges, changing on rotation.

The hosts can certainly consider this year’s show successful, not only in terms of organization, but also in terms of the medals won. Qatari owners won 9 medals, including 5 gold. There was competition extremely fierce and took place mainly among the biggest players in the industry in recent years: Al Shaqab (Qatar), Aljassimya Farm (Qatar), Ajman Stud (United Arab Emirates) and of course Dubai Stud (United Arab Emirates). While Dubai Stud itself did not win the largest number of medals for itself as an exhibitor, its horses stood out significantly both in classes and in the finals.

Horses bred by Dubai Stud (not always owned by them) won a total of 5 medals. Nothing and no one can dim the brilliance of Dubai Stud’s huge breeding success at the moment. Successes with horses bred by this stud, born by mares also bred by this stud, are extremely important, they taste better than those obtained by purchased horses.

In the category of yearlings, both in the group of mares and stallions, there were no big surprises. In the fillies competition, the gold medal was awarded to the bay Shahalel Al Shaqab, who is by Na-mous Al Shahania (full brother of FA El Rasheem), out of Siwar Al Shaqab, gold medalist of the World Championships and the Menton show. The silver medal was won by Dubai Stud’s pupil – D Aserah (AJ Nofan – D Shihanah). Interestingly, during the auction held as part of the festival, the most expensive item sold was not a horse at all, but the right to collect an embryo from the mare D Shihanah, the dam of the silver medalist. It was auctioned by the Qatari stud for nearly 903,000 euros. The bronze was won by SF Nora (EKS Farajj – SF Gazalah), owned by Al Jassimya Farm from Qatar.

In the group of yearling colts there were two black medalists, which does not happen often. The medals were awarded as follows; gold for the Ajman Stud-bred silver medalist of the last World Championships – AJ Sayer (AJ Yas – Sama AM), silver for D Hayel (D Shakhat – D Jawaher), bred at Dubai Stud and purchased during the November auction at this stud, D Hayel (D Shakhat – D Jawaher), owned by Al Thamer Stud (Qatar). The bronze medal was awarded to the Saudi-bred (owned by Ajmal Stud) grey Sarab Ajmal (EKS Farajj – Meqbilat Athbah).

In the junior mares category, very strong, already titled rivals met in one ring. Most of them are well known to the judges and the audience from previous title shows. Medals were awarded as follows: D Beisan (D Seraj – Rah Rosalia), AJ Kayya (AJ Kafu – Aja Caprice) and D Najlah (D Seraj – Elle Flamenca). Each of these mares has won a medal either at the World Championships in Paris or the All Nations Cup in Aachen.

In the junior stallions championship anything could happen, it was neither an obvious nor predictable choice. In the end, the gold medal was won by the bay Lehon (FA El Rasheem – Aragia Vanilla), owned by Al Jassimya Farm, who presented himself perfectly that day. He is a gold medalist from Menton and a silver medalist from Paris. In a very good type, extremely dry, well moving, with a nice head set on a quite good neck, this time he was not defeated by the pupils of Dubai Stud – D Sharar (D Seraj – FT Shaella) and D Shahhar (Excalibur E.A. – D Shihanah) which the judges awarded silver and bronze. The choice of the gold medalist was not unanimous, the judges almost evenly divided their votes (Lehon and D Sharar) choosing the gold medalist. Lehon won by a small margin. At last year’s world championships in Paris, the order was reversed. Returning to Katara, the bronze medalist was D Shahhar (by Excalibur E.A.), another medal offspring of the mare D Shihanah (FA El Rasheem – D Shahla), whose embryo (the right to collect the embryo) was sold for the above-mentioned record amount at the auction a few days earlier. The senior mares final was one of the most exciting moments during the entire festival. Extremely high quality of the mares, as evidenced by the fact that among the mares qualified for the championships there were two Gold Medalists of the World Championships and other mares, each of them with the titles of international champions from significant shows. When they lined up side by side, in a standing position, mostly grey, looking like statues, you had the impression of participating in a unique show. The quality of the mares present there was impressive. Such competition attracts the attention of breeders and supporters of the Arabian breed from all over the world, and this is what the organizers wanted. It was a great pleasure to admire such celebrities as Mozn Albidayer, Noft Al Nayfat, Basandrasettimocielo and Malikat Al Moluk in one ring. In the end, the top three shared the medals, in that order.

An exceptionally important senior stallion championship

The senior stallion championship is an extremely important part of the show, and in the countries of the Middle East it evokes even greater emotions than at European shows, introducing an element of additional competition. Winning the senior stallion gold medal is important from a breeding point of view, and having a champion is related to an ambitious approach to breeding. It is speculated in the breeding community that Excalibur E.A. was recently purchased to Qatar for several million euros. During Katara he performed under the banner of Al Shaqab Stud. This Junior Gold Medalist of the World Championships deservedly, despite second place in his class, won the Gold Medal and the title of champion in the finals.

The silver medal was won by Sultan Al Zobara (Gazal Al Shaqab – Inra Al Shaqab), who counts the title of Gold Medalist of the World Yearling Championships (2012) among his greatest achievements. The titled veteran of the show rings, the milky grey Excalibur E.A., brilliantly led by Glenn Schoukens, shined in the championships, while the brown Sultan Al Zobara, after a brilliant performance in the 11-year-old and older stallions class with a score of 93.94, did not shine the same way the next day. The bronze medal was awarded to the stallion Amaar (RFI Farid – Adiya), owned by Al Dana Stud (Qatar).

When writing about gold, silver and bronze medals, it is worth emphasizing that, as befits Katara, they were actually made of real metal. So the gold medal had additionally beautifully framed rubies, silver sapphires, and bronze black onyx. Trophies and generous financial prizes complemented the three-day struggle of breeders and presenters.

The end of the event in the shadow of the unimaginable tragedy in Turkey and Syria

Thanking the hosts for a great show, excellent atmosphere, hospitality and kindness felt at every step, it is necessary to emphasize with great respect their reaction to the unimaginable catastrophe that took place in nearby Turkey and Syria. As part of solidarity with these countries, many buildings in the capital of Qatar were illuminated with the colors of the Turkish flag. In a short speech at the end of the show, the chairman of the organizing committee, Dr. Khaled Bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti, expressed on behalf of the Qatari government his willingness to help the brothers and sisters of Turkey and Syria. As a gesture of solidarity with the families of the victims of the earthquake, the organizers gave up the lavish closing ceremony of the show, which was extremely spectacular during the two previous editions of the festival.

And so the Katara Festival 2023 had come to an end, although we will probably meet again in the Doha later this year, at another significant show, which will certainly be the World Championships organized there for the first time in history.

Financial prizes:

Apart from financial prizes in age classes from 1st to 6th place in each class, prizes in the championships were as follows:

Yearling categories:

Gold Medal – 250.000 QAR (ca. 64.000 Euro)
Silver Medal – 150.000 QAR (ca. 38.000 Euro)
Bronze Medal – 100.000 QAR (ca. 25.000 Euro)

Junior categories:

Gold Medal – 800.000 QAR (ca. 204.000 Euro)
Silver Medal – 430.000 QAR (ca. 110.000 Euro)
Bronze Medal – 250.000 QAR (ca. 64.000 Euro)

Senior categories:

Gold Medal – 1.000.000 QAR (ca. 255.000 Euro)
Silver Medal – 600.000 QAR (ca. 153.000 Euro)
Bronze Medal – 300.000 QAR (ca. 76.000 Euro)

Full results:

https://www.arabianessence.tv/events/katara-int-arabian-horse-festival-2023/550/

Qatar can certainly be called a place where the past meets the splendor of the future, this is the theme that opens the introduction to this year’s show catalogue in the Qatari capital of Doha. The very name of Katara is not only the show, but also the place where it takes place – Katara Cultural Village. The organization of the international Arabian horse festival in this very place is part of the broad concept of Qatar, which allocates huge funds to promote the country, its own tradition and achievements.

Arabian horse breeding in Qatar is part of a broadly understood project concerning the development of various equestrian disciplines, racing and, above all, Arabian horse breeding as its own cultural heritage.

The Katara show, which is in its third edition this year, has undoubtedly become the most important and one of the most prestigious events of this type in the world. In fact, Katara has become a class all on its own, as this show cannot be compared to any other. It is not only about the amount of financial prizes, organizational momentum, or an extremely charming, tasteful spectacle. The organizers managed to create an image of an event where everyone, absolutely everyone in the Arabian horse industry, wants to be. Katara has become an extremely prestigious show for breeders and people from all over the world. Thanks to the hospitality of the hosts and their great generosity, Arabian horse breeders and enthusiasts from all continents meet in Qatar. The experience of previous editions makes everything work extremely smoothly, and the team responsible for the technical organization and punctuality has been the same since the first edition, which ensures everyone the comfort of using their own experiences.

The show ring, as in previous years, is located on the seashore, surrounded by fishing boats, and the tribunes located on three sides are stylized as a Bedouin tent. This year, however, the VIP sector is much larger than during the first edition. The interior design, organization of catering, reception, VIP zones, smoking rooms, prayer rooms, media center and outdoor exhibitions accompanying the show are only a small part of the attractions that can only be described with admiration. The momentum and, at the same time, the precision with which the show is conducted, deserves recognition and admiration. Classes start and end as scheduled, although the winners’ decorations are heavily celebrated in keeping with local tradition.

The atmosphere in this huge tent is extremely lively, and thanks to the well-planned communication, many people move around, which gives the impression that the whole tent is in constant motion. Considering that there are still about 1,500 people present during the classes, movement is very comfortable. The guests who are present in the tent, with great respect for the hosts, have adapted to the local dress code, but the number of Chanel bags per m2 makes the head spin. Sophisticated models of Hermes, Prada or Louis Vuitton often distract attention from what is happening in the ring. And there’s a lot going on!

The organizers, similarly to the Arabian Peninsula Horse Show, which ended only five days earlier, issue a catalogue for each day separately in an online version, displayed on tablets at each VIP table and in smartphones after scanning the QR code. And so on the first day in the catalogue we had 76 horses in the yearling and two year old classes. While there were no great stars among the yearling colts, in the filly classes, especially the 2-3 year olds, emotions dictated by the quality were huge. It promises to be an exciting fight in the final.

A very good impression was made by the winner of class 2B two year old fillies, one can undoubtedly call her phenomenal – the grey D Najlah, another daughter of the mare Elle Flamenca (by Ajman Moniscione) and the stallion D Seraj (by FA El Rasheem) taking over the world’s arenas. Her remarkably feminine type and harmony of build combined with great charisma and endowed with good movement promises that she will be a strong candidate for the medal. Her score, although high (92.63 points), was unsatisfactory, as if the judges did not appreciate her enough. It should be added that 12 judges are evaluating at the same time. This is somewhat reminiscent of a jury in an American film, and as in the film, there are many contradictions among them.

On the next, second day of the classes, 72 horses competed. An exciting fight, keeping the audience in suspense until the end, was fought by three year old colts in class 6. The titled son of D Seraj and FT Shaella, the grey D Sharar from Dubai Stud, with a score of 93.31 points, had to give way to the bay Lehon with 93.38 points, by FA El Rasheem, owned by Aljassimya Farm from Qatar, who undoubtedly had a successful day.

The results of the classes so far herald an extremely high level in the finals and the next day of competition in the senior mare and stallion classes will be a battle of great and titled stars for the next titles. We will certainly see many World Champions and All Nations Cup medalists. Today is the third day of the KATARA festival, the second to last!

This year’s Katara International Arabian Horse Festival began with a “specific origin” show for Straight Egyptian horses. This year’s second edition of this competition brought together 160 horses, mainly from Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. If you treat this rivalry as an overture to the titular show, it was at a very high level.

The very formula and rank of the “specific origin” show, according to ECAHO, encloses it within a specific population distinguished among purebred Arabian horses, such as Straight Egyptian, Pure Spanish, Straight Russian and finally Pure Polish. Observation of these competitions was all the more interesting as this year, for the first time, a “specific origin” competition for Pure Polish horses will take place in our country, during the Junior Show in Białka. For this reason, it is worth following the rules, as well as the purpose of such a competition. In the case of the Arabian Peninsula Horse Show, the specific origin show is open to Straight Egyptian horses registered and recognized in the WAHO stud books, but only those from Egyptian pedigree lines admitted by The Pyramid Society Stud Book for Straight Egyptian horses, issued in 2016. This means that a certain part of the purebred Arabian horse population, in order to maintain its distinctiveness, is bred according to the rules set by The Pyramid Society.

