“And they’re off!” – isn’t this what you hear every time a horse race starts? Well, in Białka, this does not refer to the moment the horses leave the starting stalls, but rather to the beginning of the Polish Arabian horse show season. It was there, amid the loess-soil-covered hills through which the Wieprz river meanders picturesquely, that breeders, owners, and enthusiasts of Arabian horses met once again. Their goal? To have a close look at the youngest generations of Arabian youth in Poland.

To begin with: Białka in a nutshell

The 36th Junior Spring Show traditionally opened the Polish domestic show season, providing the first opportunity to evaluate yearlings, two-, and three-year-olds that breeders have high hopes for. This year’s edition is undoubtedly one to remember for both the hosts from Białka and team Michałów, thanks to the excellent performance of their “kiddos”. Private breeders also have a good reason to celebrate, their cheers being perhaps the loudest this year.

The successes of Białka-bred horses are particularly heart-warming. While not all of them won medals, many of them were rather impressive in terms of quality and beauty, leaving a tremendous impression behind. Horses from Michałów, whose successes the public had already become accustomed to, shone the brightest. But it was the hosts’ achievements that proved all the more valuable, as success on one’s home turf always tastes best.

Unfortunately, as is often the case, the successes of horses from Michałów and Białka overshadowed the accomplishments of the youth from Janów Podlaski Stud. They returned home from the show without medals or championship titles, merely qualifying thrice for Top Five – interestingly, all three times in colt classes.

As almost each year, one ought to mention the weather. Fortunately, it was exceptionally kind this year to both the horses and the audience. Although summer is approaching fast, this time there were no oppressive heatwaves. Saturday morning actually greeted everyone with a refreshingly cool breeze, Sunday on the flipside was marked by pleasant, truly spring-like weather.

The high attendance was also noteworthy. Both the VIP tent and the area around the showground were bustling with activity throughout the entire weekend. Guests were treated to sweet and savoury snacks, hot meals, and drinks, and the organisers really outdid themselves in how they took care of every detail. Most importantly, the Białka show retains its unique character. It’s this relaxed, almost picnic-like atmosphere that keeps so many Arabian horse enthusiasts coming back year after year.

And the show? As many as 97 horses were entered, of which 83 ultimately made it into the ring. As always, this group was judged by an international panel of judges: Claudia Darius (Germany), Joanne Lowe (Great Britain), Paula Böhmer (the Netherlands), and Jerzy Zbyszewski (our compatriot representing the USA).

Yearling colts – Diaren wins, with Hologram hot on his heels (or hooves)

Saturday’s competition began with two yearling colt classes, and the first, eagerly awaited “20” came early. Unsurprisingly, two top marks for movement went to the bay Diaren (Morion – Dianora / Vitorio TO), whose final score of 91.67 points secured him class victory. Right behind him was the Białka-bred colt Hologram (Elshaan – Hilajla / Medalion). While he didn’t get a single “20”, he did get three times 19.5 for movement, earning him a remarkably high score of 91 points. It’s worth noting that the judges were unanimous in their assessment, awarding identical scores in all categories. Third place, with a score of 90.67, went to Edgeley (Erantis – Emiremia /Morion), securing two podium places in this class for Michałów.

Sunday’s championship yielded exactly the same result. Diaren unanimously won the gold medal, Hologram took silver, and Edgeley was awarded bronze. Although Hologram finished just behind Diaren in both class and the championship, the gap between these young stallions is anything but significant. If their paths cross again in the show ring, the little guy from Białka could prove to be an extremely difficult opponent.

Compared to the previous one, the second class of yearling colts was decidedly more modest, with none of the participants exceeding the 90-point mark. First and second place went to grey colts from Janów Podlaski: Porfirio (Ptolemeusz – Paterna / Eden C), with a score of 89.83 points, and Elamir (Palatino – El Fariha / Ascot DD), who earned 89.67 points, and both left the show with Top Five titles. Despite finishing second in class, it was Elamir who caught my attention the most. Arabian horses need time to fully develop their potential, so I will be following the further development of this son of Palatino’s with great interest.

Junior colts: crowd favourites did not disappoint and a battle for bronze

The two-year-old colts were also divided into two groups of five and six contestants, respectively. Ultimately, however, only three horses competed in Class A, and five in Class B. As with the yearling colts, the level of competition in both classes was clearly varied. This time, it was in Class A that no competitor managed to break the 90-point mark, although its representatives successfully made an impression in the championship.

The grey Pianisto KL (Lyric E.A. – Pianissa KL / Ajman Moniscione) won class A. Bred and owned by Klikowa Arabians Stud of the Rzepka Family, he scored 89.83 points. Keen admirers of Polish pedigrees will certainly note his dam’s name. Pianissa KL is a granddaughter of the legendary Pianissima, one of the most successful mares in the history of purebred Arabians. And keep in mind the fact that Pianissa KL, a daughter of Pianova, was also bred by Marek (father) and Marcin (son) Rzepka themselves.

Second and third places went to colts with identical scores of 89.67 points. The order was determined by a higher score for type, which gave El Mauro SW (E.S. Harir – El Madera / Morion), bred by Suweco Stud and owned by Jarosław and Katarzyna Szerszenowicz, the higher place. Third place went to the Janów Podlaski-bred colt Palafreno (Nahil Al Khalediah – Portulanka / Pogrom).

Michałów dominated class B, though it was hardly a major surprise. Two of their horses made a great entrance at last year’s shows, making their presence felt, leaving no doubts as to their quality. The bay Dytwin (Morion – Dama Róż / Vitorio TO) triumphed. Last season, this colt won the silver medal in the yearling category at Białka, a feat he repeated at the Polish Nationals, winning later the title of Gold European Champion. Interestingly, both last year and this year, he achieved the same final score of 91.17 points, including three times 19.5 for movement.

Second place went to his stablemate, the grey Aaron (KA Nabras – Anielka / Ekstern), who was also given three times 19.5 points for movement. This time, he scored 90.83 points, slightly less than a year earlier. However, this doesn’t change the fact that we’re talking about a colt who finished last season with two bronze medals, from Białka and Tarnów.

Rounding out the top three with a score of 90.5 points was another Michałów-bred stallion, Patras (Mutabahi Al Hawajer – Pustynia Kahila / Kahil Al Shaqab). His pedigree alone is intriguing, as his dam is one of the most decorated mares of recent years.

The three-year-old colt class didn’t provide as much excitement. Only two horses competed in the ring, but they ultimately failed to make their mark in the finals.

It’s a mantra that championships have their own rules, and class results aren’t always reflected in the final standings. This time, however, the gold and silver medals seemed almost certain. The fight for the bronze medal was much more uncertain, and – in my opinion, deservedly so – it went to the winner of Class A, Pianisto KL.

The Top Five also included the stallions Palafreno and El Mauro SW. Dytwin and Aaron, respectively, won the gold and silver medals by unanimous decision of the judges, bringing Michałów further joy and adding even more medals to the stud’s name.

Yearling fillies – the gold stays in Białka

While the colts’ competition left one feeling somewhat dissatisfied, an appetite for more so to speak, the “girls” truly lived up to their expectations. The junior mare championship, in particular, was not an easy one – a tough nut to crack, with as many as fifteen candidates vying for the junior title.

