On August 11-14th, 2023, one of the most awaited events for lovers of the most beautiful horses took place, i.e. the world-famous Pride of Poland Sale and the Polish National Arabian Horse Show. The stud farm in Janów Podlaski can be safely called the capital of pure Arabian horses in Poland. It is a historic place and close to the heart of every person who has anything to do with this wonderful breed of horses.

This year’s Janów was different than usual, there was no outdoor show or the green arena that most of us associate it with. The whole event was organized under a roof to probably prevent possible bad weather, for which the organizers were not prepared a year ago. The indoor riding arena in Janów has turned into an exclusive, very elegant and very modern place. The interior was on par with high-ranking foreign shows, and the navy blue arrangement with white tables looked chic and exquisite, the huge LED screens were phenomenal, and the entire arena was very well lit.

The space was excellently used, and the VIP sector around the ring turned out to be a good idea. Organizationally, everything was buttoned up, including the roof over the warm-up area, giving comfort to the horses and their presenters while waiting for entry. Despite the high temperatures, it was quite chilly in the arena itself. Bałałajka Restaurant was up to the standard of catering for such a large event, and the food was really tasty.

In the room on the ground floor, you could admire a beautiful collection of trophies won at national and international shows by horses from Janów Podlaski and Michałów, as well as photographic works by three artists: Karolina Misztal, Mariusz Wideryński and Sylwia Iłenda. Both the show catalog and the auction catalog were pleasing to the eye and quite transparent, although the auction catalog lacked information on the pedigrees of the stallions that the mares were bred to and their breeding history, i.e. what they had produced so far, apart from that it was only in the English version.

This year’s Arabian Days opened with the saddle classes, which began on Friday at 11:00. In total, 9 horses took part in three disciplines (Classic Pleasure, Hunter Pleasure, Historical Polish Costume). It’s always a nice touch to see what excellent mounts Arabians are. The competition in the 45th Polish National Arabian Horse Show began with the yearling colts. The winner of the first group was the bay Phenix Al Miro (D Zeidan x Psyche Lejla by Pogrom), bred and owned by Mirosław Rogowski, presented by Juri Samoilenko. The second group of yearlings was dominated by this year’s gold medalist Poker Face KL (RFI Unique x Plivia by Kahil Al Shaqab) presented by Glenn Schoukens, bred and owned by Klikowa Arabians. The colt in Janów looked very promising, presented a sensational type and thus won the highest score in the yearlings and junior stallions – 92.70 ex aequo with Michałów’s Złoty Medal (senior stallions).

In the two-year-old and three-year-old stallion classes, the winners were Morion’s sons – Michałów’s El Medar (Morion x El Medonia by Shanghai E.A.), who won silver, and the gold medalist among the junior stallions El Draco RA (Morion x El Medisa by Shanghai E.A.), bred and owned by Czesław Gołaszewski. The senior stallions were taken over by the milky grey Złoty Medal (QR Marc x Złota Orda by Pesal) with Artur Łojowski and, as his name obliges, he returned to Michałów with the gold medal of senior stallions and, as I mentioned earlier, the highest score.

Saturday belonged to female classes, in which the numbers were much larger than on Friday. Three classes of yearlings, two of which were won by private breeders. The first victory and the silver medal belonged again to the offspring of D Zeidan, won by the bay filly Cararra (D Zeidan x Calatina by Emerald J), bred by Marek Kondrasiuk, owned by Alicja Najmowicz, shown by Marek Demczuk. In class 1B the winner was Paweł Kozikowski’s pupil Katarina AO (Raoud Al Bidayer x Kadira of Sinus by Fadi Al Shaqab), bred and owned by Adam Ochmann. The last class of yearlings was dominated by representatives of state studs: the winner from Michałów – Livorna (AJ Azzam x Liguria by El Omari) and Janów’s Wencedora (Haash OSB x Wilga by Om El Bellissimo), which won this year’s yearling fillies gold.

It was Janów who definitely dominated the two-year-old class, thanks to the beautiful daughter of Magic Magnifique, Abellia out of Axara by Kahil Al Shaqab. She was unanimously hailed as the gold medalist of the junior mares, which she absolutely deserved. After the break, the categories of senior mares, often called “classes of death”, began. Among them, the highest rated horses during the entire show, excellent mares, mature, self-confident, full of everlasting charm and charisma, which are the quintessence of an Arabian horse. This year’s senior mare gold, the title of the best horse in the show and the award for the most beautiful head went to the privately bred Evett Magic (S.M.A Magic One x Evolett by Ajman Moniscione), bred by Zalia Arabians of Katarzyna Dolińska-Witkowska, owned by Tomasz Tarczyński, fantastically prepared and presented by Juri Samoilenko. Silver was also awarded to private breeders: Chrcynno-Palace Stud thanks to the wonderfully moving, grey Echo Anastazja (Psyche Keret x Echo Aurora by Eternity Ibn Navarrone-D), and the bronze went to Michałów’s Zigi Zana (QR Marc x Zagrobla by Monogramm), which delighted in Tarnów, winning there, apart from the Gold Medal of Senior Mares, a whole range of additional prizes, including the Prince Paweł Sanguszko Cup for the Highest Rated Horse in the Show.