Straight Egyptian horses, apart from their native country, initially gained popularity in the USA, where in 1969 a group of breeders founded the aforementioned The Pyramid Society. Over time, this idea has spread to other countries, and in recent years it has become very popular in the Middle East, where it has many supporters. The show in Qatar gathered almost 160 high-quality horses, which proves that the popularity of this breeding direction is high. The generous financial prizes that the organizer provided, along with the extremely beautiful trophies of honor, attracted many smaller, local breeders of Straight Egyptian horses. This gave the effect of exciting competition both in classes and in the championships.

Straight Egyptian horses are little known in Poland, but very popular in Arab countries, in Europe, practically single pure Egyptian horse breedings survived only in Germany, Belgium and Italy. In the case of Arab countries, it is in the pedigrees of horses from Egypt and the countries of the Persian Gulf that breeders seek their own roots. Although until recently these horses differed quite strongly in type and conformation from the show Arabians, it is clear that a change is taking place in this case as well. What has been an undoubted advantage of pure Egyptian horses for many generations is a beautiful, shapely head with an almost exotic drawing. Breeders are able to forgive their horses both shortcomings of conformation, as well as not very impressive movement for this captivating, truly exotic beauty.

Analyzing the pedigrees, most of the horses come from the Saklavi I sire line, widely spread by the sons of Nazeer 1934 by Mansour bred by El Zahraa (EGP), who in various configurations fill the pedigrees of pure Egyptian horses. Therefore, the idea of holding a show for such a population in the “specific origin” regulations is probably right, because it helps to maintain the type of horse desired by breeders, different from horses appearing at open shows. Comments on the type of Arabian horse, different from the one considered desirable and popular in Poland, are overshadowed by the spectacular view of 15 milky grey mares and stallions presented in the senior horse classes. The fact is that the young Straight Egyptian horses are not as handsome as the older ones. In the case of typical show Arabians with modern pedigrees, often a yearling is a miniature of an adult specimen. In the case of pure Egyptian horses, stallions and broodmares are indeed the essence of the breed and are excellent in their type, despite their faults in conformation. In recent years, there are more and more Straight Egyptian stallions that successfully compete in open shows. Such is undoubtedly Naseem Al Rashediah, b. 2014, by Al Adeed Al Shaqab, silver medalist from Menton in 2021, who has become a popular sire in the Middle East and produced a lot of interesting young horses, presented at the Peninsula Arabian Horse Show.

Among the senior stallions, D Memzer, born 2019 by Asfoor Al Waab, stood out. He will be stationed at the Capecci Arabian Training Center in Italy this year, but will not be available to the public. The aforementioned D Memzer won his class with a high score of 93.31 points, and then won the Gold Medal of Senior Stallions in the final championship. The bred at Dudai Stud D Memzer presents a modern type of show horse, maybe a bit tall, but very harmoniously built, with a beautiful shapely head and a correct neck with a beautiful arch, and with an excellent topline, so rare in Egyptian horses. During the presentation in class D Memzer showed an excellent trot, but in the championships he was not so fresh. Despite this, he was undoubtedly the best stallion of the show, rightfully awarded a gold medal (this trophy brought his owner a prize of approx. 63,000 Euro).

In the junior stallion finals the gold medal was awarded to the three-year-old Ghazal Al Waab (Nasser Al Rayyan – Ghazalah Al Waab), owned by the recently established but very dynamically developing Doha Stud, owned by Sh. Thani bin Hamad Al Thani, managed by Glenn Jacobs. The gold in the youngest (yearling) stallions category was won by Maleeh Al Nasser, who, like the gold medalist in the higher age category, is also the son of Nasser Al Rayyan. The breeder and owner of the colt is Al Nasser Stud. This stud, small in terms of the number of horses, owned by Sh. Nawafa bin Nasser Al Thani is known for its great show achievements in the Middle East as well as at the most important shows in Europe. Working with a small number of mares, they manage to breed good and very good show horses every year, not only Egyptian ones.

In the senior mare classes, the level was extremely even, and practically every participant could win a medal in the championship. This year the title (and the prize of 250,000 Qatari riyals, i.e. approx. EUR 63,000) went to the snow-white mare Maisa Al Nasser, born in 2010, by Sinan Al Rayyan. Among the junior mares, the judges decided that Alaalia Al Waab (Nasser Al Rayyan – Salma Al Waab), owned by Doha Stud, was the best. She won the three-year-old fillies class the day before with a score of 93.06.

The yearling fillies category was won by the class winner (section A) – Zaina Al Wajba (Egaab Al Rayyan – Zahra Al Rayyan). As many as five out of eighteen medals in the finals of the pure Egyptian horse show were awarded to the progeny of Nasser Al Rayyan, three of them were won by the progeny of Nasser Al Rayyan, three by the progeny of Naseem Al Rashediah and two by the progeny of Asfoor Al Waab.

In the introduction to the catalogue, the organizers wrote how important it is for Qatar to maintain and cherish the tradition of horse breeding, which is part of the cultural heritage of their country. Therefore, the organization of the large-scale event called the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival, which included the Peninsula Arabian Horse Show, is supported by the government, generously and jointly with the sponsors who finance it.

While waiting for the title show, during the one-day break, numerous presentations are held at local studs, and on February 6th, an auction of horses, breedings and embryos is organized. Therefore, before the expected Katara show begins, the hosts have a great opportunity to present the achievements of their breeding, as well as their own culture and traditions to the guests, numerous from all over the world.

Financial prizes as listed below:

Yearling championships fillies / colts:

Gold Medal: 19.000 Euro
Silver Medal: 11.500 Euro
Bronze Medal: 7.500 Euro

Junior Championships:

Gold Medal: 35.000 Euro
Silver Medal: 19.000 Euro
Bronze Medal: 11.500 Euro

Senior Championships:

Gold Medal: 63.000 Euro + MG Cars car for the gold medalist in the senior mares and stallions category
Silver Medal: 38.000 Euro
Bronze Medal: 19.000 Euro

On September 28th, 2022, Mrs. Krystyna Karaszewska, a long-time registrar of the Polish Arabian Stud Book and Polish Stud Book (for Thoroughbreds), passed away.

Krystyna Karaszewska spent her entire professional life at the Racing Track at Służewiec. She started working at the races in 1968, and from 1970 she became the Stud Book Registrar taking over from Krystyna Molenda. Thanks to her many years of hard work, in 1996 the Polish Stud Book for Thoroughbreds (PSB) was recognized by the International Stud Book Committee (ISBC).

For at least two generations of Arabian horse breeders, Krystyna Karaszewska was an integral part of the Polish Arabian Stud Book. Many people knew Krystyna Karaszewska from visits to the office. In recent years, there had been no opportunity for personal contact with Krystyna, for example at the PAHBA (Polish Arabian Horse Breeders Association) meetings in Janów Podlaski or the National Show, where her presence was always an important element of these meetings.

We all knew her professionally, but who knew what she was like privately? It was probably in 2008. The autumn breeding inspections in the studs started that year in Janów Podlaski. Among the few guests there was an exceptional one – Zenon Lipowicz. I had met him a few years earlier during the Scottsdale show, but this fall meeting in Janów was deeply remembered by me. Zenon Lipowicz is an icon of Polish racing, the discoverer of the talent of the famous Sabellina, who gave rise to the famous dynasty of Oaks and Derby winners, as well as the co-author of the successes of Algorab and Sambor in the USA. Even his presence at the autumn stud inspections was something special, and in what company! It was a meeting of friends who knew each other and worked together since the late 1960s, during the “golden era” of Polish breeding in the USA.

Zenon Lipowicz, Izabella Zawadzka and Krystyna Karaszewska met after many years and together they returned to their old memories, and there was no end to the stories. It was then that I met these people from a private side. Amused like teenagers, they happily remembered the times when “Zenek” took care of Algorab and Sambor at Leon Rubin’s Sir William Farm stud, which led to the greatest successes on US tracks. They both won the prestigious Oklahoma City Derby and won the Racing Horse of the Year titles in the USA. At that time, Izabella Zawadzka was in the USA and she and Zenon had a lot to tell about the Polish horses that went to famous American breeders. Zenon Lipowicz had shared memories with Krystyna Karaszewska from his work on the track at Służewiec, of which he was deputy director during 1972-1973. How many wonderfully colorful stories about people and horses had been told. How much joy from the meeting was in their relationship. It was the first time that I saw Krystyna Karaszewska as a free, sociable, warm person. A woman full of humor and a brilliant knowledge of Arabian horses that I did not expect. This memory allows me to remember Krystyna Karaszewska as a person for over 50 years associated with breeding and racing, which she knew like no other in our country. With her departure, the whole era slowly closes, which we connect with her and her friends Zenon Lipowicz and Izabella Zawadzka.

Although she is mainly associated with the stud book, it should be mentioned that Krystyna Karaszewska was also the head of the Selection, Breeding and Racing Organization department, advisor to the President of the Polish Jockey Club, a member of the Stewards Committee and a highly valued racing commentator.

“Horses are an element of community development” – this was the slogan of the International Horse Festival in El Jadida in Morocco, under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. It also included the 13th edition of the Salon Du Cheval in El Jadida, held on October 19-20th.

The show returned after a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, and the organizers made sure that it was an event that would continue the successes and achievements of previous years. The title conference that accompanied the horse shows, as well as an exposition organized on a grand scale in the educational pavilion, focused on showing the cultural relations of Moroccans with the horse. The use of horses was exhibited in various religious, family and national celebrations, as well as in ceremonies organized at the end of agricultural seasons or state celebrations. The whole exhibition and conference were aimed at showing the great cultural value of horses generating various social and economic activities. It was very eloquently emphasized that the horse and its use are related to social and economic development, and efforts were made to show various examples of this throughout, with the panache and great taste, the entire event.

The organizers emphasized that the aim of the event is to promote the breeding and equestrian sector at the national level, and therefore prepared a rich and varied program including the characteristic Tbourida matches, Arabian Horse Show (ECAHO A rank), the Berber Horse Cup, the Arab-Berber Horse Cup, and the equestrian finals of the Moroccan Royal League and competitions for children. In addition, the exhibition hall hosted many recreational, art and sports activities, as well as an integrated program to promote equestrianism. Educational and entertainment workshops for the public were also organized, the aim of which was to learn about Moroccan cultural heritage related to horses. During the day, as well as in the evening, there were shows of various equestrian arts with the participation of top-class competitors. The organizing committee indicated that the main emphasis of the event was to hold cultural and scientific seminars, necessary for the exchange of experiences among researchers, scientists, students as well as those interested in horse riding.

Dr. Habib Marzaq, representative of the Salon Du Cheval, confirmed that the exhibition is under the special care of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. Dr. Marzaq concluded: – Today the Festival is an international event that highlights the great interest of Moroccans in horses, an interest embodied in scientific, cultural and professional work offered by the public and private sectors. Hundreds of people and equestrian enthusiasts use a huge number of Berber, Arabian and English horses and benefit from it innumerable amounts.

Dr Marzaq added: – Morocco’s intense international presence in sports, scientific, cultural and breeding activities is a rich space for the exchange of experiences and documenting relationships between people who are united by the love of the horse of this noble creature who has accompanied man through all stages of civilization and still loyally serves us in many economic, social, cultural and sporting practices.

Arabian horses in the shadow of Tbourida

We treated the invitation for polskiearaby.com as a great honor, but at the same time we focused on the A ECAHO show, which, in our opinion, was the goal of the entire event. It turned out to be nothing more wrong. Already on the spot in the modern exhibition center, we realized that it is a multidimensional event, and for the older visitors of the Salon Du Cheval in Paris, exactly like the one that took place long ago in Paris. The organizers’ focus on cultural accents was very clear. In this beautiful exhibition, the Arabian A-class horse show was only part of a much larger whole. The beautiful catalog, published in an electronic version, that is to be downloaded online, included 136 horses that performed in 10 classes divided into three age categories for mares and stallions. The classes were numerous. Often the collective ring saw 12-14 horses in a circle, which gave the audience a lot of emotions, as the competition for the championship qualification was quite difficult. The level of the horses featured in the show was quite varied, although it was interesting that not many horses were known from other shows and had won everything, anywhere. It was quite refreshing for the eye of the potential viewer. In the yearling classes, there were mainly horses from Moroccan and French breeding and a few horses purchased from recognized studs in the UAE. The pedigrees varied wide from the well-known stallion Marajj through Gazal Al Shaqab, Kahil Al Shaqab, RFI Farid, WH Justice, Zeus E.A. to the Polish stallion Petrarca bred by Parys Ltd. All this, mixed with local stars with a lot of Egyptian blood, required a lot of attention from the judges and the audience.

The hosts triumphed in the yearling classes, which brought the organizers, breeders and owners a lot of joy. The youth classes were shared between Ajman Stud, Dubai Stud and Al Arym Arabians all representing the UAE.