The yearling fillies were divided into three classes, meaning nine of them competed in Sunday’s final. The highest score among them, 91.5 points, went to the winner of Class B, the striking grey Eldara M (EKS Farajj – Eselaja M / AJ Elaf), bred and owned by Piotr Podgórny. The final result included scores of 19.5 points for both type and movement. The filly also lived up to expectations in the championship, winning the bronze medal. This success generated much excitement, and her owner and breeder left the ring clearly overjoyed.

And let’s focus on Class B, as that’s where the future gold medallist was hiding in plain sight. Białka’s Permina (Elshaan – Permarita / Morion) claimed the title of Junior Gold Champion Filly by unanimous decision. She entered the finals with a score of 91.33 points, thanks in part to a perfect score of 19.5 for type as well as head and neck. Shall we have a closer look at her pedigree…? Permina is the daughter of the German Sax Arabians-bred stallion Elshaan (Marshan – Elena Bint Europe / Europe Al Khidar), who also produced another medal-winning offspring that same weekend. I’m talking, of course, about the aforementioned Hologram. This added another medal to the Białka Stud’s achievements.

Now that the gold and bronze medals have been deservedly mentioned, it’s time to find the recipient of the silver medal. To do this, we need to briefly move on to the Yearling Fillies Class C, as it was its winner who took second place in the championship. We’re talking about the beautiful and feminine Panella PA (Rhan Al Shahania – Parisana PA / Excalibur E.A.), bred and owned by Dąbrówka Stud of the Parys Family, who scored 91 points in her class.

Klikowa’s Wieża Magnifica KL (WF Gawin – Wieża Czarów / Vitorio TO) advanced to the finals, scoring 90.83 points. As befits a representative of the “Wieże Michałowa” (“The Towers of Michałów”) family, famous for their excellent movement, the daughter of Wieża Czarów also charmed the judges with her movement, for which she received one maximum mark and twice 19.5 points. This allowed her to finish the championship in fourth place.

Finally, lets return to Class A of the yearling fillies. Although the three highest-ranked fillies exceeded the 90-point mark, only one managed to secure a spot in the Top Five. It was, of course, the Białka-bred filly Erlli (Sahm El Arab – Espiracja / Morion), who scored 90.83 points. The filly received, among other things, 19.5 across the board for type, and finished fifth in the championship.

It’s impossible to overlook Janów’s Paralia (Medan Al Shaqab – Pasawa / Pogrom). This beautiful filly finished second in her class with a score of 90.67 points, but she failed to break into the top three in the championship. Nonetheless, one judge even considered her for the silver medal! Furthermore, her head and neck scores (two maximum marks and the rest all 19.5s) were the highest of the entire show. This is a remarkable result, and even if it wasn’t fully reflected in the final verdict, she certainly hasn’t said her last word yet.

Junior fillies: fifteen fight for glory

Two-year-old fillies were well represented in Białka. They were divided into three classes: two with nine entries each, and class C, which had ten entries. Ultimately, class B featured seven competitors.

The true class of champions (though perhaps the class of death) was Group A, not only among the two-year-old fillies but also in terms of the show as a whole. To place in the top three, a score exceeding 92 points was required. Michałów-bred fillies set the bar high, with the first two places going to daughters of Mutabahi Al Hawajer. Both boasted top marks for movement, clearly demonstrating their superiority over their rivals.

Victorious was the grey Epiforana (Mutabahi Al Hawajer – Espana / QR Marc), last year’s yearling gold medallist from the show in Tarnów, who scored an impressive 92.83 points. As it later turned out, this was the highest score of the show. In addition to a full complement of top marks for movement, the filly also received two “20s” for type and a series of 19.5 points for head and neck. It was hard to imagine a more convincing candidate for Best in Show, which a day later, to the considerable delight of Team Michałów, was awarded. And her topline? Boy oh boy, it’s one of those details that would make even the harshest critic agree with her admirers.

One should add that Epiforana had already won a bronze medal at the National Purebred Arabian Horse Show in Janów Podlaski and a bronze medal at the 2025 European Championships. Her success in Białka was therefore no coincidence.

Second place with a score of 92.33 points was taken by another Mutabahi daughter, also grey Zanella, descended from the mare Zigi Zara by Shanghai E.A. Last year’s silver yearling from Białka and Janów, she too boasted a full set of top marks for movement, plus additional “20s” for type and head and neck. This balance of power was fully reflected in the championship, where the gold and silver medals once again went to Michałów.

Michałów’s Fidelia (Petrus PA – Fortecja / El Omari) placed third in this exceptionally strong group, with a score of 92.17 points. The filly received two maximum marks for movement and a full complement of 19.5 points for type. Fidelia is a daughter of Petrus PA, a 2018-born son of the trailblazing icon Ekstern and the mare Piwonia. That impressive stallion was bred at Dąbrówka Stud Farm and is currently stationed in Michałów. Two years ago, he won the title of Polish National Silver Champion in Janów Podlaski, while back in 2022, he won the Award for Best Son of Ekstern.

The fierce competition in this class is best demonstrated by the fact that even a score of 92 points didn’t guarantee a place in the finals. Białka’s Principessa (Has Rasheed – Platinia / Equator) was unlucky enough to face such a challenge. This incredibly promising filly, with a stunning head and neck, finished just outside the top three, yet one can’t help but feel that in a less demanding group, she could have made quite a stir in the championship. We’ll see how the rest of this year’s season unfolds for her.

However, the hosts had no reason to be sad thanks to the brilliant Ejna (D Kaheel – Elwimia / Ascot DD). With a score of 92.17 points, she clearly outmatched her rivals. In Sunday’s championship, she deservedly won the bronze medal. Remarkably, one judge even saw her as a gold championness, while another singled her out for silver.

The Białka-bred lady also started the previous season in her home ring, but had to settle for a score of 90.67 points and fifth place in her class. Just a month later, she competed at the European Show as part of the All-Polish Arabian Horse Championship in Tarnów. There she won gold. Step by step, Ejna is building her show career with admirable consistency.

The final five was filled in fourth place by the winner of class C of two-year-old fillies, Nadzieja SW (Barjass Al Zobair – JV Nerina / Kadar’s Echoo), bred and owned by Nina Suskevicova of Suweco Stud. The filly’s excellent form was reflected in a high score of 91.83 points. Her score included one maximum mark for type, and 19.5 twice in the same category, and a full set of 19.5 points for both head and neck as well as movement.

Fifth place went to Psyche Kiara (D Haddar – Psyche Kreuza / Ekstern), bred and owned by the Chrcynno Palace Stud of the Poszepczyński Family. The winner of the two-year-old fillies’ class B received 91.5 points, and the judges particularly praised her type, head and neck, and movement, awarding of 19.5 across the board in each of these categories.

The ring at the Junior Fillies Championships was filled with as many as fifteen fillies, which in itself demonstrates the scale of the challenge the judges faced. Choosing the final five from such a large group was certainly no easy feat. There weren’t enough places in Top Five, so ten of them left with no medals or titles. However, this does not mean they lacked quality or potential.