Special prizes should also be mentioned in the case of the show in Janów. Here, the highest score of the show went to Michałów’s El Bellisima (Ascot DD x Ekliptyka by Ekstern), and the prize for the best movement to the Janów-bred Altamira (Ekstern x Altona by Eukaliptus), owned by Adam Ochmann. This year’s WAHO Trophy was awarded to the legendary stallion Pogrom (QR Marc x Pętla by Visbaden). The best presenter turned out to be the bravely fighting Artur Łojowski, and the best trainer was the reliable Mateusz Tokarski. His charge Patanga (Om El Bellissimo x Pepita by Ekstern) received the award for the best racing horse of the show. Michałów Stud won the prize for the best breeder.

As many as 117 horses were entered in this year’s National Show. Their quality was satisfactory. The classes of older horses are definitely better than those of yearling and younger horses. After Sunday’s championships, the most awaited event, the Pride of Poland auction, begun. This year, horses were sold for the amount of EUR 2,151,000 (46 horses on offer, 31 sold), of which two Michałów mares received the highest amounts: the beautiful El Esmera (Sahm El Arab x Esmeraldia by QR Marc) was sold to Al Zobair Stud (UAE) for 810,000 Euro, and Wildona (Shanghai E.A. x Wilda by Gazal Al Shaqab) went out in the world with a hammer price of 650 thousand Euro to Switzerland (Hanaya Stud). The auction was well prepared both for future buyers who came in person and those who submitted bids online (one mare was sold to Portugal thanks to the online system).

On Monday, a second auction was held under the name Summer Sale. The highest prices were obtained by two Ekstern daughters from Michałów: Apolonia out of Argolida by Grafik fetched 75,000 thousand Euro, and for Editoria, daughter of Editha by Eden C – 35 thousand Euro. To sum up, this year’s show and sales turned out very well, both in terms of organization, visuals and the final result of the auction. There were many spectators in the stands as well as in the VIP sector, and the whole event ran smoothly and without any weather surprises.

Vademecum of XLV Polish National Arabian Horse Show & Pride of Poland 2023

Results of the Championships:

Yearling Fillies:
Gold – Wencedora (Haash OSB x Wiga by Om El Bellissimo) bred & owned by Janów Podlaski Stud
Silver – Cararra (D Zeidan x Calatina by Emerald J) bred by Marek Kondrasiuk, owned by Alicja Najmowicz
Bronze – Eleganza (Haash OSB x Eduarda by Pogrom) bred & owned by Janów Podlaski Stud

Yearling Colts:
Gold – Poker Face KL (RFI Unique x Plivia by Kahil Al Shaqab) bred and owned by Klikowa Arabians
Silver – Gladius SA (Dominic M x Ginessa by Shanghai E.A.) bred and owned by Waldemar Bąk
Bronze – Phenix Al Miro (D Zeidan x Psyche Lejla by Pogrom) bred and owned by Mirosław Rogowski

Junior Mares:
Gold – Abellia (Magic Magnifique x Axara by Kahil Al Shaqab) bred and owned by Janów Podlaski Stud
Silver – Psyche Apsara (Ghaith Al Zobair x Psyche Victoria by Ekstern) bred and owned by Chrycynno-Pałac Stud
Bronze – Bellaria (Wortex Kalliste x Bokasa by Ekstern) bred and owned by Janów Podlaski Stud

Junior Colts:
Gold – El Draco RA (Morion x El Medisa by Shanghai E.A.) bred and owned by Czesław Gołaszewski
Silver – El Medar (Morion x El Medonia by Shanghai E.A.) bred and owned by Michałów Stud
Bronze – Al Narciso (Erantis x Amorena by Pogrom) bred and owned by Janów Podlaski

Senior Mares:
Gold – Evett Magic (S.M.A. Magic One x Evolett by Ajman Moniscione) bred by Katarzyna Dolińska-Witkowska, owned by Tomasz Tarczyński
Silver – Echo Anastazja (Psyche Keret x Echo Aurora by Eternity Ibn Navarrone-D) bred and owned by Chrycynno-Pałac Stud
Bronze – Zigi Zana (QR Marc x Zagrobla po Monogramm) bred and owned by Michałów Stud

Silver Stallions:
Gold – Złoty Medal (QR Marc x Złota Orda by Pesal) bred and owned by Michałów Stud
Silver – Wolare (RFI Farid x Wieża Marii by El Omari) bred by Wojciech Parczewski, owned by Sławomir Bubas
Bronze – Barok (Om El Bellissimo x Baida by Balon) bred and owned by Janów Podlaski Stud