Among the senior stallions was the aforementioned Petrarca 2014 by Kahil Al Shaqab out of Poezja by Enzo, who took fourth place in class, but interestingly, his daughter, Ferdaws ME from a Moroccan breeder, qualified for the junior mare championship, and earlier a charming chestnut also appeared, Rihabe, also by Petrarca in the yearling fillies class.

Another Polish accent was Sharada Evopegasus (FR) daughter of the stallion Poganin bred and owned by Mr. Mirosław Rogowski, who breeds Arabian horses both in Poland and in France, where he lives permanently. The show featured several descendants of Emandoria’s son, Emerald J, with the most excitement stirred by the well-known and decorated Admiral (GB), owned by Ajman Stud, who in the end won the silver medal.

Among the senior mares there was the 20-year-old Złotnica by Ekstern out of Zguba bred by Michałów Stud and Janów’s Eteria 2002 by Ekstern out of Etezja and Navona 2007 by Ekstern out of Nife, both very nice and in good shape. In subsequent classes, one could closely observe the progeny of such Polish stallions as Emfatyk, Espekt and Fuerte. All this shows that good-class Polish stallions, both state and private, promoted in an appropriate way can find a place for themselves in the world of breeding and, through successful offspring, become ambassadors of the Polish Arabian horse.

Tbourida, Moroccan cultural heritage in practice

When the emotions of the Arab show have subsided, it was time to explore the next exhibitions and shows. The famous Moroccan Tbourida caused the astonishment of the representatives of the polskiearaby.com portal. This time, the games of this traditional equestrian ritual were crowned with league games as part of His Majesty’s King Mohammad VI’s Grand Prize. Tbourida is an extremely exciting, suggestive and certainly chilling event. The importance of Tbourida to the history and culture of Morocco has been recognized by UNESCO as a heritage of this country that should be protected.

Tbourida, derived from the word Baroud, which means “gunpowder”, is an ancient equestrian art dating back to the 16th century. It is an equestrian performance that simulates successive military parades, reconstructed according to the conventions and rituals of Arab-Bedouin ancestors.

Each parade of Tbourida is performed by a squad called “Sorba”, consisting of an odd number of riders and horses (from 15 to 25) lined up in a row, in the center of which stands the leader, the chief of the “Mokaddem” tribe with his mount. The horses found in Tbourida are mainly Berber horses from local breeding, mainly black with a small amount of gray and a few chestnuts. The performance consists of two parts, the first is called hadda or the salute in which the riders perform acrobatic exercises while riding back to their initial state. The second stage is Talqa, when the whole group starts at a gallop and loud blasts from hand-decorated rifles impress the audience. From generation to generation, Tbourida maintains a strong spiritual dimension, especially because it places the horse, the holy animal of Islam, at the center of a breathtakingly impressive spectacle.

Tbourida (fantasy) dazzles Moroccan and international audiences. It is associated with agricultural festivals and many national and family celebrations. Europeans often refer to it as “Fantasy”, a Latin name meaning entertainment. The competition was held with full stands, which could hardly be accessed. The arena where the performance was played was the size of a standard parcour, except that there was a white line at the end of one short wall. At a distance of about 10 meters, five judges were seated, as is the case in dressage competitions, and judged the precision of each team’s performance.

The task of the riders, in this case there were 15 of them, i.e. 14 and the commander in charge, was to perform a maneuver simulating a charge, fire on command and stop the horses in formation to the position of stand on the white line. The ride took place along a long wall of the arena, measuring approximately 150 by 40 meters. On both sides there were tightly placed stands and tents, and in front of the places where the riders shot the VIP sector. The show was extremely effective, each unit played in different colors, rode different horses and presented a slightly different level of training. The team in white and green colors received the most applause and their rides were extremely exciting. After each successful shot, and it is not easy to fire an even volley of 15 shotguns from a horse at full gallop, the audience rewarded the rider with thunderous applause.

All this together gave the impression that we had suddenly traveled hundreds of years back and participated in a knightly tournament. Tbourida, considered by the Moroccans as an intangible cultural heritage, is protected and supported by King Mohammed VI as an important element of the nation’s identity. An identity based on strong ties with nature, an inseparable element of which is the horse, in this case, a purebred Arabian and Berber horse. The state’s visible support for maintaining and cultivating our own cultural traditions inspires deep respect in us.

Full results of the classes and the Championships:
https://www.arabianessence.tv/events/international-ahs-el-jadida-2022/492/

Białka Arabian State Stud 1981-2021

The years 1980 – 1981 – difficult beginnings in the shadow of great history

Located in the vicinity of Krasnystaw, Białka has been known since 1930 as the State Stallion Stud. Till the end of the eighties, Białka Stallion Stud served as a breeding centre for Anglo arabian half-breed horses by maintaining a herd of stallions kept there to satisfy the needs of that race. Simultaneously, from 1981 the Purebred Arabian State Stud has become an inherent symbol of Białka. Great interest in the Polish Arabian horses among foreign buyers as well as high prices obtained for these horses are frequently presented as the only reason for establishing in Białka a fourth Arabian State Stud. And yet, the truth is far more complex, as there were other important factors that triggered the decision to establish in Białka another Arabian State Stud, side by side with the existing State Stallion Stud. On the one hand, very favourable climate conditions conducive to breeding horses as well as rich pastures proved as very important factors speaking for Białka. On the other hand, the second half of the seventies witnessed a steadily declining demand for stallions servicing the area, which prompted a considerable decrease in the herd of stallions kept there. By the end of the seventies, a number of buildings were put out of use in Białka – stable 3 was vacant-and the Stallion Stud was facing a very difficult economic situation. Therefore, the decision was made to create in Białka an Arabian stud in order to exploit fully the rich feed base, buildings and a very well trained, specialised work force available there. The people behind that decision were Adam Sosnowski, then Manager at the Horse Breeding Division and his collaborators Izabela Zawadzka, Jerzy Budny and Kazimierz Guziuk, at that time the director of Białka State Stallion Stud. That decision also proved very advantageous to the already existing Arabian State Studs in Janów, Michałów and Kurozwęki, as these could in this way dispose of their breeding surplus caused by a diminishing demand for Arabian horses noted then on foreign markets. The first 20 Purebred Arabian mares and one foal arrived to Białka State Stallion Stud in November 1981, constituting the founding herd of the fourth State Arabian Stud in Poland. Next year, the first Purebred Arabian foals were born in Białka, hence, the year 1982 is sometimes considered as the foundation year of Białka Arabian State Stud. Especially worth underlining here is the important role played by Manager Adam Sosnowski, who passed to the history of the Polish horse breeding thanks to his great merits during the war as well during the post war reconstruction and reorganization of the Polish horse breeding. Born in Podole and raised among horses under the eye of his father, Adam Nałęcz-Sosnowski was especially fond of the Arabian horses. His father, Kalikst Sosnowski occupied the post of the Director of State Stallion Stud in Białka till his tragic death on September 12th, 1939. Numerous war merits of Adam Sosnowski encompassed, among other things, recovery and identification of Ofirka, a mare of great merit to the Polish breeding, as well as recovery of many horses dispersed from private breeding in the south of Poland. In 1956 Adam Sosnowski was entrusted the task of choosing Arabian mares out of the group of horses that arrived to Wrocław from the Tiersk Stud. Four mares were bought then: Potencja, Pikirowka, Pienoczka and Piewica. The most valuable of them proved Piewica and Pienoczka, whose descendant is the distinguished sire Probat. The other one, Piewica, was the daughter of Włodarka, robbed by Russians from the Janów Stud. Piewica not only enabled the reintroduction to Poland of the lost dam family of Szemrajówka, d.b. 1810 originating from Biała Cerkiew, but she also founded in Janów and subsequently in Białka the most famous Polish dam line, often called the „P” family. Apart from the famous Pianissima in Janów, the „P” family gave such Białka stars as Perforacja, Pesal, Perfirka and Perfinka. Adam Sosnowski took up in 1972 the position of Manager at the Horse Breeding Division. He was personally in charge of the State breeding of Arabian horses, as Adam Sosnowski paid special attention to the breeding of that horse race. His decisions referring both to breeding and organizational issues were of a visionary character, like for example importing to Poland the stallion Probat in order to reintroduce in Poland the lost sire family of Kuhailan Afas db. His decision to establish an Arabian Stud in Białka revealed not only his sagacity, but also his ability to foresee correctly possible changes in the business cycle. Adam Sosnowski was a proponent of the idea to divide the basic herd of the Purebred Arabian horses in order to use different envioronmental conditions on smaller populations. From the present perspective it can clearly be seen that Białka avoided the fate of other Stallion Studs put to liquidation during the ninities only thanks to the fact that it possessed an Arabian Stud. That Arabian State Stud gained the status of a strategic state-owned limited liability company, which enabled the Stud with the valuable facility of Białka to survive for another 40 years, hoping for more.

In order to get the feeling of the reality accompanying the initial years of Białka Arabian State Stud, one has to remember that the eighties in Poland witnessed the birth of Solidarity and other great socio-political movements in 1981. The tragic decade that followed was marked by the state of war, economic crisis and widespread poverty. The situation changed only in 1989 with the partially free elections and the withdrawal from Poland of Soviet troops in 1993.

Breeding herd – ups and downs

Białka Arabian State Stud started its proper breeding activity in 1982 based on the breeding material received from the already existing State Arabian State Studs. A total of 29 stud mares arrived to Białka, of which most came from Michałów – 12, from Janów Podlaski – 10 and least from Kurozwęki – 7. These stud mares represented 10 dam families present in the Polish Breeding Program after 1946: Ukrainka, Gazella, Sahara, Bent-El Arab, Milordka, Szamrajówka, Szweykowska, Scherife, Rodania and Mlecha and 5 sire families founded by original Arab stallions: Kuhailan Haifi db. – 16 horses, Ibrahim db. – 5, Ilderim db. – 4, Bairactar db. – 3 and Saklawi I – 1. Throughout the years, the pedigree structure of the breeding herd in Białka has undergone some modifications. Apart from selection, the shape of that breeding herd was influenced by an influx of mares from Kurozwęki Stud privatised in 1998 and by the purchase of several mares from Janów Podlaski in 2018. Currently, as revealed by the 2021 Białka autumn breeding survey, 57 mares consitute the herd of mares, representing 9 dam families, of which: Szemrajówka – 12 mares, Gazella – 10 mares, Mlecha – 5 mares., Sahara – 6 mares, Wołoszka – 6 mares, Milordka – 9 mares, Scherife – 5 mares, Bent-El-Arab – 3 mares and Rodania – 1 mare.

27 sires were used in Białka during the years 1982-2000. The great diversity characterizing the herd of stud mares required from the breeders individual selection, resulting in a considerable number of sires used. And yet, despite such broad use of sires, Białka was initially unable to obtain distinguishing offspring. This was mainly due to the fact that Białka had no access to the best sires of the time that were available in Janów and Michałów. For many years, Białka had to use sires of lesser quality, or sires not fitting the other studs, or else sires not proven hitherto in breeding. However, consistent breeding effort based upon sharp and strictly targeted selection finally brought results. The nineties mark a series of successes achieved by horses from Białka on racetracks, and eventually also on show rings. The year 1991 witnessed the birth in Białka of a stallion that made Białka widely recognizable. That stallion also proved to be an extremely valuable sire, the father of many valuable mares and a continuator in the Polish breeding of the sire family Ilderim db. The stallion in question was Pesal (Partner-Perforacja/Ernal) born in 1991. Pesal was recognizable from afar thanks to his characteristic beauty. That beauty also ensured him great success. Pesal distinguished himself by his decisive Saklavian type. Additionally, he was a very correctly built stallion, with an exquisite Arabian bouquet and a propensity to put on fat, a feature so characteristic for his family. He early acquired a milky white shade of his grey coat, which made his big, black eyes stand out expressively against that fair background. A short head with a deep jaw, beautifully curved neck and outstanding movement along with a triuphantly waving tail and characteristically flowing mane – these were the distinctive features of Pesal. At the Michałów Junior Spring Show in 1993, the two-year-old Pesal not only won his class, but he also became the Polish Junior Colt Champion as the first ever representative of Białka Stud. The sophisticated beauty of Pesal was combined with a friendly and gentle character. He was ascribed excessive delicacy, or even „femininity”, but Pesal was running on racetrack for two seasons and he won two races. Upon passing his bravery trial, Pesal returned to the show ring in order to become in 1996 the Polish National Senior Stallion Silver Champion at Janów Podlaski National Arabian Horse Show and a Silver Champion at the All Nations Cup in Aachen. In the following year 1997 Pesal became the Polish National Gold Champion of Senior Stallions at Janów Podlaski National Arabian Horse Show, winning also the title Best in Show. Incorporated into breeding, Pesal was used in Michałów and Agricola Farm, where he left a number of valuable mares: among these in Michałów Złota Orda 1991 (Pesal-Zagrobla/Monogramm), the granddam of Ptolemeusz, the Silver Junior Champion Stallion at the European Arabian Horse Championships. Another mare, Bagatela 2000 (Pesal-Braminka/Elf) is the mother of a titled mare Bajaderka. Pesal is primarily the father of stallion Girlan-Bej 2002 (Pesal-Gracja-Bis/Monogramm) bred by PP Bogajewicz. Girlan-Bej is the Polish National Junior Gold Champion at the Janów Podlaski National Arabian Horse Show as well as a World Silver Champion in the same cathegory at the World Championships of the Arabian Horses. In total, Pesal left 124 of his offspring, to whom he passed beauty, good character and grey coat. In that respect he was homozygotic and foals by Pesal whitened already with mothers. In 2003 Pesal was sold to the Neatherlands, winning the Championships of that country. However, in 2005 Pesal returned in lease to Poland, where he was used at Janów Podlaski Stud. Leaping forward, Pesal was given Palmeta, the best Janów mare boasting exceptional beauty. Out of that combination was born the continuator of the family, the grey Palatino 2006 (Pesal-Palmeta/Ecaho). Since 1996 Pesal was also used in his maternal stud where he left a lasting trace. Yet, it is only in Janów that he managed to prolong his family. Currently, there are no daughters by Pesal in Białka, but the group of his granddaughters constitute one of the strong pillars of the Arabian horse breeding in Białka. Such mares as Estufa 2009, Cytera 2009, Hermia 2008 or Haftka 2008 are valuable breeding mares with a pure Polish pedigree.