Girls outside the Top 5

There were fillies in that very championship that deserve extra credit and attention. In class B of the two-year-old fillies, it was Achillea (Mutabahi Al Hawajer – Adriana / EKS Alihandro), a sweet girl from Janów Podlaski, and another Mutabahi daughter who stood out above all with her head and neck, for which she received one maximum mark and two scores of 19.5 points. It seems that the filly’s new owners, Jarosław Zjeżdżałka and Andrzej Tylenda, saw considerable potential in her. Achillea perhaps will reward them for their intuition many times in the future.

Bombola (Picasso Di Mar – Bambina / Kahil Al Shaqab), bred and owned by Janów Podlaski Stud, also made a huge impression, as she’s remarkably similar, identical almost, to her award-winning dam. It was also hard to miss Psyche Roksana (Picasso Di Mar – Psyche Ofelia / Echo Adonis), representing the Chrcynno Palace Stud. This bay filly’s long, striking mane and beauty made her a real eye-catcher both during presentation and in motion.

Ghaila AO (Morion – Ginevra / AJ Mardan), bred and owned by Polia Arabians, has certainly found her group of fans too. This filly needs no introduction to Arabian horse show enthusiasts – after all, in 2024 she won the title of Silver European Champion.

And speaking of horses that command attention, Caleana (D Zeidan – Calatina / Emerald J), bred and owned by Marek Kondrasiuk of MarkArabians, deserves a mention too. She was one of those fillies who seemed to understand the rules of showmanship perfectly. In movement, she carried her tail high, brimming with expression and confidence, as if calling with each step to the audience: “Look at me.”

One down, two to go

In terms of medals, this year’s show undoubtedly belonged to Michałów. Horses bred there won three gold, two silver, and one bronze medal. The title of Best in Show also went to this stud farm.

However, if one were to judge which was the biggest positive surprise of this year’s show, many would likely say it was the performance of horses from Białka. The hosts’ youth performed exceptionally well, and it was clear that many observers were following how they were doing in class and championship with interest, and their successes were greeted with genuine enthusiasm. Gold, silver, and bronze medals, along with a Top Five title, gave the hosts ample reason to be satisfied.

While the colt classes left us feeling a bit disappointed at times, the fillies fully made up for it. It was in their competition that we saw the most interesting duels and the highest scores.
The organisers deserve thanks for the smooth execution of the event and for cultivating the unique ambiance that has been Białka’s hallmark for years. But the season is just getting started. “And they’re off!”, one would like to say once again, because there are two more shows ahead of us, with a true show marathon very soon: the three-day-long All-Polish Arabian Horse Championship in Tarnów.

Visiting Marek Kondrasiuk at his very own MarkArabians…

In my article about last year’s Polish Arabian Horse Days in Janów Podlaski, I wrote that Marek Kondrasiuk had three reasons to celebrate. First, Elamir Sahir, won the gold medal in the Yearling Colts Championship at the Emirates Arabian Horse Global Cup. Bred and owned by Łukasz Czech, that colt is out of the mare Escobaria and by the stallion Calatorio, both bred by Marek Kondrasiuk. Then, the bronze medal in the Junior Fillies Championship was awarded to the striking Cararra (D Zeidan – Calatina / Emerald J), owned by Alicja Najmowicz’s Nana Arabians. The culmination of this excitement came after the Polish National Arabian Horse Show when the mare Calatea (Ekstern – Calineczka / Metropolis NA) received the prestigious WAHO Trophy as an outstanding representative of the Arabian breed from Poland. It was then that I realised I ought to pay MarkArabians a visit – meet the owner far from the show ring or camera flashes. That’s how I ended up in Stanisławówka, a village right on the Polish-Ukrainian border, where Marek Kondrasiuk has been running his stud farm for over twenty years with the help of Justyna Reda who supports him in the day-to-day running of the farm.

You don’t just stumble upon MarkArabians by accident. Navigation proves unhelpful and at times even leads astray. A few kilometres before my destination, my phone lost reception, and the GPS simply refused to cooperate. This wasn’t surprising, however, as the hosts had warned me in advance that this would happen. To make sure I reached my destination safely, they gave me precise directions, without which my journey might have been virtually impossible.

The farm is nestled among forests, meadows, and fields, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. We began our meeting with a visit to the stables and paddocks. As it usually happens when horse lovers meet, the conversation quickly turned to breeding, horses, hay quality, and the daily grind of life at a farm. Leaning against the paddock fence, we followed the horses with our eyes, and Justyna would tell me stories about each and every one of them – some were hilarious, others more serious – as she has been tending to them since their first days.

Finally, it was time for morning coffee. Even then, the horses remained the very centre of attention, as you can see paddocks and pastures from the house’s windows, and from one of them, you can actually peer inro the entire stable!

How did your story with horses begin? Is it a family tradition?

Absolutely not. I was a city boy, and horses came into my life somewhat by accident. A friend of mine years ago would take me to the horse market in Skaryszew[1]. Those were the olden days – 20, perhaps even 25 years ago. To get there on time, we’d have leave our homes in the middle of the night. I remember those night journeys and what we’d find when we got there: mud all over, horses everywhere, and us in rubber boots. We sold five horses, bought four – that’s how it all started. And I didn’t ride horses at all. Once, a friend saddled his horse, I mounted it and realised it wasn’t my cup of tea. Breeding was the thing for me from the start.

And why did you choose Arabians?

Marek falls silent for a moment. Why Arabians…? he repeats in a deep voice, and after a short while, with a supreme twinkle in his eye, he replies: “Because they’re beautiful! That movement, that head, that neck… All that makes up a divine picture. Only an Arabian horse can present itself in such a way. They are extraordinary!

Do you remember your first Arabian horse?

The first mare I bought was the bay Martyna (Europejczyk – Mitra / Celebes) from Michałów Stud. She’s a daughter of the stallion Europejczyk, out of the mare Mitra by Celebes, born in 1989. That was about 20 years ago. In 2006, Martyna gave me the bay filly Marusia by the stallion Wachlarz, Marek laughs. Well, yes, it was the time when ‘Czterej pancerni i pies’[2] was back on TV.

A year later, the grey Mandragora, daughter of the stallion Gaspar, was born. Unfortunately, Martyna died in labour, so I had to nurse and raise Mandragora myself. However, as often happens in situations where a human raises a foal, the horse may become unruly. And that’s precisely what happened with her. Without a mother to teach her the rules and to set boundaries, the young lady had her own unique ideas for fun. A few years later, Mandragora found her way to Renata Kowaluk, whose daughter, Magda, competed with her in Hunter and Classic Pleasure, Polish Historical Costume, and even dressage with considerable success. She was a truly wonderful mare.

In 2008, I bought the bay Calatea from Białka Stud, and later her dam, the grey Calineczka. And that’s when it all began for real. In 2011, Calineczka gave me Clarissima, a chestnut filly by Esparto, who later went to the Emirati stud farm Al Jazeera Arabian Horse Stud near Abu Dhabi. There’s also a rather amusing story concerning Calineczka herself. A breeder from the Middle East bought her daughter by Piaff by the name Camilia, bred in Białka. The mare must have meant a lot to him, because he wanted to buy her dam as well. Thread to source, and with the help of a number of people, Calineczka was “discovered” at my place. This breeder was so adamant that he needed to buy her that I ultimately agreed to his request. Especially since Cezaria, her grey daughter by Ekstern, remained at the stud.