Special awards:
Pure Polish Award of PAHBA – Echo Anastazja (Psyche Keret x Echo Aurora by Eternity Ibn Navarrone-D) bred and owned by Chrycynno-Pałac Stud
Highest Score Mare – El Bellisima (Ascot DD x Ekliptyka by Ekstern) bred and owned by Janów Podlaski Stud
Best Movement – Altamira (Ekstern x Altona by Eukaliptus) bred and owned by Janów Podlaski Stud
Best Head – Evett Magic (S.M.A. Magic One x Evolett by Ajman Moniscione) bred by Katarzyna Dolińska-Witkowska, owned by Tomasz Tarczyński
Best Breeder – Michałów Stud
WAHO Trophy – Pogrom (QR Marc x Pętla by Visbaden) bred and owned by Janów Podlaski
Best Handler – Artur Łojowski – Michałów Stud
Best Trainer – Mateusz Tokarski – Janów Podlaski Stud
Best Racehorse of the National Show – Patanga (Om El Bellissimo x Pepita by Ekstern) bred and owned by Janów Podlaski Stud
Izabela Pawelec-Zawadzka Trophy – El Draco RA (Morion x El Medisa by Shanghai E.A.) bred and owned by Czesław Gołaszewski

Pride of Poland results:

Lot 0 Wildona (Shanghai E.A. x Wilda by Gazal Al Shaqab) Michałów Stud – 650.000 euro – Switzerland
Lot 1 Celita (Lawrence Al Gazal x Cella by Ekstern) Białka Stud – unsold
Lot 2 Majama (Shanghai E.A. x Minerwina by Kahil Al Shaqab) bred and owned by Wojciech Parczewski – unsold
Lot 3 Babetta (Emerald J x Belinda by Kahil Al Shaqab) Janów Podlaski Stud – 112.000 Euro – Belgium
Lot 4 Elaksa (Shanghai E.A. x Elara by Gazal Al Shaqab) Michałów Stud – withdrawn
Lot 5 Pustynia Ognia (Empire x Pustynia Kahila by Kahil Al Shaqab) Michałów Stud – unsold
Lot 6 Basilea (Pogrom x Bambina by Kahil Al Shaqab) Janów Podlaski – unsold
Lot 7 Escotia (Ascot DD x Emancja by WH Justice) bred by Stanisław Sławiński, owned by Jarosław Naze & Anna Janas-Naze – unsold
Lot 8 Patria (Eden C x Palmeta by Ecaho)Janów Podlaski Stud – 62.000 Euro – Belgium
Lot 9 El Esmera (Sahm El Arab x Esmeraldia po QR Marc) Michałów Stud –
810.000 Euro – United Arab Emirates
Lot 10 Paris (Kahil Al Shaqab x Palmeta by Ecaho) Janów Podlaski – 40.000 Euro – Poland
Lot 11 Frestona (QR Marc x Frymuszka by Ekstern) bred by Jan Dobrzyński, owned by Paweł Dobrzyński – unsold
Lot 12 Pazienza (Wortex Kalliste x Pregola by Vitorio TO) Janów Podlaski – unsold
Lot 13 Palisandra (Kahil Al Shaqab x Pasjenza by Enzo) Michałów Stud – unsold
Lot 14 Alsandrina (Equator x Alhasa by Ganges) Janów Podlaski Stud – 20.000 Euro – USA
Lot 15 Pesalina (El Omari x Parmania by Kahil Al Shaqab) Michałów Stud – 25.000 Euro – Poland
Lot 16 Bogini Róż PA (Kahil Al Shaqab x Blackrose by Abyad AA) P.P.H. Parys Sp. z o. o. – 170.000 Euro – Belgium
Lot 17 Bella Mia (Morion x Beira by Pogrom) Janów Podlaski – 66.000 Euro – KSA
Lot 18 Pentoria (El Omari x Pentra po Poganin) bred by Michałów Stud, owned by Alicja Najmowicz – 29.000 Euro – Belgium
Lot 19 Wespera (Morion x Wogeza by Equator) Michałów Stud – 30.000 Euro – The Netherlands
Lot 20 Palemona (Polon x Prometida by Kahil Al Shaqab) Janów Podlaski Stud – 17.000 Euro – Turkey
Lot 21 Calatina (Emerald J x Calatea by Ekstern) bred & owned by Marek Kondrasiuk – unsold
Lot 22 Ferrum (Morion x Ferrmaria by El Omari) Michałów Stud – 81.000 Euro – Sweden
Lot 23 Pegala PS (Gazal Al Shaqab x Percepcja by Laheeb) bred by Przemysław Sawicki, owned by Klikowa Rzepka – 39.000 Euro – Belgium

Summer Sale:

Lot 1/s Editoria (Ekstern x Editha by Eden C) Michałów Stud – 35.000 Euro – Belgium
Lot 2/s Teodora (Pomian x Tartina by Perseusz) Janów Podlaski Stud – 20.000 Euro – UAE
Lot 3/s Forga (Morion x Forgissima by Vitorio TO) Michałów Stud – 31.500 Euro – Portugal
Lot 4/s Echo Bey Asila (Psytadel x Egzyna by Eldon) bred and owned by Janusz Ryżkowski – unsold
Lot 5/s Almawiwa (Abyad AA x Alara by Eden C) Janów Podlaski Stud – 9.000 Euro – Turkey
Lot 6/s Apolonia (Ekstern x Argolida by Grafik) Michałów Stud – 75.000 Euro – Belgium
Lot 7/s Aloja (Ascot DD x Aliara by Europejczyk) Janów Podlaski Stud – unsold
Lot 8/s Golstera (Empire x Goltra by Alert) Michałów Stud – 18.000 Euro – UAE
Lot 9/s Ametyda (Paris x Atanda by Eden C) Janów Podlaski – 6.000 Euro – Turkey
Lot 10/s Paera (Emerald J x Paeksa by Ekstern) bred by Lech Błaszczyk, owned by Piotr Pruszyński – withdrawn
Lot 11/s Endibia (Eternal x Ekliptyka by Ekstern) Michałów Stud – unsold
Lot 12/s Paliada (Ekstern x Pollina by Om El Bellissimo) Janów Podlaski Stud – 9.000 Euro – Turkey
Lot 13/s Esperana (Morion x Elerta by Alert) bred and owned by Jan Głowacki – 22.000 Euro – UAE
Lot 14/s Lambada (Emerald J x Lawinia by Ekstern) Michałów Stud – 5.000 Euro – Germany
Lot 15/s Eduela (Amanito x Eneria by QR Marc) Janów Podlaski Stud – 5.000 Euro – Poland
Lot 16/s Pustynia PS (Marwan Al Shaqab x Prokanitsa by Karnaval) bred by Przemysław Sawicki, owned by Klikowa Rzepka – 9.000 Euro – Germany
Lot 17/s Kopra (Equator x Kasjopej by Eldon) Michałów Stud – unsold
Lot 18/s Bella Bellisa (Erantis x Bellisa by Poganin) Janów Podlaski Stud – 8.000 Euro
Lot 19/s Emigrannta (E.S. Harir x Estopa by Emigrant) bred and owned by Paweł Dobrzyński – unsold
Lot 20/s Ekaja (Morion x Ellena by Ekstern) Michałów Stud – 12.000 Euro – Czech Republic
Lot 21/s Bella La Fuerte (Fuerte x Bogini Marajj by Marajj) bred and owned by Wojciech Parczewski – 34.000 Euro – Israel
Lot 22/s Forla (El Omari x Formia by Gazal Al Shaqab) hod. i wł. SK Michałów – 10.000 Euro – UAE
Lot 23/s Pia Mari (Pogrom x Pia by Ganges) Janów Podlaski Stud – 16.000 Euro – Poland

Results

(Net prices in EUR)

Pride of Poland 2020

(22 offers: 17 mares, 2 embryos, 2 unborn foals, 1 lease)

1. Aplia – 10.000 Poland
2. Elzamira – unsold
3. Endorfina – unsold
4. Unborn foal out of the mare Emandoria, by Marajj – 70.000 Switzerland
5. Pellara – unsold
6. unborn foal out of the mare Wieża Mocy, by Dominic M – withdrawn
7. Embryo out of the mare Passionaria – unsold
8. Celita – unsold
9. Amirata – 45.000 Qatar
10. Perfinka – 1.250.000 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
11. Wołogda – 12.000 Czech Republik
12. Embryo out of the mare Enezja, by Emerald J – 55.000 Swizerland
13. Pollina – 15.000 Bahrain
14. Emily – unsold
15. Atakama (lease) – no offers / no lease
16. Esmora – unsold
17. Florissima – unsold
18. Frazza – unsold
19. Gandahara – 15.000 Czech Republik
20. Empiria – unsold
21. Lawinia – 95.000 Belgium
22. Ewodia – 20.000 Spain

Summer Sale results (21 horses offered, 18 mares, 3 stallions) :

1. Elsandra – unsold
2. Erskina – 6000 Poland
3. Elganza – 11.000 Germany
4. Fawella – 13.000 (did not announced)
5. Flaminia – unsold
6. Effie – unsold
7. Ersa – unsold
8. Bertina – 5000 Sweden
9. Eulaliana – unsold
10. Peon – unsold
11. Amanito – 9000 Denmark
12. Pitawal – 21.000 Lebanon
13. Escotina – 5000 (did not announced)
14. Aleta – 5000 (did not announced)
15. Pruchna – unsold
16. Bogini Marajj – 7000 (did not announced)
17. Plivia – 15.000 (Poland)
18. El Faiza – unsold
19. Pustynna Oaza – 9000 (did not announced)
20. Wiwenda – 20.000 (did not announced)
21. Złota Bulla – 6000 (did not announced)

The 50th Janów Podlaski auction held under the name of Pride of Poland 2019 took place in the premises of the Janów Podlaski State Stud on Sunday, August 11th. The Summer Sale was organized on Monday, August 12th. The total price achieved at the main auction raised to 1 million 396 thousand euro, while the Summer Sale result is 328 thousand euro. We offer you the list of the horses sold below.

Results
(Net prices in EUR)
 
Pride of Poland 2019
(19 mares offered & 2 embryos, 1 withdrawn, 1 in the offer)

Galerida 400 thousand Qatar

Potentilla 215 thousand Switzerland

Emanolla 135 thousand Belgium

Karola 122 thousand Belgium

Embryo out of Emandoria 100 thousand Saudi Arabia

Primera 90 thousand Switzerland

Cheronea 65 thousand Spain

El Gotta 60 thousand France

Anawera 57 thousand Spain

Pianova 52 thousand Poland

Atanda 30 thousand Poland

Shanson F 30 thousand Poland

Escotia 25 thousand Poland

Graciosa 15 thousand Poland

Summer Sale 2019

(24 horses offered, 1 mare withdrawn, 22 mares & 1 stallion present)