Among sires used in Białka noted for giving exceptional offspring, one has to mention the stallion Gazal Al Shaqab. He fathered such mares as Perfirka (out of Perforacja by Ernal), Perolia (out of Pereira by Eldon) and Fabryszka (out of Fula by Partner) and the stallion Ekstern, father of the following mares: Ekina 2004 (out of Eklera by Ecaho), Cirilla 2006 (out of Cirka by Borek), Calatea 2008 (out of Calineczka by Metropolis N.A.), Cella 2008 (out of Celina by Metropolis N.A.), Frymuszka 2008 (out of Fabryszka by Gazal Al Shaqab) or the stallion Celsjusz 2004 (out of Carina by Pesal). Another son by Ekstern, the Michałów bred stallion Esparto (Ekstern-Espozycja/Eukaliptus) also left in Białka a number of excellent mares, to mention the distinguishing Egema (out of Egira by Emigrant) as well as Perfinka (out of Perfirka by Gazal Al Shaqab), the brightest star born in Białka so far. She started her show career in 2012 by winning the class of yearling fillies at the Junior Arabian Horse Show in Białka. The same year Perfinka was awarded the Top Ten title during the World Championships of the Arabian Horses in Paris. Subsequent years marking her career are: 2013 with the titles of World Junior Silver Champion Mare, European Junior Silver Champion Mare, Polish National Junior Silver Champion Mare, All Nations Cup Junior Champion Mare in Aachen, 2014 PSAIHF Junior Champion Mare in Saudi Arabia, April 2019 Las Vegas Arabian Breeders World Cup Senior Gold Champion Mare, US National Senior Gold Champion Mare and in 2020 Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show Senior Gold Champion Mare, giving Perfinka in all the American Triple Crown. In 2020 Perfinka was sold during the Pride of Poland auction for a record sum of EUR 1 200 000,00, which became a beautiful culmination of her show career. Perfinka left in Białka one daughter Platinia 2018 (Equator-Perfinka/Esparto), who is now facing the diffcult task of fulfilling the high breeding expectations elevated by the standards of her famous mother.

Białka specialty – Arabian race horses, endurance horses, sport horses and walking horses

Over the years Białka has earned the reputation of being an Arabian Stud offering for sale good utility horses. This was favoured by the choice of sires as well as the breeding methods used. Great beauty and the breeding methods employed enabled Arabian horses from Białka to compete successfully with Arabians from Janów stud and Michałów stud. That situation encompassed not only the correct build and great beauty, but primarily very high bravery on racetrack. Until the the first years of the 21st century, the Arabian horses from Białka were subjected to bravery trials on racetrack, and around 80 percent of horses completed that training sucessfully. A pedigree analysis of horses running on racetrack clearly shows that the greatest bravery is noted among representatives of the dam line Scherife or.ar. 1902. Compared with the representatives of other lines, representatives of the dam line Scherife or.ar.1902 show the highest average value of the racing success rate (RSS=3,18) as well as the longest period of racing use (average 2,2 seasons) with a simultaneous highest number of starts in races (average 15 starts) and the highest number of victories (average 4,6 victories per mare). Considering the origin on the sire side, the bravest horses turned out to be the representatives of the sire family Krzyżyk or.ar. 1876 with a simultaneous racing success rate 2,69, average 14 starts during a 1,75 years long racing career topped with 3 victories. Throughout their 40 years long history, horses from Białka twice won the Derby Award (Dziewierz and Ostragon), twice the Oaks (Al Adha, Aryjka), the Europe Trophy (Esej) and the Białka Trophy (Abisynia). Derby 1993 witnessed horses from Białka taking the first four places: Dziewierz, El Amor, Osjan and Al Adha. Unfortunately, from the beginning of the 21st century horses from Białka Arabian Stud are no longer put to bravery trials on racetrack, which had a negative impact upon the development of the stud and resulted in falling revenue from the sale of utility horses. Presently, only 3 mares born in 2018 are put to training on racetrack, which amounts to less than 10 percent of horses born in Białka that year.

Due to their exceptional racial qualities, the Arabian horses are very well adapted to participate in long distance endurance riding competitions, where they prove far superior to the representatives of other horse races. Arabian horses from Białka have been taking part in such competitions from the very beginning, winning recognition and awards. Among the experts of long distance endurance riding competitions, such horses as Alabar 1984 (Haracz-Albania/Gwarny), Albat 1983 (Probat-Alkaba/Celebes), or Drakkar 1987 (Alkazar-Darowizna/Partner) are considered to be pioneers of that discipline in Poland.

However, these undoubted sport and racing successes remain history. This is mainly due to the fact that during the past decade, Białka has made her way into a dead-end street by breeding Arabian horses only for show purposes. Pursuing that search for beauty only, horses from Białka were no longer subjected to bravery trials, which resulted in their loss of the bravery feature. It is difficult to tell whether horses from Białka still possess their utility potential without checking that in practice. Sometimes we can find here and there geldings from Białka winning jumping or eventing competitions or acting in reconstruction groups, but these geldings were lucky to fall in good hands. These horses may serve as a confirmation that not all is lost as regards bravery. What about beauty? Well, that is a relative thing.

Source materials:

1. Breeding Survey 9/2000 „Purebred Arabian Horse Stud in Białka” – M. Budzynski, A. Guziuk, J. Kamieniak, M. Sapuła
2. „The Pride of Białka or where Pesal and Perfinka came from?” (2020) Krystyna Chmiel
3. „The sire line Ibrahim d.b. 1984 imp. 1900 to Sławuta” – H. Sztuka, M.Grzechnik – purepolishsociety.com
4. „Adam Nałęcz-Sosnowski – memory” – Izabella Pawelec-Zawadzka, February 2003 janów.arabians.pl
5. Białka Stallion Stud – www.bialka.arabians.pl
6. Autumn Breeding Survey, Białka Arabian State Stud, 6 October 2021 – catalogue

The immortal song “History of one acquaintance” (1967) by Krzysztof Klenczon (music) and Jerzy Kossel (words), performed by the Polish group Czerwone Gitary and awarded in Sopot, is one of the greatest Polish hits of all time. Certainly, it also perpetuates, deservedly, a kind of myth of the Sopot beach. “The roar of the sea” is also quite a convenient literary trick. Do we remember that the Baltic has been humming continuously for 20,000 years? In the summer, this hum is friendly and invigorating, hiding the magnetic, wild beauty of nature that is hard to resist. Just as it is difficult to resist the tempting prospect of participating in the next edition of the show in Sopot.

Sopot – the second edition

The organizational success of the first edition of the Sopot show certainly encouraged many breeders and owners to register their horses in this year’s show affiliated by ECAHO, just like last year, as a “breeders show”. Thanks to the international line-up, the show became even more attractive and allowed Polish horses to compete with foreign horses at a similar level. We did not have decorated favorites that dominated the classes and therefore the results were awaited with tension and emotions. The show benefited from it, although, as it sometimes happens, it was not without sensation.

Technically perfect!

There were 77 horses entered in the catalogue, entered into 6 classes, some of which were divided into series A and B, so 12 classes in 6 age groups were held. The organizer, as in the previous year, proposed a different than usual judging system. This time it was a very apt, non-controversial move. The assessment consisting of seven parts: type, head, neck with shoulder, body, front legs, hind legs and movement, allowed the judges to assess the presented horses much more precisely, which gave the correct order in the class and did not raise any doubts. This type of evaluation selects class winners who, apart from their beauty and movement, are thoroughly assessed in terms of their correctness of build. In turn, the championships, which are governed by a different logic, select the most typical and beautiful horses from among the class winners, and this seems right. The judges invited by the organizer: Paula Bohmer and Karin Zeevenhoven from the Netherlands, Maria Ferraroni from Italy, Hendrik Mens from Belgium and Jaroslav Lacina from the Czech Republic, fulfilled the task excellently, and Gerard Oben from Belgium made sure that everything in the ring was efficient and safe . Conducting the show, the musical setting and the quick transfer of the results completed the picture of the event as friendly and professional. As in the previous year, modesty and simplicity of the surroundings were an undoubted advantage here. Both the classes and the finals took place according to the planned hourly schedule, which additionally enhanced the impression of harmony and peace. This year, the organizer chose a shadowed corner of the Sopot track on the side of Władysław Łokietek Street for the show, which significantly improved communication with the stables, an extremely important aspect for the trainers and their teams. The VIP area was elegantly built and, importantly, well protected from the sun. All tables were full, gathering a large group of owners and breeders from Poland and abroad. For the audience, there was a stand and a dozen or so tables available for persistent viewers. All this together gave the impression of a family picnic full of children, young people on bicycles and owners of pets, which are, of course, an inseparable element of the show landscape. The breeders had at their disposal a bar connected to the VIP area and two food trucks, which made sure that no one was hungry or thirsty. The proverbial “fly in the ointment” is the intrusive scaring of horses with plastic bags on a stick, which among the gathered audience, who had contact with an Arabian horse show for the first time, aroused considerable surprise and questions why these people scare horses. Difficult questions to answer. It is true that the organizer admitted in an interview with me that he asked the trainers to limit these practices, but the trainers do their job and until ECAHO reacts in a systemic way, such practices will continue.

Classes and championships

The progeny of RFI Farid (RFI Maktub – RFI Fayara El Shiraz by Shiraz El Jamaal) stood out in the junior classes. In recent years, he has been used by many Polish breeders, and the success in Sopot was achieved by RFI Farid youngsters bred by Katarzyna Dolińska-Witkowska, Adam Ochman and Piotr Podgórny. Bronze medal of the yearling fillies for Ceyla AO (RFI Farid – Cetula by El Nabila B), bred and owned by Adam Ochman and gold medal of the junior mares for the two-year-old Evetta (RFI Farid – Evolett by Ajman Moniscione) bred and owned by Katarzyna Dolińska- Witkowska. Silver medal of yearling colts for Glorius M (RFI Farid – Ginga by Galba) bred and owned by Piotr Podgórny. He also won a second silver medal, this time in the yearling fillies category with Eselaja M (AJ Elaf – Espanera by Kabsztad). Another medal double went to Petroniusz Frejlich – the yearling fillies gold medal for De Queen Of Life (Pireno – Dekstera by Ensenator) and a bronze medal for El Wiktorio (Eternal – Elwiktoria by Ekstern). In the case of Petroniusz Frejlich’s horses, it should be emphasized that both medalists are by Polish private-bred stallions, and in addition, De Queen Of Life’s dam is also bred by Petroniusz Frejlich. Out of the progeny of the recently popular stallion Wadee Al Shaqab in Poland, the gold was won by the two-year-old Vinci (Wadee Al Shaqab – Valencia Al Shaqab by Marwan Al Shaqab), known for his good performances last year. This promising young stallion did not perform in Białka this year, so we did not have the opportunity to see his performance as compared to the rest of the crop. If Vinci performs in the National Show in Janów Podlaski, he will probably be a very strong competitor for his peers from state studs, especially since we saw his performance on the French Riviera, in Menton, where he was placed 4th, ahead of Ferrum.

Another descendant of the stallion from Al Shaqab Stud who won the gold medal, this time of the senior stallions, was bred at Sweden Arabian Stud, owned by Arahman Saoud bin Khalid H. Alqasse – the bay Magic Algazal (Gazal Al Shaqab – Ale By Magnifique by Magic Magnifique), who at the same time scored the highest score at the Sopot show – 92.81 points. The stallion stood out against the competition with type and outstanding movement, which not only gave him a gold medal in his category, but also the Best in Show title.