When you bought Calatea, did you suspect how much she would impact your life?

Of course! The instant I saw her, I knew she was the most perfect mare. I could feel it.

Which moments do you recall as the most beautiful in breeding?

I remember the moment when Calateon, a bay boy out of Calatea by Vitorio TO, first stepped out into the paddock. Goodness, how he swung his tail over his back! How he moved! Even then, he had a beautiful neck. His head could have been a little better, but the image of that three-day-old colt stepping outside for the first time in his life… as if it was yesterday. He was also a very bright horse. A few years later, at a show in Kraków, Shirley Watts spotted him and he immediately caught her eye. Calateon thus came to the Watts family at Halsdon Arabians. Unfortunately, after Charlie’s death, and then Shirley’s, this unique farm ceased to exist.

Once again, he falls silent, clearly reminiscing.

Shirley and Charlie were exceptional people. They don’t make that like that anymore… After a while, his voice still sentimental, clearly moved, his thoughts now in a completely different dimension, he adds: There’s no denying that one of the most beautiful moments in breeding is foaling, especially when it comes to fillies. Then the joy is doubled!

Would you then share with us the secret recipe for fillies?

Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Marek knows what to expect from him when asked a question like that.

What secret recipe?! Throughout the entire pregnancy, Justyna strokes the mare’s belly whispering, “Give us a filly, will ya? Give us a filly!” And it works, because this year we’ve already had four! Breeders ask us how we manage to produce so many fillies… Why, it couldn’t be simpler and more obvious than that!

What does horse breeding teach and what does it contribute to everyday life?

It definitely teaches humility, patience, and how to cope with difficulty. It also brings a lot of adrenaline and variety to life.

Above all, being around horses is a daily joy, Justyna, who has been listening to the conversation, chimes in. And that’s what life is all about: joy. I love mornings in the stables when the horses greet me. I love looking out the window at the pastures and observing how the horses, which mare has something to “explain” to another, or who simply likes to spend time with each other. Such daily life is precious. Foaling also brings joyful emotions.

Well, it depends on what’s born… Marek laughs again. But we have good dams, so we have good foals.

So what do you think makes a good Arabian horse stand out?

Above all, it must have good movement – that’s the foundation. Charisma is also essential, so that it can present itself well at a show, winning the hearts of both the judges and the audience. The head and neck are also important. If the horse is exceptionally beautiful, that’s great, but let’s be honest: that’s secondary. Movement is definitely paramount. Our horses undoubtedly have plenty excellent movement, Calatea for instance or her young bay granddaughter Caleana (D Zeidan – Calatina).

Caleana, when she throws her tail over her back and starts neighing – goosebumps! – Justyna interjects.

But let’s also keep in mind that a good Arabian horse isn’t just a show horse. A good purebred horse is also one that performs well under saddle. More and more people, though still too few, appreciate Arabians as riding horses. My friend, Grzegorz Miklaszewski, has nearly 50 Arabian horses that are ridden under saddle. Even my granddaughter attended a riding tour with him and she was delighted. Of course, such a horse is demanding as a mount, but with proper training and exercise, it performs exceptionally well under saddle.

Who shaped your “eye for breeding”?

My friend Henryk Wójtowicz, who passed away in 2018, was a breeder of Malopolski horses and the long-time president of the Lublin Horse Breeders Association and the Chełm Horse Breeders Club. He was a wonderful man whom I held dearly. Years ago, he was the one who dragged me to Skaryszew in the middle of the night.

How do you choose a stallion: intuition or calculation?

Intuition comes first as the most important, followed by a stroke of luck, because it’s essentially a bit of a lottery. Of course, one also needs money, because breeding using a terrific sire may cost sometimes cost you an arm and a leg. But that’s all trivial, as you can pay a lot, and still no one will give you even the slightest guarantee of success. We often choose lesser-known stallions – those only just entering breeding programmes. And then it turns out we hit the jackpot!

Exactly! adds Justyna. You need that proper gut instinct and a trained eye to see potential in a stallion that others haven’t yet discovered.

For example, we have very good horses sired by the stallion Ghaith Al Zobair (RFI Farid – Fazea Al Zobair / Marajj), Marek continues. What a head and neck he had! We also have horses sired by his son, the Polish-bred Nahil Al Khalediah out of Nawal Al Khalediah. We have a great colt by him, the spitting image Nahil. We also have excellent mares by the Spanish stallion Lyric E.A.

Do horses ever surprise you – they show great promise and then disappoint, or vice versa?

Caleana surprised us big time! Justyna replies without hesitation. When she was born, she was a beautiful filly, with a beautiful head and eyes. At two years old, she became a bit of an “ugly duckling”, only to become gorgeous again at three. Interestingly, we were convinced she was bay, but it turns out she’ll most likely be grey!

She’ll be greying for a long time… adds Marek. When she was born, we looked at her from every angle for any grey hairs, and we found none. And now, what a surprise! The mare Pilaryka (out of Pirana by Lyric E.A.) was also quite a surprise. When she was born, she was downright ugly. I even joked then: “Did they mix up the semen or something?” Marek bursts out with his characteristic heartfelt laugh. And now it turns out she’ll be a remarkably interesting mare. We’ll see how she performs at shows, but she might still once more surprise us. And speaking of surprises, we’re also counting on our yearling filly, Costa Brava (Lyric E.A. – Cherry Lady / Ghaith Al Zobair). We look at her and we feel that she’s bound to win.

What does the less visible side to the breeder’s work look like?

As I’ve said before, foaling is a beautiful time, but it can also be exceedingly difficult and challenging. It’s a cause for celebration if everything goes well during labour, but complications are never fully out of the question. It might happen that the breeder has to act on his own, improvising! Because the vet is unavailable or won’t make in time. Last year, I had to help a mare give birth. It was incredibly stressful, but fortunately, everything turned out well.

Foaling is stressful, particularly when we’re dealing with firstborns… adds Justyna. It’s a very emotional time. Fortunately, we haven’t had a young mare reject her foal, although sometimes you have to “put up a fight” with the little one to get him to take in the colostrum. Colts are a bit more difficult than fillies in this regard, but fortunately, it rarely happens. It’s worth having some milk replacer on hand, because you never know what might happen.”

Being a breeder, you really need a lot of skills and knowledge in a number of fields. Marek continues. I’m talking about both a solid foundation in veterinary medicine and horse nutrition, to name a few. Luckily, our horses never suffer from colic. We have well-balanced feeds, we add bran and linseed. I also always carefully check the hay to make sure it’s of decent quality and isn’t mouldy. We also make sure it’s not lying directly on sand. Veterinary preventative care is also crucial – everything has to be done on time; nothing must ever be neglected.

On top of that, our horses spend almost all day outdoors. Summer is an exception to this rule when horse flies and midges are rampant. Then we let them out at three in the morning and put them back in the stables around eight. In the evening, they can go out again. In these parts, that’s how you do it in the summer, because the insects are so plentiful. So breeders, as you see, have to be on their toes. And even then, we learn something new every day, because work at a stud farm is never-ending.

How has Arabian horse breeding changed since you began your adventure?

