The white tower of Chrcynno palace nearby Nasielsk presiding the old trees can be seen from far away. Just one turn more and the beaten gate appears with park and paddocks behind. These stables are home of pure bred horses that have already made a good brand of Chrcynno Palace breeding in the world’s showrings.
It’s hard not to be impressed by this manor. The palace, renowned by its current owners – Ewa and Krzysztof Poszepczyński – is the example of the most beautiful secular architecture of neogothic style in Mazovia region of Poland. Designed by famous Henryk Marconi, the same who signed the projects of Janów Podlaski State Stud barns, and built in 1845 by Józef Koźmiński, the palace suffered badly during the war times. However it lasted during the II world war (as German army residence) it was burnt completely by Russians in 1945. Only ruins survived and it is being recalled by a piece of the original wall composed together with the palace renowned at the beginning of XXI century basing on original designs found at Polish National Library and on old German pictures from the war times. It took 4 years to rebuilt the residence.
For Arabian horse lovers the barns are also important. 32 boxes, foal barn, round indoor arena 25 meters wide – it’s all very impressive moreover it was designed and built with great pietism and details care as much as the palace itself. It is a kingdom of Alicja Poszepczyńska – breeder, trainer and handler of Chrcynno horses who became national judge not long ago. Alicja knew that she would breed horses since she was a child: „I think it all began with a picture of a horse”, she recalls smiling. The beginning of the studfarm
establishing was in 2000, when first horses appeared in the property including the first Arabian mare – Endera (Grandorr – Eunona/Eukaliptus), bred at Michałów. Today there are two her daughters at the stud: Echo Kallisto by Pamir (2000) and Echo Kirke by Ecaho (2004). Both were presented to he guests of the Open House together with the next generation of representatives of Milordka ~1810, br. Sławuta female line – so the progeny of Echo Kallisto: the filly Echo Afrodyta by Piaff (2005) and the colt Echo Adonis by Al Maraam (2007). The presentation was commented by a friend – Tomasz Skotnicki, in the past the breeding manager at Janów Podlaski, then in Magness Arabians, US – who came on the occasion from America where he resides as a Honorary Consul.
Besides Milordka line accompanied with carefully selected music – from classical to rock with Innuendo by Queen – also another valuable family: of Gazella db. (strongly represented at Chrcynno) was shown. The foundation mare of this family at stud is Granada, a daughter of Monogramm out of Grenlandia/Eukaliptus, bred in 1996 at Michałów, purchased at the Janów Podlaski sale. The chestnut of expressive movements is a cousin of the super star Kwestura called the highest selling Polish mare ever. Granada appeared leading the line of her daughters: Ganga 2004 (by Emigrant), that came back from Johanna Ullström training center and that was strong competitor abroad, Gaja Selene 2005, by Emigrant, the highest scored private bred filly this year at Białka Spring Show, their full sister Gaja Nike 2006 and the yearling Gaja Iris by Poganin.
After that a Ganges daughter Ceres 2002 out of Celoma (Arbil – Celna/Allegro) and her progeny Chaos Persefona by Poganin (2007) and Chaos Artemida by Metropolis NA (2006) entered the ring.
From the beginning it could have been seen that Alicja Poszepczyńska does care of Polish stallions influence in the breeding program and – denying the common opinion that there are no good stallions in Poland – she achieves very good results. She points out that she is not avoiding strange blood introduction and looks forward to see its effects but she trusts in Polish tradition taking care of good conformation. As the crowds at the sale at Janów Podlaski are the proof that pure Polish horse is still a good brand for Arabian horses so there is no reason to quit from pure Polish pedigrees even if the way to the show success would be a bit longer. As Alicja Poszepczyńska underlines, many of the top fashionable sires have faults of conformation so the breeding plans should be very carefully made. “The main Polish stallions are Ekstern and Poganin”, she says. “I am also very curious about Esparto. And I hope that through the progeny one of the Polish young stallions would make his moments in the breeding. As to foreign stallions, one can easily look at the results of the “A” and title shows to find out which sires are the best for show breeding. Unfortunately quite often the disadvantage of these stallions is that they have a big number of progeny. Well, I still have not made my plans for the next breeding season”.
Even more clearly Chrcynno has shown good results of its breeding program by the next group of horses – from the famous Pilarka and Pianissima line of Szamrajówka ~1810, br. Biała Cerkiew – the daughters and granddaughters of Pelisa (Europejczyk – Perełka/Ernal), who appeared next after Endera at stud and who was purchased at the Janów Podlaski sale as well. They are the proof of genetic power of this line: Pallas-Atena 2001 by Ecaho was reserve champion of private bred horses at Białka and reserve champion of Central Poland show in 2003, and her Psyche Victoria by Ekstern (not presented during the Open House as she is staying in Johanna Ullström’s training center, Belgium) was the champion of the Vilhelmsborg show, reserve at Wels, Top Ten World Championships and class winner of Al Khalediah show. Besides Pallas-Atena, also Pele 2004 by Ecaho, the beautiful Psyche Kreuza 2008 (full sister to Psyche Victoria) and Psyche Ares 2007, one of the very few colts here, the full brother of fillies mentioned, were shown.
It’s a Chrcynno phenomenon, the guests commented: there is a fillies’ climate here! Year by year the number of fillies born at stud is more visible that makes the young breeder happy however she wouldn’t be disappointed with a good colt. So far there were 31 pure bred foals born at Chrcynno (besides 5 halfbred) including 20 fillies (also 2 fillies and 2 colts out of mares placed here at the hostel). There are 9 boodmares at stud currently, including six in foal.
Echo Kallisto and Pallas-Atena made a special memories for their breeders. These mares were the first to compete at shows representing the stud at Białka Spring Show in 2002. „Echo Kallisto was 5th in the class and 1st as private bred horse; Pallas-Atena was 2nd and reserve champion of private bred mares”, remembers Alicja Poszepczyńska. “It encouraged us very much however the competition was very hard”. There were already a few inquiries for Psyche Victoria with a huge money. But since there are some breeders selling their top show horses quickly for excellent prices Alicja Poszepczyńska refused these offers. “It’s always tempting”, she agrees, “but there is a choice to have good money or a good horse”. And which horse is her favorite? „I try not to have favorites and treat them all equally. Unfortunately it’s not a hobby but a job so one could never guess when the horse would leave the stud. But if the horse has a particularly good character it’s always hard to say good bye” Alicja answers. What is her biggest dream right now? “Of course to achieve the highest trophies and to breed a good stallion”.
Watching horses in real after a short break turned into watching horses painted as the hosts invited their guests to the palace where a well known Andrzej Novak-Zempliński’s paintings were presented. “We are very grateful to this great artist that he joined our Open House”, say Ewa and Krzysztof Poszepczyński. “We do know that his paintings made great impression on our visitors. Not everyone know that there is a good modern painting of Arabian horses”.
Open House at the Poszepczyński family studfarm took place just after Janów Podlaski Pride of Poland sale. Open house events so popular abroad have no tradition in Poland so far. Chrcynno Palace was one of the first to organize it. A big group of Polish and foreign guests is the best proof that such events are a very good way to promote the stud. “The atmosphere was very nice and despite our worries a lot of people came. We had the opportunity to try ourselves and our team as the hosts of the event”, says Alicja Poszepczyńska, and Krzysztof Poszepczyński sums up: „We were really surprised by the number of guests. We hope our experience would be a good example for other Polish breeders”.