Wieża Marzeń 65 thousand Sweden

Włodawa 45 thousand Qatar

Eteryka 39 thousand Saudi Arabia

El Dorra 35 thousand Belgium

Praga 30 thousand Poland

Estonia 26 thousand UAE

Editha 22 thousand Libya

Elgora 17 thousand Libya

Patty 15 thousand Poland

Wizawa 14 thousand Poland

El Safija 10 thousand Germany

Pistolero 10 thousand Great Britain

Gossip column Pride of Poland 2019, by Ewa Imielska-Hebda

49th Janów Podlaski Auction – Press release (janowauction.com)

The „Pride of Poland – 49th Janów Podlaski Auction” was held on Sunday evening on August 12th and the Summer Arabian Horse Sale 2018 on Monday 13th. The overall result of both auctions is 734,000 euro net and 17 sold horses.

This year the organizers decided to reach back to the auction’s roots – at the beginning the auction was strictly an event for people associated with the industry, directed at potential clients and not an event for the masses. More focus was also placed on the Janów Podlaski brand, with a greater financial discipline than in past years. The guests were surprised by a new scenery, different than ever before. The indoor riding arena was transformed into an elegant, friendly interior. In turn the auction offer was smaller, but had undergone a greater selection in regard to the actual demand of the market. 12 horses were offered for sale – from the State Studs of Janów Podlaski, Michałów, Białka and from the private stud of Falborek Arabians. One horse (Lot 10 – Wilda) was withdrawn due to veterinary reasons, therefore 11 horses were presented for bidding. Clients were present from such countries as Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Belgium and the Czech Republic. Six horses found buyers. The highest price was achieved by Michałów’s Parmana – 180 thousand euro. The total outcome of the sale was 501 thousand euro net. The prices can be considered satisfactory when compared to the current state of the saturated market. The auctioneer was Marek Grzybowski, a co-creator of the Janów event in years past.

Before bidding started for Arabian horses, a charity auction took place. Its outcome will be entirely donated to a family from Janów Podlaski that suffered a fire. The charity equine was none other than a pony named Ursus from Michałów and the auction was conducted by the director of the auction and president of Michałów Stud, Maciej Paweł Grzechnik and the auction’s announcer, Brian Scott. An amicable and full of enthusiasm atmosphere made a good setting for higher and higher bids. The final outcome was 5600 euro, which is a large amount for such an offer.

At the end of the auction the guests had yet another surprise – up for bid was the valuable copy of the manuscript by Wacław Emir Rzewuski titled „Sur les Chevaux Orientaux et Provenants des Races Orientales”. This incredible piece of art, published and presented by Dom Emisyjny Manuscriptum, had its Polish premiere right before the auction. There were several interested clients – after a fierce battle the manuscript was sold for 8 thousand euro. The lucky buyer came from Saudi Arabia and the bidding was once again conducted by Maciej Paweł Grzechnik and Brian Scott.

The auction’s director, Maciej Paweł Grzechnik, says: „I would like thank the entire team that worked under great pressure and among general hatred in the media. Despite that the event was a success. We want to thank the bidders of Lot 0, the charity equine. We also of course want to thank the buyers. Pleased buyers, who know that the event is custom made for them, are an investment for the future. We wish them many breeding successes. I might add that we really wanted to restore the brand of the Polish State Studs, a brand that has been somewhat lost in recent years. Now three Arabian State Studs not only organized the auction, but also the Open Day at Janów Podlaski. Here I would also like to thank our entertainers, the Cavalry Squadron of the Polish Army, as well as Katarzyna Cygler and her Equine Theatre and the wonderful groups that added splendor to the Open Day and Evening Gala: TULIA and „Rokiczanka”. Their fantastic performances were a great attraction for our guests and public”.

On Monday, August 13th, at Janów Podlaski the “Summer Arabian Horse Sale 2018” was held, during which 20 horses were offered – 19 mares and one stallion – from the studs of Janów Podlaski, Michałów, Białka and Dąbrówka Arabians.

The auctioneer was again Marek Grzybowski. 11 horses were sold for a total amount of 233,000 euro. The highest price was offered for Michałów’s Prosaria – 35,000 euro.

The director of the auction, Maciej Paweł Grzechnik, summed it up: “We are rather pleased with the final result, though it could always be a bit better. However both the situation on Arabian horse markets worldwide, as well as the constant attempts of torpedoing the Janów Sale, do not help in achieving success. That’s why we are happy that as many as 17 horses found buyers. I want to stress that the weight of the auction was placed solely on the shoulders of the three state studs, also in terms of finances. We have greatly limited costs in comparison to past editions”.