A lot has changed over the years. Breeding priorities have shifted, fashions are changing, and the entire market has evolved. The appearance of the Arabian horse, the standard of its beauty, is also different. When I started, the standards were completely different. Those who shape this market today have set new directions for breeding, and small private breeders like us have to adapt. It’s nothing to proud of if you breed a horse that you cannot sell. You have to maintain a breeding operation, often with significant investment. Of course, there’s a certain type of horses that I’d like to have, but one has to keep an eye on the market. A private breeder has to take that into account.

It’s very good that state stud farms are still operating, serving as a reservoir of a valuable gene pool that ensures the continuity of breeding. Because private breeders can exist, but they don’t have to, and then entire breeding programmes would disappear, their achievements lost forever. That’s why state studs play such a crucial role.

Unfortunately, many private stud farms are closing down. They’re shutting down their operations. There’s no point in deluding ourselves – it’s hard work. That’s why we celebrate every success of Polish-bred horses. We support them wholeheartedly and always keep our fingers crossed for them at shows, international ones in particular. Every single success of Polish horses brings us immense joy.

If you were starting to breed today, but with all the knowledge you have now, would you do anything differently?

In some cases, I would certainly have chosen mares for breeding differently. Apart from that, nothing.

What do you find most difficult about breeding? Is there such a thing at all?

The hardest decision is always to sell a horse. We become attached to them, and they become attached to us…

Is it true that everything in breeding is for sale and price is the only limit?

Over my dead body! Some horses I wouldn’t ever sell – no matter how much money they’d offer. I care for them greatly. Calatea is not for sale and never will be. She’s staying here; this is her home. Not everything is for sale. Sometimes I hear people say, “It’s an old horse, must be sold” to which I reply, “Out of the question, that’s not the way to go”. Because that indeed is not how it works.

What advice would you give to people who would like to start their adventure with Arabian horse breeding?

Any novice breeders should read a lot. They should compare pedigrees and devote considerable attention to shows – not only in Poland, but especially around the globe. It’s essential to stay up to date with the latest trends and innovations. The love for horses is, of course, fundamental, but it’s not enough – knowledge rules supreme.

I generally enjoy sharing my experience. I wish there were more breeders, because the larger our community, the better off we all are – the more empowered we are. When we sell our horses to young breeders, we stay in touch with them on a regular basis. We advise and aid them in making breeding decisions – we do this willingly, and we will continue to do so. If our horses go to new homes relatively close to us, we visit them and see how they grow and mature. This allows me to learn and draw conclusions myself, but I can also pass on my knowledge and experience.

When starting a breeding programme, choosing the right broodmare is key to success. The mare doesn’t have to be young, but she must have a good pedigree and be a good dam. And of course, you need quite a lot of luck.

What horse would make your breeding dreams come true?

There is silence, a moment of reflection, and then a subtle smile appears on Marek’s face.

My dream horse? Oh, I do have a vision of a horse with a stunning head and neck, and above all, with transcendent movement. I’ll say no more. I’m waiting for my very own European Champion, and maybe even World Champion. I think every one of us breeders has such a dream – it’s only natural. The question is, will I ever breed such a horse?

Of course you will! I believe in this dream… Justyna adds with a smile.

Here our interview slowly yet inevitably comes to an end. Horses graze peacefully outside, while inside the house, the conversation once again turns to breeding, plans, and future foals. Watching the horses strolling through the pastures, it’s hard not to imagine that this might be where the future European or perhaps even World Champion is to grow up.

I thank Marek and Justyna for their time, their hospitality, and the opportunity to explore the place where the history of MarkArabians has been forged for over twenty years. I wish them continued success, and above all, fulfilment of their breeding dreams.

[1] A historic horse market dating back to 1432.

[2] “Four Tank-Men and a Dog” was a Polish b&w TV series. Marusia was the love interest of the main protagonist.

“Those present at the show will confirm that this year’s edition was spectacular. The bar was set very high. And now it’s even higher.” These are the words Mirosław Kołodziej used to conclude his article from last year’s show in Tarnów, treating his readers to both curiosity and eager anticipation. And indeed, as promised, the organisers managed to reach for the stars – even further.

The hospitable Klikowska Ostoja Polskich Koni (Refuge for Polish Horses in Klikowa), the former princely stud farm of the Sanguszko Family, hosted the third All-Polish Arabian Horse Championship on the first weekend of July. It was here, in a land steeped in tradition and passion for Arabian horses, that Tarnów once again became the informal Arabian horse capital of Poland, the meeting place for breeders and enthusiasts from Poland and across Europe. It’s hard to find a better symbol of continuity, where aristocratic traditions of old meet modern standards and international renown.

This year’s edition had a unique, experimental character. For the first time, not one but two shows were held back-to-back: the European and the B-International. A total of 139 horses were entered in both events, of which 54 competed in the European show and 85 in the International one. Some of them competed in both shows, allowing them to be evaluated by different judges. Were the scores the same? Or did they differ significantly? Well find out soon enough.

The show was organised by the Polish Arabian Horse Breeders Association in collaboration with key partners, including the National Support Centre for Agriculture, Global Champions Arabians Tour, Klikowa Arabians Stud, and Strusinianka – a well-known chain of confectioneries and bakeries. The event was held under the honorary patronage of Jakub Kwaśny, Mayor of the City of Tarnów, and Łukasz Smółka, Marshal of the Lesser Polish Voivodeship.

Although this year’s edition had a new formula, several key elements remained unchanged: art exhibitions, a charity auction, riding competitions, friendly integration and – naturally – the most important heroes of this event: purebred Arabians.

By far the biggest success can be claimed by Michałów Stud, whose mares stormed through the championships, and the Głowacki Family’s private stud farm, whose yearling colt is surely destined to take over many a show ring.

For body and soul

The Pierogi Festival on Friday evening, as in previous years, introduced guests to the show’s atmosphere in a delicious and scrumptious way. This culinary highlight, sponsored by Klikowa Arabians owned by the Rzepka Family, provided an excellent opportunity for conversation and reminiscing over traditional Polish dishes. The whole experience was complemented by delicious liqueurs sponsored by the Podlesie Arabians of the Błaszkiewicz Family, owners of Strusinianka.

After a Saturday full of competition, working with horses in truly tropical temperatures, and cheering on one’s favourites, it was time for the Breeders’ Evening. It was not only a chance to relax, but also to bond with the community and have fun with live music.

Throughout the show, guests in the VIP tent were treated to artisanal sweets, exquisite in both taste and form. These were created by the aforementioned Strusinianka, a company with a proud 160-year baking tradition, helmed by Beata and Marek Błaszkiewicz. Fresh coffee effectively alleviated fatigue, even if only for a moment, as the tight schedule undoubtedly took its toll on many attendees.

Horses and artists – a tryst with beauty

Since the first edition of the All-Polish Arabian Horse Championship, art has been an integral part of the event. Artists who reflect the beauty, nobility, and elegance of Arabian horses in their works once again created a number of remarkable artworks especially for the show. The VIP tent featured both paintings and ceramic works that uniquely showcased the majestic beauty of the purebred Arabian. As in the previous year, Beata and Marek Błaszkiewicz of Podlesie Arabians sponsored unique, handcrafted ceramic medals featuring a head of an Arabian horse. Their creator was Tomasz Mrozowski, a veterinarian and artist in one.