And finally the sensation mentioned at the beginning of the report from Sopot – Janów’s dark bay Pila (Abyad AA – Piba by Gazal Al Shaqab). The young, still immature, debuting mare most deservedly won the gold medal in the senior mares category. Her extremely exotic type, correct build and excellent movement allow us to expect further successes in the future. Pila certainly has significant show potential. This mare is a perfect illustration for skeptics who have recently questioned the sense of subjecting Arabian horses to a stamina trial, because as a three-year-old she underwent training at the track, even achieving some success. Thus, she joins Michałów’s Wildona, who also started her show career only after the performance test on the track was completed, and as you can see, it turned out well for both mares. Pila, with five 20s for type, head and movement, 16 for legs and 18.5 for body is a type of horse that may appeal to various judges, especially as her sire’s Egyptian blood is very clearly visible in the exotic head and a slightly short neck. In this situation, one can only express surprise and regret that the president of Janów Podlaski was absent in Sopot, though his presence in a place where so many potential customers for Polish Arabian horses gather would be most desirable.

Undoubtedly, the charm of the Polish riviera influences the atmosphere of the Sopot Arabian Horse Show, so we can end the account of this event with the words of the title song:

From then on the days one after another
Were passing for us together.
In the morning the square, the beach or
The quay when the dusk was setting in.

Time was fleeting, the summertime,
Till the vacation came to an end.
The day had come on which
We already had to part.

Yearling Fillies Championship

Gold Medal Yearling Fillies – De Queen Of Life (Pireno – Dekstera), bred & owned by Petroniusz Frejlich (Poland)

Silver Medal Yearling Fillies – Eselaja M (AJ Elaf – Espanera), bred & owned by Piotr Podgórny (Poland)

Bronze Medal Yearling Fillies – Ceyla AO (RFI Farid – Cetula), bred & owned by Adam Ochman (Poland)

Yearling Colts Championship

Gold Medal Yearling Colt – Empiria Babel (Ghaith Al Zobair – Eden Beauty K.A), bred and owned by Hekmat Shareif (Poland)

Silver Medal Yearling Colt – Glorius M (RFI Farid – Ginga), bred and owned by Piotr Podgórny (Poland)

Bronze Medal Yearling Colt – Cameg Ecosse (E.S. Sarab – Cameg Parisa), bred by Cameg Arabian Stud (UK), owned by Aldeem Arabians (Kuwait)

Junior Mares Championship

Gold Medal Junior Mare – Evetta (RFI Farid – Evolett), bred and owned by Katarzyna Dolińska-Witkowska (Poland)

Silver Medal Junior Mare – IS Essencia (Poseidon OS – IS Ella Nora), bred and owned by Ismer Stud (Germany)

Bronze Medal Junior Mare – AJ Areej (AJ Kafu – Ania Moniscione), bred by Ajman Stud (UAE), owned by Tomasz Tarczyński (Poland)

Junior Colts Championship

Gold Medal Junior Colt – Vinci (Wadee Al Shaqab – Valencia Al Shaqab), bred and owned by Waldemar Bąk (Poland)

Silver Medal Junior Colt – DS Fedor (EKS Alihandro – Fedora RG), bred by Athba Stud (KSA), owned by Danisa Arabians (Belgium)

Bronze Medal Junior Colt – Almagram (Wadee Al Shaqab – AHB Aidha), bred and owned by Alicja Napióra (Poland)

Geldings Championship

Gold Medal Gelding – Muranas Messi (Invictus – Muranas Majesta), bred by Murana Stud (Germany), owned by Aleksandra Czarnul (Poland)

Silver Medal Gelding – Wilton (Lawrence El Gazal – Wołogda), bred by Stadnina Koni Janów Podlaski (Poland), owned by Magdalena Głód (Poland)

Bronze Medal gelding – Eunory (Ganges – Eunora), bred by Stadnina Koni Michałów (Poland), owned by Aneta Chrząstek-Szyc (Poland)

Senior Mares Championship

Gold Medal Senior Mare – Pila (Abyad AA – Piba), bred and owned by Stadnina Koni Janów Podlaski (Poland)

Silver Medal Senior Mares – Vision Of Justice (WH Justice – Equisite Dream), bred by J.L. & L. Havice (UK), owned by Aldeem Arabians (Kuwait)

Bronze Medal Senior Mares – Ebora (Ekstern – Eberia), bred by Stadnina Koni Michałów (Poland), owned by Suweco Stud (Czech Republik)

Senior Stallions Championship

Gold Medal Senior Stallion – Magic Algazal (Gazal Al Shaqab – Ale By Magnifique), bred by Sweden Arabian Stud (Sweden), owned by Arahman Saoud bin Khalid H. Alqasse

Silver Medal Senior Stallion – Atius O (Shahim Al Nakeeb – Atia Oone), bred by Oone Llc (USA), owned by Jas Stud

Bronze Medal Senior Stallion – El Wiktorio (Eternal – Elwiktoria), bred and owned by Petroniusz Frejlich (Poland)

Full results: https://www.arabianessence.tv/events/sopot-arabian-horse-show-2021/341/

An interview with Marek Rzepka, the owner and founder of Klikowa Arabians, who brought Pianissima’s son, Prometeusz, to Poland.

Why do you have such great passion for Arabian horses?

My grandfather was a great animal lover. He served in the Austrian army, he did all his service with horses, he bred pigeons, fish and dogs. He died in 1950. Unfortunately, I was not able to meet him, but I feel that it is partly from him that I inherited a great passion for animals. My grandparents kept carrier pigeons. My grandma used to remind me not to scare them. These pigeons were something magical for me, something I always dreamed of. My father was not a fan of animal breeding, unlike my grandfather and uncle. He forbade me to get too involved in breeding. But the more inaccessible something is, the more we strive to own it. So, already in elementary school, I started breeding carrier pigeons. I kept them on the Sanguszko farm. Although I am a graduate of the AGH University of Science and Technology, pigeons have stayed with me to this day. This is my great passion.

How did the place of birth and upbringing, i.e. the former estate of the Sanguszko family in Gumniska, influence the development of this passion?

I was born in the vicinity of the palace in Gumniska. I dreamed of horses, but it seemed completely inaccessible to me; horses were something unattainable for me for many years. After working for two years in the Provincial Office in the environmental protection department, I realized that something bigger needs to be done in life. Having no idea then to what size my plan would grow, I decided to start my own business. Currently, my company, Polmark, produces all the electrical components needed at home. I started by distributing the products of one of the factories that were in bankruptcy. After a year, I became its largest representative, and other significant companies on the market signed contracts with me for the sale of their products. I was able to buy a package of the company’s bonds and gain the position of chairman of the supervisory board. Within one year, without firing a single person, I made the bankrupt company profitable. 320 people were employed. After two years, the company already employed 600 people.

Klikowa is a former state stallion depot, previously owned by the Sanguszko princes – how did it happen that it is in the name of your stud?

I wanted to buy the stud in Udórz, still having Arabian horses in my head. However Udórz, located 140 km from Tarnów, was not an attractive enough place on the map. My wife dissuaded me from this idea. At that time, I became one of the founders of the Klikowa Foundation, composed of 32 members – institutions and companies focused around horses. The members of the foundation are also Janów and Michałów studs. The purpose of the Foundation was to save the declining herd in Klikowa. Unfortunately, it was the worst period in the history of this place. At the moment I am the vice president of the board of the founders of the Foundation. Thanks to this, I entered the environment of horsemen and breeders. They were not breeders of Arabian horses, but mainly those of the Małopolska breed. My first horse was the Małopolska leopard-colored stallion Birkut, bought at an auction in Michałów. I wanted breeders to use him extensively; in this way, I intended to support the foundation. However, I knew that Arabian horses were my target. Quite by chance, while travelling, I ended up at the stud of Mr. Dariusz Konstanty in Trzyciąż, and there I bought my first Arabian mare, Gamia 2007 by Ganges. I read with great interest all articles about Arabian horses on portals and in trade magazines. I was absorbing knowledge about them. The real adventure with breeding began with the purchase of a few mares from Przemysław Sawicki. It was then that I acquired a strong group of mares with solid, one could say, predictable pedigrees. Then I started to plan my own breeding. During the stallions parade in Klikowa, I met Monika Stefaniuk-Szmukier, a zootechnician working at the Agricultural University of Hugo Kołłątaj in Krakow, strongly involved in the subject of Arabian horses. Monika successfully completed her doctorate and postdoctorate title in genetics of Arabian horses. She was positively crazy about Michałów. I like people for whom passion is of great importance and determines their lives. I bred Arabian horses in Klikowa for four years, before in March 2020, i.e. a year ago, they came to the newly built stud in Wola Rzędzińska, in the vicinity of my Polmark company and my home. Agnieszka Pustelnik worked in Klikowa and turned out to be a very committed and professional person. In the new stable in Wola Rzędzińska, she takes care of our horses and is the head of the stable. Monika and Agnieszka are in our team until this day.

I believe that knowledge should be constantly deepened, despite the fact that we gain experience in a given field over time. However, we learn all the time, as well as take in the humility that accompanies it.

What is the current breeding structure of your mare herd and in what direction are you planning its development?

The basis of my breeding remain four Ekstern daughters – Erigone (out of Eryka by Eukaliptus), Lili PS (out of Lenka by Piaff), Zazulka (out of Zuzelia by Werbum) and El Dorilla (out of El Dorra by QR Marc). His daughters, especially from Milordka’s dam line, are very valuable mothers. At the moment in Klikowa Arabians we are adding their daughters to our breeding herd, which is a great satisfaction for me and shows the value of the stud for the future. The second branch of breeding herd are daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters of Gazal Al Shaqab, so I tried to select and purchase good quality mares by Gazal, Marwan and Kahil. I placed my bets on the Michałów “E” line and Janów’s “P” line. Unfortunately, I have never seen Pianissima with my own eyes. Perhaps that also contributed to my desire to collect her daughters so much. And now it turned out that we had the chance to become the owners of her son, the exceptional stallion Prometeusz.

For me, it was extraordinary with what respect, artistry and fascination Pianissima was spoken of and written about all over the world. She was an absolutely outstanding horse, who set Janów’s breeding at the highest level, leaving competitors far behind. This petit bay mare was admired on all continents, millions of euros were offered for her. Without worrying about what some said – that Pianissima is a freak of nature, from whom it will be difficult to breed good offspring – as soon as Pianissima’s daughter Pianova (by Eden C) appeared at the auction in 2019, we decided to buy her, and then completely by chance I found out about another daughter of Pianissima, which was put up for auction in Ajman Stud, this time by El Nabila B, the grey AJ Penelope. She was bought for me by Frank Spoenle’s wife – Elisa Grassi. In this way, we became the owners of two Pianissima daughters. Such wonderful horses as the European Gold Champion Efora KL or the granddaughter of Pianissima (out of Pianova by Eden C) – the filly Pianissa, were born still at Klikowa. The acceptance of the stable where we are now was not easy. A pandemic was already raging in Poland, and the newly built Klikowa Arabians is not only a stable, but also a banquet hall, conference room, guest rooms, and professional catering facilities. In the end, however, we succeeded and from March 19th, 2020, we have Arabian horses here.

What are your plans for the near future?

At the moment, we are starting to implement another project – an indoor arena and most likely more stalls and an indoor carousel. In my head I have a long list of Arabian horse projects and events that I would like to see here in the future. We organize breeding inspections where, I hope, we will regularly host Polish and foreign breeders. We are trying to expand the acreage needed for horse breeding, and the local community is aware that we are a stud and will not be threatened by a developer or other speculations about the area in the neighbourhood. That is why everyone around me is very sympathetic and we are slowly succeeding in consolidating more and more areas. There are already 20 hectares, which is quite a good acreage for further development. I believe that in order to properly breed horses, you need to have full control of the feed you feed them. We have a very good agronomist in our team, who takes care of keeping meadows and pastures in the best condition. We grow oats ourselves, we mow meadows, all our crops are subordinated to horse breeding. I naturally became a farmer thanks to it. As a farmer, I purchased a good-quality machine park. The first time I got in a Ferguson I thought it was an exceptionally pleasant thing; it is fascinating how highly developed mechanization in agriculture is. Sitting in the new tractor felt more comfortable than in the new Mercedes! Radio, air conditioning, air-cushioned seat, lots of joysticks – it’s a great pleasure to be able to cultivate your own fields. It really is a fairy tale. 25 years ago I bought 50 hectares of meadows and forest near Krynica by accident. The area is currently under lease, kept in good condition and in an appropriate culture. Mountain streams, forest … Who knows if it will not be useful in the future for the development of activities? I think I was very lucky in my life, thanks to so many coincidences. Sometimes certain elements come together. Every year in breeding, whether we like it or not, must bring progress. We have to follow fashion and maintain the right pace, be aware of current trends. If we miss important elements, it will be difficult to make up for it later.