Results
(Net prices in EUR)
 
Pride of Poland – 49th Janów Podlaski Auction
(12 mares offered, 1 withdrawn, 11 present)

Parmana 180 thousand Israel (not picked up)
Pilarosa 133 thousand Czech Republic
Esima 65 thousand Saudi Arabia
Foggita 56 thousand Poland
Elbera 52 thousand Belgium (not picked up)
Perika 15 thousand Israel (not picked up)

Summer Arabian Horse Sale 2018

(20 horses offered, 19 mares and 1 stallion)

Prosaria 35 thousand UAE
Elawira 32 thousand Belgium
Polka 31 thousand Romania 
Anawa 23 thousand Saudi Arabia
Wieża Nimf 22 thousand Poland
Binduga 21 thousand no info (agent)
Perla 21 thousand Mongolia (not picked up)
Cenobia 15 thousand Poland
Elfontana 11 thousand UAE
Parimala 11 thousand Mongolia (not picked up)
Milian 11 thousand Mongolia (not picked up)

49th Janów Podlaski Auction: video impression

PDF version of the article

For the enthusiasts of Arabian horses cheering on Polish breeding the Arabian Horse Gala 2017 (August 11-14th) was not an easy experience despite a beautiful 200 year anniversary of Janów Podlaski State Stud. For the first two days horses, presenters, organizers and the public suffered in the tropical heat and on the third – in rain and cold. But Arabian horse fans fared well with extreme weather conditions and can endure a lot. It was only the greatly disappointing Pride of Poland Sale that ended with the lowest result in this event’s history: 410 thousand Euro from the main sale (six mares sold) and 144 thousand from the Summer Sale (eight mares) that spoiled the mood. This inevitably raises the question whether the auction should be continued in such form. The organizers will definitely have to think over the selling of horses this way.

Stumbling blocks

It seems that we have to get used to the fact that our recent national pride (Arabian horses) stopped being a pride to certain group of people – although it is the same group of horses. It is difficult to distinguish where those people are eagerly awaiting organizing mistakes and where they are provoking unfavorable situations for the event. This leads to one conclusion: it’s not about horses or concern about breeding, but a fight for lost power. “What has happened with Arabian horses in Poland is unfortunately our country in a nutshell”, said Anna Stojanowska (formerly of the Agricultural Property Agency) to money.pl portal and it is difficult not to agree with this. Also in other fields – almost all – there is a ruthless fight to get everything as it was before the last presidential and parliamentary election (2015) that have changed the political scene in Poland.

Two weeks before the National Show its organization was endangered, as the draft list of competing horses was leaked online. All who had a chance to see it realized that it was not a file ready for any publication, but waiting for correction (for example one of the fillies was placed among colts). How did it manage to find itself on of the subpages of the Pride of Poland website? The administrators of the website – Poznań International Fair – participated in the championships already for the second time, so they knew that the list cannot see daylight until a day before the show. As a result of carelessness or bad will (last year the Pride of Poland website was hacked) the entries had to be annulled and collected again, which greatly delayed work on the championship catalogue. In the end the catalogue was printed on time, but there was a lot of confusion and bad emotions.

Bad press was also heated by “fake news”. In case of the Pride of Poland the main fake news circulated first by “Świat koni” and later by other “friendly” media was the alleged plan to sell Pinga as Lot 0. The bogus info was probably a continuation of last year’s hysteria associated with the delayed return of the mare from her lease. However despite all efforts the spread of the news was limited to media owned by Verlagsgruppe Passau.

Later we witnessed a comedy regarding free passes called “invitations for honor guests”. The loudest were: a person representing a non-existing (since several years) magazine and seller of horse cosmetics… And the hostility of real media towards the Pride of Poland event truly surprised people from abroad following this situation. It was difficult for them to understand why Polish media are trying to destroy a signature event of Poland. Perhaps an answer to this question comes from many year French correspondent in Poland Bernard Marguerite, who told the weekly “Do Rzeczy” that “the media are more and more often becoming only a tool in the information war”.

Failure of the auction. Lots of guests, few buyers

There was no lack of people from the industry at Janów. There was the owner of Al Baydaa Stud from Egypt, Ahmed El Talawy, current lessee of Galerida; there was also Sheikh Hamad Bin Ali Al Thani representing Al Shaqab Stud from Qatar. There was the long time cooperating with Polish breeders Christine Jamar from Belgium (Jadem Arabians). There were also the long awaited guests from China. The organizers stated that 30 people registered for the sale (44 last year, which shows a drop by 30%). The best clients were buyers from Romania, who last year made successful purchases and returned to the sale this year to buy. Who was missing apart from Mrs. Shirley Watts? Very noticeable was the absence of Tomasz Tarczyński and his Iranian group, rather active during previous sales.

The bidding, unlike other parts of the program, began with a half hour delay. Perhaps it was due to final testing of the electronic bidding system, which technically worked seamlessly. But already during the first horse it turned out that electronics slow down and “dehumanize” the bidding process. Increments of two thousand Euro in case of a horse that achieves over a 100 is a true lesson in patience. What’s worst is that the prolonged biddings most often did not lead to selling – either way the horse returned to the stable without achieving its reserve price. After two hours we were only in the middle of a drowsy auction with no end in sight… After more than four hours only six horses were sold. The lack of spotters in the ring, which have direct eye contact with the clients, did not help. The auctioneer, Michał Romanowski, did not see the faces and could not read their intentions – for him these people were just numbers. The bidding was therefore mechanical, without any emotions. In short, instead of fun there was boredom and finally torment of the guests, eagerly awaiting the auction’s end.

Everything shows that the valuation of the horses failed, just like last year. If we’re not offering huge stars, but decent broodmares, then the prices must be adequate. Not accepting some of the offers must have caused a surprise.