Among the works on display, a watercolour by Małgorzata Świertok was a must-see! Her illustrations, combining oriental symbolism with the theme of Arabian horses, graced the cover of this year’s catalogue, as was the case in previous editions. The original watercolour and a ceramic sculpture by Tomasz Mrozowski were donated to the show’s charity auction, supporting a worthy cause.

Images created by Magdalena Muraszko-Kowalska and the artist known as Erna Polak were presented as awards to class and championship winners. The group of artists also included photographers – artists of the lens who capture what’s fleeting, often invisible to the eye: emotions, moods, the harmony of movement and light, and joie de vivre as well as presenters, breeders, judges, and children who flock to the show in Tarnów. Thanks to their work, we can relive these special moments again and again. Among them were Ewa Imielska-Hebda, Patrycja Makowska, Karolina Misztal, Sylwia Iłenda, and Auriane Schwanen. Sylwia, also known for her pastels, this time created hand-painted pendants for special guests, small works of art featuring images of Arabian horses painted on stones. This meeting of horse and art was no coincidence. The uniqueness of Arabian horses has inspired the greatest of artists and writers for centuries.

Charity auction – a quarter million złoty!

A beautiful tradition, which the Polish Arabian Horse Breeders Association has made an integral part of the All-Polish Arabian Horse Championship, is the charity auction, the proceeds of which support children in foster institutions in Tarnów. Since it was held for the third time, it’s high time we took our calculators out. Let’s have a look at some rather impressive numbers.

In 2023, EUR 17,250 was raised, equivalent to PLN 76,500. A year later, the result was even better, with EUR 21,000 raised, or PLN 90,600. This year’s edition brought in EUR 18,400, or approximately PLN 80,000. This totals an impressive quarter million Polish zloty! This year, proceeds will go to the Janusz Korczak Care and Educational Facility in Tarnów.

Nine breedings were donated to the charity auction. The highest price, EUR 4,500, was paid for the breeding to Exagon OS (Cyclone OS – Strastya OS / EKS Alihandro), offered by Monika Siecińska-Jaworowska of Andryjanki Stud. Breedings to Amaar (RFI Farid – Adiya / WH Justice), Medan Al Shaqab (Farhoud Al Shaqab – Abha Myra / Marwan Al Shaqab), and E.S. Harir (AJ Dinar – TF Magnums Magic / Magnum Psyche) also generated considerable interest. The Rzepka Family of Klikowa Arabians, Katarzyna Ostrowska of St. Roch Arabians, and Mariusz Nagórka will soon be expecting offspring from these famous sires.

The artistic highlight of the auction, as was the case last year, was the original watercolour by Małgorzata Świertok. The work went for €2,000 and will adorn the walls at Podlesie Arabians.

The same price was achieved by a breeding to the stallion Amaar (RFI Farid – Adiya / WH Justice), offered by Marek Rzepka from Klikowa Arabians. Two works by Tomasz Mrozowski – a sculpture of the head of an Arabian horse and a ceramic medal – achieved a total of €1,700. Their new owners are Mateusz Jaworski and Hekmat Al Shareif from the United Arab Emirates. An unusual item at the auction was a wooden walking stick with a silver horse head embellished with amber stones, which was purchased by Bogdan Maślanka for €200.

Equestrian duets and the first steps of future handlers

Ridden classes are another permanent fixture of the All-Polish Arabian Horse Championship. Although there were few pairs participating in these competitions this year, the participants deserve even greater respect for their courage and commitment.

On Saturday, the Polish Historical Costume class (4 pairs) was held, and on Sunday, the Traditional Arabian Riding class (5 pairs) – both expertly judged by Weronika Sosnowska. In both cases, the same pairs competed for first and second place: Karolina Ziobro on Purytanin (Kabsztad – Pustynna Malwa / Ekstern), bred at the Michałów Stud and owned by Marcin Ziobro, and Hanna Dziża on Cygarro z Gór (Portel – Cirila z Gór / Pentagram), bred and owned by Wacław Sajdak.

On Saturday, Karolina Ziobro emerged victorious, taking first place, while Hanna Dziża was second. On the next day, the tables were turned, with Hanna Dziża taking the top spot. Third place on the first day went to Agnieszka Helbik-Kuśmierz riding El-Salem (Piaff – El-Zachra / Machmuth Nur), bred and owned by Arkadiusz Nierodkiewicz, while on Sunday it was Adam Dębiński with his chestnut stallion Paristan (Psytadel – Parusa / Poganin), bred by Józef Pietrzak.

Sunday also saw the amateur presenters’ class, offering a chance for potential future professionals to try their hand at showing horses. Six pairs participated and Karol Makowski took first place presenting his grey mare, Psyche Adelajda (Psyche Ull – Psyche Diana / FA El Shawan), bred at Chrcynno-Palace Stud. Róża Skorupowska took second place with the Janów-bred mare Pobelloia (Erantis – Pasawa / Pogrom), owned by Bogdan Maślanka. Dominika Zaucha placed third, presenting the grey gelding Wonder KL (Aja Angelo – Wieża Nimf / Kahil Al Shaqab), bred at Klikowa Arabians. Some might remember that Wonder KL is the Gold Gelding Champion from last year’s show in Tarnów who had a full set of 20s for movement.

It’s show time – and make it double!

Two shows in two days? Now that’s quite a challenge. The agenda was packed full, and the pace was at times dizzying. Despite the logistical hiccups, everything was completed down to the last detail, though it was impossible not to realise we were racing against time a couple of times.

The European Show began on Saturday morning and continued until lunchtime. The International Show classes began immediately afterward, but due to time constraints, the last two classes were moved to Sunday morning. At noon on Sunday, the championships began – first of the European show, then the International.

Thanks to the partnership agreement signed last year by the Polish Arabian Horse Breeding Association with Global Champions Arabians Tour, class winners again received vouchers to participate in one of the series’ events, this time held in Prague. The voucher includes free entry for the horses to the show and free stables.

This year’s judging panel was also international. The European Show was judged by Kathleen Ohlsson (Sweden), Amira Safady (the Netherlands), and James Swaenepoel (Belgium). The International show was judged by Cedes Bakker (Netherlands), Scott Brumfield (USA), Bérengère Fayt (France), Zico Guardia (Brazil), Joanne Lowe (Great Britain), Mohamed Oussidhoum (Morocco), Caroline Reid (Great Britain), and Jonas Salzmann (Kuwait).

EUROPEAN SHOW

Yearling colts ready to start

A small class of yearling colts (five horses) was the first to blaze a trail in the Tarnów show ring. Exit UMM (Exagon OS – Aja Estelle / Aja Angelo), a colt born in southern Sweden at Moëll & Moëll Arabians and currently residing at Barakah Arabians in Denmark had the highest score of 91 points. His owner, Mia Hvid-Wraae, also successfully bid for a breeding to Morion at the charity auction.

Second and third places went to Pustynny Książe (Wadee Al Shaqab – Paradna / Equator), bred and owned by Anna Janas-Naze, who scored 90.67 points, and Pianisto KL (Lyric EA – Pianissa KL / Ajman Moniscione), bred and owned by Klikowa Arabians, with a score of 89.67 points. In the championship, Exit UMM once again proved his status and won the gold medal. Pustynny Książe and Pianisto KL swapped places on the final podium.