An important moment was the purchase of the Michałów-bred mare Erigone 2003 by Ekstern, from Mrs. Helen Zaleski from Lutetia Arabians in France. We took two mares to Belgium, to Knocke Arabians, to breed to the stallion QR Marc. Porta KL was born out of Pegala, out of Erigone – Efora KL, last year’s European Champion. It has been the greatest success of our breeding so far. We’ll see what this season brings.

My son Marcin is extremely involved in breeding pigeons, dogs and horses. For years, we have been studying pedigrees, show results and offspring rankings together. Our best year in terms of shows is 2020: medals in Białka, Janów Podlaski and at the European Championships in Prague. Last year I bought two daughters of the stallion Kahil Al Shaqab at the Monday auction in Janów Podlaski – Erskina and Pliwia. I believe that these are important mares that have enriched our breeding program. We are looking forward to adding to our herd the wonderful daughter of WH Justice – Ophrah, who will be presented this year at the Junior Spring Show in Białka.

What are your plans for the near future for Prometeusz?

The anticipation of his arrival was amazing. After his long delayed arrival in Amsterdam due to Ramadan, we waited for him at the farm. However, his arrival was delayed. Phones rang, more explanations were given as to why the transport would be delayed for another and another day. It was a very difficult period. When Prometeusz finally arrived, I was captivated by his gaze, his expressiveness. When he starts moving in the paddock and is slightly agitated, he looks like the eighth wonder of the world. We will use him on our mares and maybe he will take part in the Polish National Show in Janów. We want Prometeusz to live in good, comfortable conditions that every stallion should have. He will be available to breeders in Poland and Europe, but with a limited number breedings, because we want to maintain the high quality of the semen. We dream that he will be used on such mares where his potential will be fully used. He is a stallion in his prime, the breeding future is ahead of him.

What stallions, apart from Prometeusz, will be used in your breeding?

This season, apart from Prometeusz, we use such stallions as D Seraj, El Jahez WH, EKS Farajj, RFI Unique, Naseem Al Rashediah. And the season is still going on, we will see what the next stallion selection decisions will bring. We try to ensure that the stallions we use have, even somewhere far back in their pedigree, Polish roots, Polish ancestors. This is an added value for us. Apart from Al Ayal AA, all the stallions we used had Polish ancestors. Of course, we cannot limit ourselves, we must go with progress and fashion. El Jahez, Dębowiec are also references to Polish ancestors, while maintaining high quality and breeding progress. We will absolutely adhere to it so as not to lose the positive aspects of our Polish lines, we should come back to it and make them unique and sought after all over the world. The Pure Polish horse is a beautiful and complete horse. It is not true that these horses are not modern. We have to be consistent in breeding. My son Marcin has been analyzing the horse show results for five years. This is very helpful when drawing conclusions as to which stallions are worth being interested in. Why make mistakes when there are horses that give a lot of champions?

For me, the greatest value in breeding are the mares who have Bey Shah in their pedigree, preferably several times. What I heard from you when we were walking in the pastures is inspiring, that the real challenge for the breeder is to breed a stallion, a sire that others will want to use in their breeding. You called it the highest art and true success. You are definitely right to say that the stallion breeder goes down in the history of breeding. We both know that breeding a good stallion is much more difficult than a good mare, also because the selection is much stricter, not every stallion is a good sire. We are lucky that Pianissima, FA El Shawan and hopefully Prometeusz are epochal horses that have an impact on breeding.

After last year’s successes at the shows, is Klikowa Arabians still planning the performances of its charges in Poland and abroad? What are the preparations like?

Plans for this year: we entered six horses for the Spring Show in Białka. They are young horses, we will see how they develop, each month makes a difference for youngsters. Once a week we meet with my son for a breeding inspection. We assess the condition of the horses and, together with those responsible for training and nutrition, decide on the next steps. The facilitation is that I live very close to the stud, I come here almost every day, 5-6 times a day. We train horses at home, so far we do not send horses for training abroad. I believe that this is a good system and obviously needs improvement; we are learning and gaining experience all the time. But I don’t like sending my horses to another stable, because even if I fully trust the trainer and his crew, I lose touch with my horse, I can’t see how it’s developing and I can’t judge its quality as well as in everyday contact. I really like looking after the horses personally and taking care of details. I am a perfectionist in everything I do in my life. Our staff is in the process of training and gaining skills – they are young, ambitious, hard-working people, which makes our task easier. In addition, many trainers and presenters visit us frequently. They supplement the team that works here on a daily basis. We have three vets: for emergency, reproductive and orthopedic situations. We strive to ensure that horses are under professional care.

How do you evaluate, from the customer’s point of view, the auction in Janów Podlaski, as well as the media hype around Arabian horses in Poland?

Little people, who do not understand the Arabian horse business, will write something there, scribble, and the majority of society buys it… And the auction, customers, transactions, money, all these elements like silence and harmony. If I was the manager of the Janów Podlaski auction, I would make sure that the free drinks were always delivered to the guests’ tables during the auction. Together with my wife, we have fond memories of the excellently organized auction in 2018. It was an unforgettable spectacle at the highest level – and the auction should be heading in this direction. A unique event that will be remembered.

PROMETEUSZ  (US), bay stallion, born 2012

Sire line: Saklawi I 1886, bred by Anazeh Ruala (B)

Dam line: Szmrajówka ~1810, bred by Biała Cerkiew (PL)

Gumniska, or history comes full circle

Whether we are like our ancestors or not, we sometimes follow their path, make their mistakes, or make similar choices. Sometimes we become the heroes of a story that likes to repeat itself. Because certain processes, phenomena and episodes repeat themselves, although perhaps it we that find similarities to already known events in them. It is sometimes said that history has come full circle, that it has returned to where it started. Or maybe we are dealing with a wheel of time, after which everything starts all over again? Such reflections and awareness of historical events in Arabian horse breeding accompanied me during my visit to the stud of Klikowa Arabians. The host of the stud, Marek Rzepka, born, raised and even registered in Gumniska, showed us around the former estate of the Sanguszko princes, telling us about the place, horses and people with incredible charisma and passion. These are the stables where on May 12th, 1931, the stallions Kuhailan Haifi d.b. and Kuhailan Afas d.b. stood after being brought from the desert by Bogdan Ziętarski. These are the stables where, in 1943, despite the war raging around, the only mare from the Sławuta dam line of Ukrainka (born 1815) was born, the famous Forta, which survived the war. Monumental oaks and plane trees in front of the palace, which probably remember the beginning of the 19th century. The magnificent Sanguszko Chapel … In the falling dusk a small light attracted our attention and when the great door of the chapel opened, the sight took our breath away. The atmosphere of the neo-Gothic chapel adjacent to the west wing of the palace, along with partially preserved furnishings, moved us to a different place and time. A group of women preparing for the May service was probably surprised by the sudden appearance of visitors, but kindly invited us to stay inside. Discreet light, a carved wooden altar, pews, and on the left side a low door leading straight to the palace. At that moment I realized that prince Roman Sanguszko probably prayed here in 1939, leaving Gumniska and Poland forever. It was here that Bogdan Ziętarski went to for a short prayer before the evacuation of the Gumniska herd ordered by the Germans at the beginning of January 1945. Ziętarski did not leave the horses until the end of their journey. And now, 90 years after his expedition to the desert, we, Arabian horse breeders, are here, and near the old Gumniska stables you can once again hear the neighing of a proud purebred stallion.

Pianissima’s son

Prometeusz, the son of the famous Pianissima, had made headlines in Poland several times. Even his appearance in the world in 2012 aroused emotions due to the growing fame of his father, the stallion FA El Shawan (US). Of the nine descendants of Pianissima from the years 2007–2015, Prometeusz certainly carries in him the blood of two outstanding individuals of the Arabian breed. The stallion FA El Shawan (born 2005), by Marwan Al Shaqab (QA) out of Foxbriar Shakita (US) by ZT Shakfantasy (AR), went down in history as the sire of FA El Rasheem (US), born in 2011. Interestingly, FA El Shawan comes from the dam line of Selma d.b. (born 1865) – a line imported in the 1930s to the Soviet Union. This family, like its Polish branch, descended from the mare Selima (GB), born in 1908 at Crabbet Park Stud. About the dam of our hero – the stallion Prometeusz – Janów’s multi-champion Pianissima, everything has already been said and written. However, the quality of the female line of Szamrajówka (born 1810 in Biała Cerkiew) should be emphasized, which combines all the best elements of Polish breeding, derived from the times when Pure Polish was a recognizable sign of the highest quality. Pianissima, daughter of the stallion Gazal Al Shaqab (QA), born in 1995 by Anaza El Farid (US) out of Kajora (US) by Kaborr (US), became an icon of world breeding mainly because it was the first horse in the history of the Arabian breed, where the exotic beauty of Straight Egyptian horses is intertwined with the correctness of build and expressive movement typical of Pure Polish horses. Pianissima’s worldwide career has set new breed standards. Pianissima’s beauty has become a model of the show horse type. Unfortunately, neither Pianissima nor the stallion FA El Shawan are with us anymore.

In Polish breeding, Pianissima left three daughters: Pia (born 2009) by Ganges, Pianova (born 2011) by Eden C and Pamina (born 2015) by Pogrom, and the stallion Prometeusz (born 2012). Prometeusz was born at Gallun Farms, owned by Greg and Nancy Gallun, California. He did not grow up in Poland; he remained in the US in order to have the greatest possible promotion. The pedigree of Prometeusz, as well as the stallion himself, aroused considerable interest of breeders in Poland, which increased after the death of his sire, as well as a result of the dynamically developing “invasion” of the progeny of his half-brother, the stallion FA El Rasheem, on the show rings in recent years. The decision to sell Prometeusz without using him in Polish breeding (in 2018 he was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed Al Mualla from the United Arab Emirates for his Ghaleb Stud), met with a huge wave of criticism in our country, which is why information about the purchase and bringing him to Poland by Marek Rzepka turned out to be sensational and certainly very much awaited, especially since the stallion had considerable achievements. In 2018, while under the care of Tom Oben’s training centre, he won the Senior Gold Stallion Championship at the International Show in Vichy, France. In the same year, at the international show in Bruges, he was rated at 92.19 points. In 2019 in Sharjah he was second in the 7-9 year old stallions class with a score of 92.5 points. He missed the bronze medal by a nose, i.e. one point. Earlier, still in the USA, he was among the ten stallions whose breeding sales were the best at the Scottsdale Signature Stallion Auction 2015; he was a stallion whose offspring could compete in the Arabian Horse Association’s sweepstakes program, and was also a stallion whose offspring were eligible to compete in the Scottsdale Signature classes.

What breeders say

Marek Rzepka, the creator and owner of Klikowa Arabians, tells us about the purchase of Prometeusz: “We have approached this subject many times, trying to buy a Prometeusz breeding package or lease him. We offered a very high amount for a one-year lease, but our proposals were rejected. The previous owner of the stallion, Sheikh Mohammed Al Mualla, was not interested in selling breedings. Nevertheless, from time to time we reminded ourselves to him, asking about the lease and breeding. The more the sheikh refused us to buy breedings and a lease, the more I strove for this unique horse to find his way to our stud. Perhaps in life some things are just destined to happen. This was probably the case with Prometeusz, whose home today is in Klikowa. Although he is officially Janów-bred, he has never been in Poland before. And I think that the only son of Pianissima should be in Poland as an absolutely unique horse who must get his chance in breeding. He has enormous potential. It would be a pity not to use it.”

Greg Gallun, who welcomed Pianissima’s newborn son in California, notes: “Prometeusz holds so much important and proven blood that his going to Poland is only logical. I’m confident that over the coming years the legacy of perhaps the world’s greatest mare Pianissima will endure. Our respect and admiration for him as a breeding stallion and as horse of excellent character is genuine. We look forward following his new path and to one day greeting him in person.”

Although Prometeusz has not been publicly presented in Poland yet, European breeders know him. Javier Fernandez Echarri (Belgium), a veterinarian dealing with Prometeusz during his stay in Belgium, expresses his appreciation for the horse: “Prometeusz is a beautiful horse from the outside and the inside, very gentle and easy to work with, and has the most amazing eyes you will come across nowadays. I’m very happy he is back to Europe, and I will have the chance to breed to him again. If he will be available, I would be happy to breed my best mare to him, mother of last year Gold Yearling Filly at European Championship. Surely Prometeusz is one of most interesting stallions nowadays.”