It all began rather well, because Gerda from Michałów, offered as Lot 1, was sold for 36 thousand Euro to Al Baydaa Stud. However the second in line, Janów’s Etira, walked off the arena unsold, although the bidding for her, step by step, reached 45 thousand Euro. This cooled off the natural emotions accompanying the beginning of the sale and caused consternation among the buyers. The mare, apart from one medal from St. Petersburg, cannot boast more show successes or any breeding achievements. As a daughter of Etnologia she definitely has a huge breeding potential, but cannot be considered a star. It seems that this mistake was costly, because that is the moment when the event came to a halt. There were no buyers for Psyche Victoria from Chrcynno and the owners’ expectations were high – the auctioneer started off from 100 thousand Euro. With Anawera (Lot 4), a five year old show mare who already has one filly on the ground and is in foal to World Champion EKS Alihandro, the bidding slowly took off – and after a long and tedious road to success achieved 110 thousand Euro. The price was offered by guests from Romania. Unfortunately there was only one buyer interested in Michałów’s Laranda (Lot 6), so he would have had to bid against himself. In previous years there would probably have been an “anonymous buyer” from Down Under to bid over the phone. But this way the 50 thousand Euro was too low to have the horse change owners. The buyer wanted to negotiate after the sale, but the president of Michałów Stud decided to offer her at a different time. Falborek’s Eksterna (Lot 7) returned to the stables unsold; while El Dorella found a buyer from Sweden for 47 thousand Euro. Then came out Prunella – and it was her who became the auction’s record seller, although this record is “just” 150 thousand Euro. Her bidding was not fierce, rather weary – a characteristic of the electronic system – but she did reach a reserve price. Prunella went to Suweco Stud of Nina Suskevicova of the Czech Republic. Is such a price for a three year old show champion high or low? At a recent auction organized by Giacomo Capacci in Villa Passerini near Cortona (Italy) the highest price was also 150 thousand Euro, offered by buyers from Israel for this year’s Reserve Champion from Scottsdale and Las Vegas, Arwa Aljassimya.

The auction continued and subsequent mares left the arena unsold. Only Pianissima’s granddaughter Pimenta was purchased for 42 thousand Euro (Great Britain) and the granddaughter of Pipi, Polana, achieved 25 thousand Euro. That was the end of any selling during the Pride of Poland 2017.

Some of the buyers set their minds of purchases at the Monday Summer Sale. But even then the interest was lower than expected – only 8 of the 29 offered horses were sold. After the sale Białka closed off on two transactions, thanks to which three horses will go to China – Janów’s Alsara and Białka’s Peluza and Emrisa. The highest sold horse at the Monday sale was Michałów’s Elgazonda (29 thousand Euro), won by Christine Jamar from Belgium. Two other Michałów horses (El Empiria, 23 thousand, and Zenga, 15 thousand) will go to Romania. The most touching moment was when for 12 thousand Euro Mrs. Anna Janas-Naze purchased Białka’s Hulina. The Polish breeder did not conceal her happiness. “My horse life has turned full circe”, she wrote on Facebook. “We welcome Hulina to our family, from the damline of my beloved late Herold!”. Such moments show that this “fun” can have a deeper sense.

And so the highest amount from selling horses was collected by Janów Stud (Prunella and Anawera are this year’s record holders; in all Janów sold 5 horses). The most horses were sold by Michałów (seven). Białka found buyers for 3 horses among the five offered. The least successful were the private breeders – only one horse changed owners, for the lowest price of both sales (Echo Bey Karima, 5 thousand Euro).

Efficiency suffered due to transparency

It is difficult to not ask why despite an intensive and properly aimed promotion potential buyers did not come to Janów? Definitely a result of “bad press” that could scare off those less resistant or calling for boycott. Scaring clients with a prosecutor is also not a good way of promoting Polish breeding. At least we were spared the exalted claims of “saving horses”… Either way it seems that the most that suffered were the private breeders, though it is not their war. Similar to the play of Max Frisch “The Arsonists” (1953) – a capable businessman living in a city full of arsonists believes that being nice will spare him trouble. He is disillusioned in the fire, but then it is too late…

But the list of causes of the failure of this year’s auction is longer and they are not just inner reasons. There are competitive auctions, saturation of the market (Middle Eastern studs such as Al Shaqab once came for breeding material to Poland, now they organize auctions themselves with hundreds of horses); the spread of embryotransfer due to which there are several foals from one superb mare per year.

There are several conclusions. First of all, a fear of accusations of selling out the most valuable breeding material stood in the way of the auction offer being more attractive. There were too few magnets on the list to stimulate the imagination of buyers. Conservative decisions did not bring success, especially since it would be best to counteract the intimidating of buyers by giving them an offer to fight for.