Cornelia from Janów on top

A little while later, the yearling fillies competed in two classes, with a total of 11 contenders. Pieszczota (Belmari – Pericola / Kahil Al Shaqab), bred at Białka Stud took lead in class A, proudly standing out with her large eyes and impressive movement. She scored 91.42 points, clearly outpacing her rivals. This improved her score from last month at the Junior Spring Show in Białka (89.33 points), as this time she performed significantly better. She didn’t lose her form or composure throughout the championships, claiming the Yearling Filly Silver Champion title.

In Class B, three out of six fillies were daughters sired by the Michałów-bred stallion Ptolemeusz. The best of them, and the best of the entire class, was the charming grey Cornelia (Ptolemeusz – Cedora / Kahil Al Shaqab), bred in Janów Podlaski, who scored 92.13 points. In the championship, she was awarded the title of Gold Champion by a unanimous decision of the judges. Right behind her in class, with a score of 90.75 points, was the bay El Elsza of Sinus (Ptolemeusz – El Elwa of Sinus / Wadee Al Shaqab), a filly bred and owned by the Sinus Arabstuteri from Sweden. El Elsza joined the abovementioned ladies as she won bronze in the Yearling Fillies Championship.

Six ’20s’ and unanimous gold

Following the youngest participants in the show, it was time for junior horses. The future silver and bronze medallists of the Junior Mare Championship were in Class A of the 2-3-year-old mares. These were Parabella, a daughter of Prometeusz out of Pregoła by Vitorio TO, bred by Janów Podlaski Stud and owned by Klikowa Arabians, and Perida.

The bay Parabella stood out with her very correct body, lovely and quite unique grey coat, and her movement which was full of youthful vigour, for which she received three scores of 19.5. A total score of 91.83 points secured her victory in class. However, she did not take silver in the championship. The medal went to Janów’s Perida (Picasso Di Mar – Paolila / Pogrom), who placed second in the same class with a score of 91.67 points. The gold medallist, meanwhile, emerged from Class B – and with real panache. Białka’s sensational Ejna (D Kaheel – Elwimia / Ascot DD) captivated the judges, earning a whopping six “20s”: three each for type and movement, for an impressive score of 92.22 points. The jury was once again unanimous in choosing the gold champion.

The gold medal in the Junior Stallion Championship went to Marek Rzepka’s family-owned Klikowa Arabians Stud. Poker Move KL (RFI Unique – Plivia / Kahil Al Shaqab) won the 2-year-old stallions class with a score of 90.92 points. Białka’s Etyl (Haash OSB – Elzamira / Glorius Apal) left Tarnów with the silver medal, having earlier won the 3-year-old colt class in impressive fashion. He particularly dazzled with his movement, receiving a full set of 20s, for a total of 91.91 points . The bronze medal went to the snow-white colt Palissander SW (Raoud Al Bidayer – Pilarosa / Al Adeed Al Shaqab), bred by Suweco Stud and owned by Adam Ochmann and Polia Arabians. He placed second in his class with a score of 90.67 points. Also worth mentioning is Monarchio (Star Farid – Minerwina / Kahil Al Shaqab), bred by Wojciech Parczewski and owned by Bogdan Maślanka. He advanced to the finals from third place in his class with a score of 88.92 points, gaining in the championship the favour of two judges, who nominated him for bronze.

FA Estymacja with the highest score of the entire event

In the senior mares class, a total of 15 contenders competed for the top honours. Undefeated in both Class A and the championship was the grey Estymacja FA (Empower – Estema / Emerald J), bred by Krzysztof Goździalski of Falborek Arabians and owned by Joanna Wojtecka and Paweł Kozikowski’s JP Training Center. Estymacja FA boasted incredible movement and delighted the judges, receiving a full set of “20s” for (that’s right) movement, one “20” for type, and high marks for head and neck (2 x 19.5 and 19.75), giving her an impressive total score of 93.25 points – the highest of all the horses on both Saturday and Sunday. She left Tarnów as the Gold Senior Mare Champion.

Second place in her class and the Silver Mare Champion title went to Efora KL (QR Marc – Erigone / Ekstern), a mare bred and owned by Klikowa Arabians. She received 91.83 points for her performance. The bronze medal went to the grey Fogata (Muranas Jassehr – Formis / Esparto), bred in Michałów and owned by Paweł Syliwoniuk. Fogata placed third in the championship and second in Class B, receiving a score of 91.5 points. The judges awarded her the medal unanimously.

Senior Stallions – Ames JR reigns supreme

Among the senior stallions, Ames JR (Psytadel – Altara / Gazal Al Shaqab), a show horse with considerable experience on the red carpet, bred and owned by Janusz Ryżkowski, was unrivalled. This stallion boasts the title of 2019National Junior Champion Stallion, which only confirms his status. In Tarnów, Ames JR outclassed the competition, earning 92.67 points, including top marks for movement and, quite interestingly, very high marks for legs – three times 16 points. As we know, judges are generally reluctant to award such marks in this category.

Second place with a score of 91.42 points went to Encarino (Shiraz de Lafon – Eneria / QR Marc), bred by Janów Podlaski Stud and owned by Agata Pryciak. Ashton was third, a bay son of Pogrom out of Atanda by Eden C, bred at Edward Sieciński’s Andryjanki Stud, having scored 90.25 points. The championship standings remained unchanged: gold for Ames JR, silver for Encarino, and bronze for Ashton.

INTERNATIONAL SHOW

Unrivalled yearlings from Michałów

The yearling fillies competing in Classes A and B of the International Show presented a very even quality, but in each class, a representative of Michałów Stud clearly stood out. In Class A, the grey Zazzera, daughter of KA Nabras and the famous Zigi Zana by QR Marc, proved unrivalled. Zazzera, scoring 91.40 points, outshone her rivals – the other fillies were scored between 89.00 and 89.60 points.

In Class B, Epiforana (Mutabahi Al Hawajer – Espana / QR Marc) put on a real show, dazzling with her movement, earning four “20s” in this category and a total of 92.10 points. Her competitors received scores ranging from 90.20 to 91.20 points.

In the championship, the judges were unanimous – the gold medal went to Epiforana, and the silver to Zazzera. The bronze medal went to the beautiful Wiosenna Przygoda (KA Nabras – Wiosenna Róża / Empire), also from the stables in Michałów. This meant the entire podium belonged to Michałów! Moreover, two medallists were KA Nabras daughters.

Gellatto – the first step to great victories

In the yearling colts class, the undisputed hero was the bay Gellatto – a son of the award-winning stallion Nahil Al Khalediah and the mare Gratella by Morion, bred by Jan Głowacki. Handsome, with a beautiful head and neck, he stole the attention of not only the audience but also the judges, who awarded him a high score of 91.90 points, including four “20s”: one each for type and movement, and two for head and neck. In the championship, he unanimously took home the gold medal and the champion title. As it turned out, this wasn’t his only highlight of the day.

Aaron (KA Nabras – Anielka / Ekstern), this year’s bronze medallist from Białka, advanced to the finals from second place in Class A with a score of 90.40 points. He repeated this success in Tarnów, again finishing third.

El Soray LJ (Star Farid – El Soraya/Wadee Al Shaqab), bred and owned by Leszek Jarmuż, advanced to the finals from Class B. He placed in the Top Five in Białka, and this time he won silver, showing how his form was improving.