Belgian trainer Tom Oben recalls: “The moment they called me that Prometeusz was gonna come to us we were very excited. Having had the pleasure of dealing with his mother and now his son was overwhelming. The day he arrived the first thing that i noticed on him was his big black gentle eye. Prometeusz is in my opinion a very correct well build horse with the sweetest disposition we could wish for in a stallion. I’m sure the new owner will have a great time together with him and its again a nice opportunity for the Polish breeders as well as those of the rest of the world that he will become again available at public stud.” Oben is accompanied by another trainer from Belgium, Glenn Schoukens: ” My sincere congratulations to Klikowa Arabians with bringing this legendary stallion to Poland. I am sure he will be a great asset not only to their breeding program but to all of Polish and European breeders. I really look forward what the future will bring.” Tomasz Tarczyński, breeder and ECAHO judge, says: “I have been following the fate of this stallion for a long time, due to his excellent and unique origin. However, for a while I could only see him photos from the States. I had the opportunity to judge him for the first time at the Sharjah (UAE) show in 2019 and the stallion made a huge, positive impression on me. I especially remember his beautiful, perfectly set, large black eye, noble, dry head and strong body, which definitely stood out among the presented stallions.”

Long-time president of Janów Podlaski Stud, Marek Trela, sums up: “I am sure that Polish Arabian horse breeders should be grateful to Mr. Marek Rzepka for undertaking the difficult mission of bringing Prometeusz to Poland. This stallion was created to be in Poland, he should be used here, and here is also where he belongs. Due to his unique, and – as life has shown – also one of a kind pedigree and excellent Arabian type, he can become a valuable sire to our breeding. I personally counted on him a lot, and now I will await his offspring with curiosity and hope.”

PROMETEUSZ  (US), bay stallion, born 2012

Sire line: Saklawi I 1886, bred by Anazeh Ruala (B)

Dam line: Szmrajówka ~1810, bred by Biała Cerkiew (PL)

Szweykowska, Milordka, Ukrainka, Wołoszka and Szamrajówka — how did Arabians end up in Poland? From the far desert …

The Arabian breed, formed over centuries in the deserts of Arabia due to specific geographic conditions, was genetically probably the result of mixing the blood of different horse breeds entering Arabia from the east, west and south. During the great conquests of the 7th-8th centuries, the Arabs, moving westwards, encountered Berber horses in Africa, and then the aforementioned breeds were mixed — that is, horses from southern Arabia with horses from northern Africa. It should be assumed that such horses came to Spain and southern Europe. After the conquests ended, with the rise of the caliphates and kingdoms, Arabia itself remained on the margins of the great Arab-Muslim empire. The Bedouins, on the other hand, lived their old way of life, keeping their traditions and customs. It was also then (around the 13th century) that the flow of foreign blood to the Arabian horse breed probably ended. In the following centuries, Bedouins and their horses only migrated across the deserts of Arabia: Central Arabia, Syria, Mesopotamia and Palestine. These movements were conducive to maintaining a uniform breed of Arabian horses. In the specific environment of the Arabian Peninsula, the characteristics that distinguish this breed were formed: bravery, beauty, dry tissue, speed and the typical gentleness of character. Europeans traveling in Arabia between the thirteenth and nineteenth centuries agree that the best Arabian horses can be found among members of the Anaza tribe, once nomadic in the interior of Arabia, who left the Nejdu deserts and settled in the desert areas of Syria and northern Arabia. Among the Bedouins, the descendants of the former nomadic horse breeders, various ancient traditions concerning the genealogy of Arabian horses are still alive today. They are mentioned by the first European explorer of Arabia, Niebhur (ca 1779), as well as by Count Wacław Seweryn Rzewuski, who wandered in the deserts of Arabia at the beginning of the 19th century and left the famous manuscript from this journey, which is a unique source of ethnographic knowledge about the life of the Bedouins and the horses they bred. It has undoubtedly been established that the type of the modern Arabian horse was developed at the beginning of the 7th century and was directly related to the rise of the Muslim religion.

On the borderlands of the Republic of Poland

The vast territory of the Republic of Poland and related interests, starting from the 15th century, inevitably led to a confrontation with the aggressive Ottoman Empire, which also included the Arabian Peninsula. Military and trade contacts in peacetime made it possible to import first oriental and then Arabian horses to Poland.

Arabian horse breeding from the beginning of its existence in Poland has been distinguished by special care and diligence. The dam lines were (and are) carefully cared for by Polish breeders. Among the 15 dam lines that are present in the Polish breeding program, five are the heritage of the famous Polish Borderlands studs, dating back to the second half of the 18th century. This extraordinary continuity, despite the historical cataclysms that swept through our country, invariably prompts us to wonder why Poles valued Arabian horses so much that for many generations, despite wars, plunder and, above all, the lack of state sovereignty, they maintained and even successfully developed the breeding of these horses. As a result of many generations of breeding work, a type of Polish Arabian was created, significantly different from the original Arabians brought from the desert. The refinement and consolidation of features have become a characteristic of Polish Arabians, significantly different from their ancestors and Arabians in the so-called Egyptian type. The foundation for the type and tradition of Polish breeding and its vision is basing on and cultivating dam lines of females born in these studs.

Biała Cerkiew studs

The oldest Arabian stud farm of the Borderlands was the one established in 1778 by the Grand Hetman of the Crown, Franciszek Ksawery Branicki, in the Szamrajówka chutor, belonging to the Biała Cerkiew estate in the Ukraine. Its many years of operation left in Polish breeding just one (recovered with great difficulty after World War I, and then also after World War II), but extremely valuable, dam line: Szamrajówka, 1810 bred by Biała Cerkiew.

Sławuta dam lines (Antoniny and Gumniska)

Among the studs of the Borderlands, the effects of which have survived in the form of dam or sire lines, the stud of the Sanguszko princes, originating from Sławuta, definitely stood out. The stud in Sławuta adopted a distinctly Arabian direction around 1804, that is, from the time of the expedition of Kajetan Burski, the Sanguszko’s equerry, for horses to Arabia. From that moment, until 1945, the Sanguszko breeding was carried out invariably in the Arabian direction, i.e. for 141 years (also in Antoniny and Gumniska near Tarnów). The number of their breeding was significant, which allowed for the selection of the best horses and the production and then preserving of entire families. 12 dam lines were established there: “(…) the oldest of the Sławuta families was descended from a mare without a name, born around 1790, which survived until the 1930s, reaching 10 generations, but no longer exists.“* From among the Sławuta families, there are currently four in Polish breeding: Szweykowska b. c. 1800, Milordka b. c. 1810, Wołoszka b. c. 1810, Ukrainka b. c. 1815. Equally important is the heritage of the Sławuta breeding in establishing sire lines. Until now, two lines have survived, which have issued many generations and are continued in Poland and successfully in the world. They are lines descending from the stallions: Ilderim or.ar. imp. 1900 to Sławuta, Ibrahim d.b. imp. 1907 to Antoniny.

Jarczowce dam lines (and Jezupol)

In the interwar period, the leading role in domestic breeding was played by horses derived from three mares brought from Arabia in 1845 by Juliusz Dzieduszycki, i.e. Gazella d.b., Mlecha d.b. and Sahara d.b. The Dzieduszycki stud in Jarczowce, much older, dating back to 1791, adopted the Arabian-only direction in 1845. It was then that Juliusz Dzieduszycki brought seven desert stallions and four mares from Arabia, including the three mentioned above – as it turned out – founders of dam lines that are so important today. The stud in Jarczowce (then continued in Jezupol) had operated for 73 years, that is until 1918. The well-reproduced Jarczowce dam lines are an extremely valuable breeding legacy of the Dzieduszycki family. Jarczowce also started two sire lines, of which one has survived to this day: Krzyżyk d.b. (born in 1869, imp. 1876 Jarczowce).

The end of breeding Arabian horses in the Borderlands came in 1918, when the studs, devastated during the Great War, were, along with the horses, completely destroyed (burned, murdered, demolished, looted) by the Bolsheviks. Only thanks to their export to other regions or countries, the priceless breeding material from many excellent studs has survived to this day. Including the most outstanding ones, i.e. Sławuta, Antoniny, Biała Cerkiew and Jarczowce with Jezupol. This allowed, after the rebirth of the Polish state, to start rebuilding breeding basing on the old families of Sławuta (and Antoniny), Biała Cerkiew, Jarczowce (and Jezupol). During the partitions, on the Polish lands of the Russian Empire, the only existing state stud, founded by Tsar Alexander I in 1817 in Janów Podlaski, contrary to popular belief, did not breed Arabian horses. Thus, all Arabian farms in Poland at that time were in private hands.

Stud books

In the studs of Polish magnates, from the second half of the 18th century, breeding was conducted in a modern way, establishing stud books and registers of purebred horses. It is thanks to this that Polish Arabians have such deeply documented pedigrees today. The need to use a brave and reliable mount in war and the problem of communication in vast areas during the period of peace forced the need to breed Arabian horses which were strong and sound, which in turn led to the extraordinary stamina of Polish Arabian horses. Polish breeders also understood this. After regaining independence, already in 1926, in place of the former war training, they launched performance trials on horse racing tracks. Until recently, these attempts were the basis for the selection of elite material in Polish breeding.

Until the 1970s, the population of Arabian horses in the world was not strictly defined. Different countries kept books and registers, but they were not kept on a uniform basis, which often led to misunderstandings and limited export opportunities, as well as broadly understood international cooperation. Even in the 1960s, well-known English breeders, Patricia and Sonia Lindsay, bought Arabian horses in Poland and only after they were entered in the English stud books, that is they were recognized as Arabians in Great Britain, they could be re-exported to the USA due to the fact that the American stud book did not recognize the Polish stud book. It is difficult to say whether this was due to the reluctance of the Americans to cooperate with the authorities of a hostile communist regime, or simply because of the business calculations that could be attributed to them, especially at a time when they were getting their own breeding on their feet.

In July 1967, at the initiative of the British Arab Horse Society, the first Arab Horse Breeders Conference was organized in London, attended by representatives of Great Britain, the USA, the USSR, Sweden, South Africa, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, the German Federal Republic, the Netherlands, Jordan and Israel. Despite the invitation, there was no Polish delegation whose attitude of the then Polish authorities towards Arabian horse breeding was negative. It was at that time that the official Gomułka propaganda tried to convince the public that horses eat oats needed for pigs, so as unnecessary parasites — Arabian horses, had to be liquidated. The absence of the Polish delegation at the conference in London was very unfavorable for our breeding, because at this conference a public debate began on the type of Arabian horse and the rules of keeping stud books. Despite the negative attitude of the Polish authorities to this initiative, Polish interests were officially represented by Stefan Zamoyski, a member of the British Arab Horse Society. The same Zamoyski, thanks to whom Poland owes the recovery of Polish Arabians taken by the Germans from occupied Poland. And the same Zamoyski, who was forbidden by the Polish state to return to his homeland, had taken all his property and hope for life among his countrymen, was now fighting for the good of his country and Polish breeding. Thanks to his involvement, Polish interests were constantly and effectively represented. The result of the first Arabian horse breeders’ conference was the decision to create an international association of Arabian horse breeders.

However, it was in the 1960s that the lucrative export of Polish Arabians began, which made the then authorities see the source of priceless currencies in Arabian horses. At the next conference, which was held in 1970, also in London, the Polish delegation was present this time. Materials were previously prepared to present a position on the important issue of recognizing our horses as purebred, and thus the international recognition of the Polish stud book. The most important point of this stance was to oppose the theory promoted at the time that an Arabian horse can only be considered a horse whose pedigree in all lines is derived from the original Arabians imported from the desert (abbreviated as: d.b.). Such was not acceptable for Poland, because many of our horses, the pedigree of which could not be derived in all lines from d.b. horses at that time, had a proven descent up to 15 generations or more, i.e. around 150 years back. It was a phenomenon, incomprehensible to the world, because the existence of such deep pedigrees was a phenomenon in Arabian horse breeding in the world and it concerned almost exclusively Polish horses, hence the postulate not to recognize these pedigrees for Polish breeding was very dangerous.