And I have a feeling that Gellatto, Aaron, and Białka’s gold medallist, El Primero, will be jostling for a spot in the final line-up once again. Their rivalry promises to be truly exciting, and… something tells me this is just the beginning.

The Janów-bred Elzoya does not disappoint and goes for gold

In class A of two-year-old fillies, the clear favourite from the start was the charming Elzoya, daughter of the excellent Euzona by Om El Belissimo and sired by Pianissima’s son, Prometeusz. This year’s silver medallist from Białka again did not disappoint the expectations of her enthusiastic home team from Janów Podlaski, earning 92.20 points. The judges awarded her very high scores: a full row of 19.5 points for type, head and neck, and movement. Class B was much more evenly matched. The contenders’ scores ranged from 90.70 to 91 points, with two mares achieving identical scores of 90.90 points. Unfortunately, neither managed to steal a place on the final podium.

In the three-year-old fillies class, four competitors lined up – two of them grey, the other two bay. The top two spots went to the latter. Cararra (D Zeidan – Calatina / Emerald J), bred by Marek Kondrasiuk and owned by Alicja Najmowicz, proved to be the best. Allow me to offer a personal note: Cararra is a mare with a very good head and neck, correct conformation, and great potential, so I’m rooting for her to reach greater heights. In Tarnów, she scored 91.80 points, including a full 19.5 for type as well as head and neck, along with four 19.5s and one 19 for movement. Second place in this class went to Michałów’s Pustynia Wiktorii (Dominic M – Pustynia Kahila / Kahil Al Shaqab), who scored 91.20 points. In the championship, the final podium perfectly reflected the class scored. Gold went to Elzoya, silver to Cararra, and bronze to Pustynia Wiktorii.

Białka repeats itself – same medallists, same emotions

Among the junior colts, there were no surprises – the results were exactly the same as they had been in Białka just a month earlier! The two-year-old stallion class was won by Palatyn PA (Morion – Prasada PA / Empire), bred and owned by the Parys Family at Dąbrówka Stud, with a score of 90.5 points. Palatyn PA didn’t look back, adding another gold medal in Tarnów to his gold from Białka.

The winner of the three-year-old stallion class was the grey Panier (EKS Farajj – Paprotnia / Elgast), bred by Lech Błaszczyk and owned by his grandson Marek Łukaszewski. Although he received a higher score than Palatyn, with 91.5 points, he was awarded the Silver Champion title. Third place in class and the bronze medal in the finals went to Fawoniusz (Wolare – Finga / Genetrix), bred and owned by Krzysztof Jagielski, who scored 90.10 points.

Michałów dominates in senior mares

The senior mares class was exceptionally strong. Thirteen contenders entered the ring, 12 of whom were scored (one was withdrawn due to lameness). Five of them achieved scores equal to or higher than 92 points, while the rest exceeded the 90-point mark.

In the 4-6-year-old mares class, the best performer was the bay Labonita (Dominic M – Lakonia / Chimeryk) from Michałów Stud. This beautiful mare with striking eyes and deep ganache, earned 92.30 points and deservedly qualified for the finals in first place. This is no surprise, as she is the 2022 Polish National Yearling Filly Champion. In Tarnów, she added the bronze medal to her collection, securing a spot on the podium for Michałów, which, after dominating the yearling fillies, once again swept all the medals.

The gold medal went to the milky grey Wildanova (WH Justice – Wilda / Gazal Al Shaqab), who is becoming more beautiful with each passing year. The mare dominated the ring, receiving a full set of “20s” for movement and a single twenty for type, giving her a total of 93 points and, if I’m not mistaken, the highest score of her hitherto career.

A slightly lower score was given to Poganinka (Dominic M – Lakonia / Chimeryk), who has a large fan base, as the judges awarded her 92.9 points. Poganinka has accustomed us to effortlessly flying through the ring, and this time it was no different: a full set of “20s” for movement and two more for type. In the championship, she joined her stablemates with the Silver Champion title.

Last but not least: Senior Stallions

Among the older stallions, the bay, charismatic, and in fantastic condition stallion Nisser Babel (Sinharib Babel – AJ Nasheeda / AJ Portofino), bred and owned by Hekmat Al Shareif from the United Arab Emirates, stood out with his exotic beauty. The stallion received 92.10 points from the judges and qualified to the finals from first place.

In second place with a score of 90.5 points was Elon KL (QR Marc – Erigone / Ekstern) from Klikowa Arabians Stud. This balance of power was confirmed in the championship: Nisser Babel took gold, and Elon KL silver. The bronze medallist was the winner of the 7-year-old and older stallions class, Petrus PA (Ekstern – Piwonia / Kahil Al Shaqab) from Dąbrówka Stud of the Parys Family, who received a score of 91.80 points from the judges. Interestingly, this class also included medallists from the European Championship held in the morning: Ames JR, Encarino, and Ashton. However, the different balance of power and the different judging panel prevented those horses from repeating their earlier success.

Best of the Best – Special Awards

To the great and well-deserved delight of his breeders and owners, Gellatto deservedly received the title of Best in Show Stallion. In addition to the Marshal of the Lesser Polish Voivodeship Trophy, he also received the special award for Best Head. Michałów’s Wildanova, in excellent form, was honoured with the title of Best in Show Mare and the Mayor of the City of Tarnów Trophy.

The Ganges Award for best horse in show with a racing career went to Elon KL from Klikowa Arabians. The title of best Pure Polish Mare was awarded to the grey Pantera, daughter of Ekstern and the mare Pampa by Gazal Al Shaqab, bred by Michałów Stud and owned by Bogdan Maślanka. Pantera earned a high score of 91.75 points in the European show, including twenties across the board for movement, and 90.50 points in the International Show. The title of best Pure Polish Stallion went to Piernat (Gaspar – Pogoria / Ekstern), bred by Andrzej Borkowski and owned by Agnieszka Dąbrowska, with his distinctive, extremely original flea-bitten coat.

A touching moment was the presentation of the Special Award of the Polish Arabian Horse Breeders Association – the Arabian Prometheus – to Anna Stefaniuk. This unique distinction is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Arabian horse breeding in Poland. Anna Stefaniuk spent almost 40 years at the Janów Podlaski Stud, serving as Chief Breeding Specialist. The recipient of this prestigious award is also an international A-level judge.

The handlers weren’t overlooked either during the special awards ceremony. The Best Handler of the Show award went to Enrico Mearelli from Elegantica Training Center, who, together with his brother Nicola, recently joined the Michałów show team.

The show’s organisers never cease to surprise, and each year they reach for increasingly bold, often experimental solutions. They have already announced that in twelve months we will once again be treated to a powerful dose of excitement in Tarnów’s Klikowska Ostoja.

The only thing the growing number of participants and spectators could wish for is an even wider selection of horses in each class. However, with so many accompanying attractions and two shows taking place simultaneously, one might begin to wonder if two days is actually enough. Perhaps a three-day format, with the event starting on Friday, would be worth a thought? Such an expansion could give the event the character of a true Arabian Horse Festival, serving as an excellent prelude to the rapidly approaching Polish Arabian Horse Days in Janów Podlaski.