An unfavorable stance towards Polish breeding was presented despite the participation of Polish horses in western, and in particular, American breeding. Apart from numerous exports, incorporated into breeding (but illegally) were: the son of Ofir, Witeź II, the stallion Lotnik, as well as Iwonka III and Wierna with her offspring, the two-year-old Werra and year-old Wierka, taken to the United States in 1945 by the US Army. Perhaps the fact of looting the mentioned horses was also the reason for the fear of recognizing the Polish stud book, and thus the strengthening of Polish claims to these horses, as the Polish government issued an (ineffective) protest against their looting. Although the pedigrees of the above-mentioned horses can be traced to d.b. horses, but in the pedigree of the highly valued Skowronek, we have the dam line of the mare Iliniecka 1815, bred in Sławuta. It is difficult to find a sire with an older, more proven pedigree than the one presented by Skowronek, and therefore also his offspring, because it is Polish Arabian horses that have the deepest pedigrees in the world, although it is often impossible to prove the origin of the d.b. Many registers and studbooks were lost during the wars that passed through Poland in the 19th and 20th centuries, but it was their use that also influenced the fact that Polish horses represent the purest type of Arabian horse and display a reliable power of inheriting the characteristics of their breed. An additional argument was the influence that Polish Arabian horses had on world breeding through stallions exported to other countries, apart from Skowronek and Witeż II – Ursus, Van Dyck, Wyrwidąb or Towarzysz Pancerny, and then Bask.

WAHO — the definition of a purebred Arabian horse

For the second conference, which took place in August 1970 in London, the Polish delegation prepared and equipped itself with the substantive foundations and arguments regarding the purity of Polish Arabian pedigrees developed by prof. Witold Pruski.

The conference was attended by a Polish delegation composed of: K. Molendowa (PASB editor), A. Krzyształowicz and Z. Brylski. As before, Polish arguments were actively supported by Stefan Zamoyski, acting on behalf of the organizer. The result of the conference was the establishment of an international organization under the name of the World Arabian Horse Organization (WAHO). The eight-person Temporary Committee was composed of a representative of Poland, director of Janów Podlaski Stud, Andrzej Krzyształowicz, who then served for many years as a member of the WAHO Executive Committee. The international rules for keeping stud books as well as the rules for the identification and entry of horses in the books were established during several successive meetings of the WAHO Executive Committee. International regulations have been developed gradually, introducing the obligation to mark horses’ blood types and carrying out detailed checks of the studbooks in individual countries. After all the conditions were met, the studbooks were recognized in subsequent countries. Most of the Polish postulates regarding the recognition of Polish dam lines were soon fulfilled.

Today, Poles are members of the international governing bodies of Arabian horse breeders WAHO and ECAHO, but unlike their great predecessors, they do not represent the country of which they are citizens and owe their international careers. There is little evidence that they work for Polish breeding, but much that they work exclusively for themselves.

Currently, an Arabian horse is a horse entered in a stud book recognized by the World Arabian Horse Organization. The Arabian horse population was closed under these books. This means that a country that does not have its own stud book may establish it, but may only enter horses entered in the stud book already recognized by WAHO. The right to enter, of course, applies to the formal side. The entry itself does not decide what an Arabian horse should look like. WAHO defines the Arabian horse standard as a certain Arabian ideal that breeders strive for.

The breeders who shape this breed will decide what the Arabian horses of the 21st century will look like. Currently, it is difficult to say whether the Arabian breed will manage to maintain its most valuable breeding traits, i.e. stamina and beauty, and especially the balance between these traits that is not easy to maintain. What we have been observing in the last 20 years in world breeding does not fill us with optimism. The divergence of the Arabian horse type into the show (decorative) and racing (mini Thoroughbred) horse is not conducive to the breed’s development. Bi-direction in breeding is contrary to the Polish breeding program. Polish breeding, as the only one, has developed a model of a harmonious combination of beauty and stamina, which is supported by the stamina trials conducted continuously since 1926 on the racetrack. Maintaining the balance between beauty and stamina is the only chance for Polish Arabian horses to maintain their identity and high quality developed over generations. If Polish breeding deviates from its own breeding program – it will be left with nothing.

* W. Pruski “Dwa wieki polskiej hodowli koni arabskich (1778-1978) i jej sukcesy na świecie“

Sources:

W. Pruski “Dwa wieki polskiej hodowli koni arabskich (1778-1978) i jej sukcesy na świecie“

H. Sztuka, M. Grzechnik “Kresowe dziedzictwo” polskiearaby.com (2019)

H. Sztuka “PASB — 90 lat” Tutto Arabi (09/2016)

PASB

During the pandemic that permeated everyone’s everyday life, regardless of age, nationality or profession, the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival, organized on a grand scale, was in the world of pure Arabian horses like a light at the end of the tunnel, giving hope that we will return to normal. Luxury, professionalism and a high prize pool (approx. 4 million euro) attracted the attention of Arabian horse breeders and lovers from all over the world. A team of professionals worked on the quality of the show many weeks before the event began. However, one who thinks that the Katara show is only about Arabian horses would be wrong.

The entire event, taking place over more than a week, is primarily a promotion of a country that bases its economy on the export of raw materials, while focusing on the development of tourism. It attracts the eyes of the world by organizing top-level sports competitions in almost every field. Horses in general, and Arabian horses in particular, are a source of pride in Qatar. The government has been taking care of horse breeding for many years, sparing no money for its development. A strong Qatari state stud brings associations with the functioning of similar breeding units in our country and the involvement of the owners. In Qatar, however, the role of the state is not limited to organizing shows, but extends to the continuous support of breeding and equestrian sports. The current trends in breeding Arabian horses are strongly focused on the participation of horses in classic “in hand” shows and the selection of a type intended for such shows.

Qatari studs, mainly the leaders in breeding show horses such as Al Shaqab, Aljassimya Farm, Al Thumama and Al Nasser – are able to fill the podiums with their pupils at each show, while not forgetting about the breeding traditions, including Straight Egyptian horses, which are of great importance here. While the shows, due to their spectacular nature and the organizational costs incurred, are very elite and luxurious, Qatar equally strongly supports the development of broadly understood equestrianism, including racing and endurance. The Longines Arena is impressive, and a few weeks after the Katara show, it will host show jumping and dressage competitions in the Longines Global Champions Tour. This is one of the many pieces of evidence that the country supports breeding and equestrianism, not limiting itself only to the Arabian breed.

The place of the show, the Katara Cultural Village, perfectly thought out in terms of choice, was clearly associated with the Bedouin tradition. It was an unusual, modern, phenomenally beautiful variation on the theme of a Bedouin tent. In front of the VIP box, fishing boats of historical origin were moored, which, tied with ropes, completed the view of the arena. Against the background of the blue-sapphire sea, it looked extremely harmonious. The design of the arena and the decor of the sectors for the public were at such a high level of aesthetics that it is hard to compare them to anything that has been seen at this type of show so far. A carefully refined concept complemented by decorations based on local design, soft carpets, leather sofas, marble tables, professional catering and, above all, well-planned communication routes (a footbridge was built above the entrance for horses, which allowed for safe passage between sectors). It all heightened the impression of luxury. The whole thing was ecru, combined with gold, beige and brown, modest at first glance, yet elegant, as befits a party in a desert lord’s tent. All this was a perfect setting for the competing of 252 horses listed in the catalogue.

The junior classes were numerous and both fillies and colts were divided into series A and B, with the exception of the three-year-old colts. The show’s guests could see the yearling fillies champion already in the first class – of the yearling fillies. And it was with the number 2, the lovely bay Jalyla AT (Mahder Al Jamal – Jayda Al Rabi), bred and owned by Al Thumama Stud. In the yearling and two-year-old fillies classes, the level was fairly even and high. In series B of the two-year-old fillies, the charming grey Rose KAS (Zeus EA – Remarqable Melody), bred by Dawid Borowiec from Koronowo Arabian Stud, owned by Qatari Al Reeh Stud, presented herself beautifully. She qualified for the championships from third place in her class. Michałów’s Ferrum, entered in the two-year-old colts class, ultimately did not appear one the arena, although in this class he had a chance to meet the grey Muranas Nader (Emerald J – Muranas Nabila), bred by Michaela Weidner from Murana Stud, owned by Guy Jamar. We would like to remind that Ferrum easily defeated Nader during last year’s European Championships in Prague.

The three-year-old fillies classes had good entries, and in both series (A and B), there were horses bred at Polish studs, high-quality fillies that did not disappoint their buyers. In class 3A, the grey Emarella (Sahm El Arab – Emandorella), bred by Michałów Stud, owned by Sh. Jassima bin Khalifa H A Al-Thani, defeated, among others, her stable mate, the chestnut Mona Lisa Al Jassimya (Equator – Minwah), owned by the same owner and the future silver medallist of the show – Sultanah Al Shahania (Sultan Al Zobara – Majolicaa). In the 3B series, the bay Janów-bred Amirata (EKS Alihandro – Alhasa), owned by Al Sraiya Stud, had a good performance. She finally took 5th place in the class. The class in which Amirata performed was won by the little known bay Al Wazna Al Shaqab (SMA Magic One – Bushrah Al Shaqab), bred and owned by Al Shaqab Stud. The highly promoted bay three-year-old Maria Magdalena NWA (Fa El Rasheem – Magdalena NWA), bred by NWA Arabians from Denmark, on lease to the Qatari Al Tumama stud, took second place. As a one-year-old filly, she won a prestigious show in Dubai. Although she lacks movement and show charisma, her standing position impresses every time.

While the judges’ verdicts in the junior mare classes did not arouse any controversy, the final was almost sensational. The gold was awarded to the second in class, the aforementioned Maria Magdalena NWA, and the silver to the bay Sultanah Al Shahania, who clearly lost in class to Emarella. The bronze medal was awarded to Al Wazna Al Shaqab, who in her class defeated the later champion, Maria Magdalena NWA. Emarella was out of the podium, mainly due to Polish judges, which was quite surprising. The results of the junior stallions championship were not a surprise, although in this case the combination of circumstances regarding judging requires asking the question whether it is ethical for the judge, who is also the breeder of the horse shown in the championship, to be a member of the judging committee of a given show, especially since the horses (bred by one of the judges) is owned by another judge (but, as one judge said in her interview before the show … “we are family”). The Qatari show proves that this family is too closely related. However, with regard to the order in this age category, there was no controversy and the result was in line with the expectations, and most of all it was in line with the results achieved by the horses in the classes.

The senior mare classes were numerous and the quality of the presented horses was very high. In the 7-10 year old mares class (series A) in beautiful style won Galerida (Shanghai EA – Galilea) from Michałów and owned by Al Thumama Stud. The greatest emotions were aroused by the second series (B) in the same age category, where two future medalists of the show competed against each other. The absolute best at this show was the milky grey, breathtaking, Noft Alnayfat (Ajman Moniscione – Eagleridge Pasionata), bred in the USA, owned by Sh. Jassima Khalifa H A Al-Thani. The second is also very well known, bred in Brazil, Baviera HVP (Marwan Al Shaqab – HB Bessolea), owned by Sh. Alquaqa Hamada Kh. H Al-Thani. In this extremely strong class, the good performance of the Janów-bred bay mare Al Jazeera (Kahil Al Shaqab – Alhasa), owned by Al Sraiya Stud, should be considered a success. Finally, in the senior mares championship, the gold medalist Noft Alnayfat and bronze Baviera HVP (current world champion from 2019) were separated by the winner of the oldest mare class, the beautiful, fourteen-year-old, grey Rihab Al Nasser (Marwan Al Shaqab – Remal Al Nasser), bred and owned by Al Nasser Stud from Qatar. Deserving attention is the second place in class of the Michałów-bred grey Piacenza (QR Marc – Primawera), owned by Al Shahania Stud. In this competition, she gave way only to the future gold medalist. The flea-bitten grey, with her class and dryness, Piacenza attracted the eye both in class and in the championships.

Both the classes and the senior stallion championships did not bring great sensations. Bred at the Belgian Knocke Arabians stud, the grey Sundown K.A. (QR Marc – L Serenella), owned by Sh. Jassima Khalifa H A Al-Thani, won very confidently, leaving no doubts about the result. Two years ago he won gold at the largest show in the United Arab Emirates – the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship. The silver was awarded by the judges to EKS Mansour (EKS Alihandro – EKS Phateena), bred by EKS Arabians (South Africa), owned by Al Shahania Stud, the silver medalist of the A-class show in Menton in 2019. The bronze was won by the 2013 bay world champion, bred by Michael Byatt and Orrion Farm, Fadi Al Shaqab (Besson Carol – Abha Myra), owned by Al Shaqab. Fadi Al Shaqab thus surpassed his son, strongly cheered on by the spectators, the chestnut Falah Al Shaqab (Fadi Al Shaqab – Joseph Just Emotion), bred and owned by Al Shaqab Stud.

During the decoration of the winners, they were awarded not only huge amounts of money, but also extremely beautiful statuettes, which were the objects of desire of the participants themselves. The organizers managed to conduct the ceremony elegantly and efficiently, without unnecessary celebrations, so that the atmosphere of the show did not fade away. The culmination of the event was a phenomenal farewell performance, taking place at sea, in the arena and in the sky. Water, light and fire, set against a navy blue sky, were chosen for a sophisticated accent, ending the four-day Katara International Arabian Horse Festival. We said goodbye to this unusual event with the words “see you” displayed in the sky.