Second, the passivity in defending last year’s sale, which was not a failure, took its revenge. Its result placed it in the middle of the table. But the opponents of the event not only imposed their narration but also caused guilt in the organizers due to alleged violations, still under investigation by the prosecutor as notified by the “total opposition” and former president of Janów Podlaski, Marek Trela. Telling the public opinion that there was a crime (when in fact there was not) is sawing the branch you’re sitting on. Undermining the integrity of the auctioneer from a year ago also did nothing positive for the sale. The auction is an element for the brave. This courage was not here – and that’s how the one of its kind innovative bidding system came to be. It provided transparency of the auction, killing off all spontaneity, bidding speed and atmosphere of this event. You don’t need to have foresight to know these machines will be gone next year. As farrier Radosław Mojsym said in an interview for “Duży Format” (Gazeta Wyborcza): “This business has its cheats. Horses at markets will always be sold before dawn”. Transparency is a great virtue, but when you sell dreams – and that’s what it’s all about – the machine will not replace a person who knows his job.

Despite many adversities the organizers owe the failure also to themselves. It’s not enough to set up glamorous tents, the buyers should be cared for. If this is not taken care of, then you are working against yourself. Surprising is the wide smile of former Michałów director Jerzy Białobok (although he did not win Anawera), who after the auction appeared to be the happiest person in the room. He immediately walked towards the team of TVN, known for “cheering on” the Pride of Poland. Because he is also sitting in this wobbly boat of the Arabian business. The boat has not yet sunken, but has taken on a lot of water.

As we found out next year we can expect even five different auctions in Poland (two state stud and three private ones). So if there will be no auto reflection then the situation can become even more complicated, for all participants of this war. A collective suicide of the entire industry will take its toll also on the “trolls”, though none of them has their own horses.

And what conclusions will the Pride of Poland organizers draw from this year’s failure? We will see in a year’s time.

Results
(Net prices in Euro)
 
Pride of Poland 2017
(24 offered mares and 1 stallion)

Prunella 150 thousand Czech Republic
Anawera 110 thousand Romania*
El Dorella 47 thousand Sweden
Pimenta 42 thousand Great Britain
Gerda 36 thousand Egypt
Polana 25 thousand Poland

Summer Sale 2017
(29 offered mares)

Elgazonda 29 thousand Belgium
Demeter 23 thousand Namibia
El Empiria 23 thousand Romania
Fermata 22 thousand UAE
Alsara 15 thousand China
Zenga 15 thousand Romania
Hulina 12 thousand Poland
Echo Bey Karima 5 thousand Poland

Europia sold after the sale for an undisclosed sum to Romania
Peluza sold after the sale for an undisclosed sum to China*
Emrisa sold after the sale for an undisclosed sum to China*

*not picked up

You can find the whole coverage of the Polish Nationals and the Pride of Poland Sale here:

Polish Nationals 2017. Pogrom Best in Show, Zagrobla impresses with form. Pride of Poland Sale: time to change the formula?

A horse may have four legs, but that won’t prevent it from tripping

Chaos, lack of music, a sleepy audience and complete lack of a mood that should be present at this kind of event. The auction itself ended with a slight feeling of dissatisfaction, quick falls of the hammer, discontentment of the buyers, repeated biddings and a heavy and strangely stiff atmosphere… 

The above words are not a description of this year’s Pride of Poland, but a quote from an article that covered the Janów Sale in 2009. It was then that we witnessed a chaos surrounding the selling of Fallada. „She achieved a price of 480 thousand euro, after which the auctioneer declared that the mare did not reach her reserve price. However Jerzy Zbyszewski, who commented the sale, gave a contrary information that the mare was sold, but did not say where”, we wrote (through Rafał Czarnecki) on our website. The mare was eventually sold after the sale by way of negotiation to Belgium (Knocke Arabians) for 465 thousand euro.

We recall these events because human memory is short and unreliable. We’re not writing about last year’s records, because others are already doing so. A majority of people making comments about the last sale, surely imperfect in many ways, do not want to remember that it was not always so wonderful back in the day.

Either way, Janów Podlaski 2016 was to be different than ever before – and it was.

The main sale – a chronicle of the anticipated disaster

After a successful Polish National Show the organizers of the Janów event were full of optimism. There were stands full of people, 44 potential buyers who paid the required deposit, contentment on the faces of the guests from the VIP sector. First we heard the voice of Marek Grzybowski, organizer of the once Polish Prestige Sale, who visited Janów for the first time after 16 years of absence. It seemed that history made a loop, bridging new times with those past, though this time Marek Grzybowski did not conduct the sale, but represented a company which insured the sale horses. Auctioneer Greg Knowles started the bidding with humour and charm (though he later tended to mistake euro for dollars). Unfortunately that’s where the pleasant moments ended…

The first bidding – of Lot 0, being the 16 year old Emira, Polish National Champion from 2001 and 2004, 2002 champion from Aachen, 2014 World Bronze Champion – went rapidly. The price quickly achieved 350, then 450 thousand euro. Finally it was announced that the mare was sold for 550 thousand euro and everyone waited for information which country she would go to. This information however did not come. The concern of the gathered public was further roused by the bidding of another star, which was to give the auction a „push”. Al Jazeera, despite receiving a bid for 350 thousand euro, was not sold. This significantly contributed to the graveness of the atmosphere. At the end of the sale the auction’s commentator, Joanna Duszyk, announced a surprise – a repeated bidding of both mares.

However before we get to that, the buyers form Qatar successfully bid on Sefora (Lot 1) for 300 thousand euro (the highest price of the sale). Formia also surpassed the coveted 100 thousand euro mark and was sold for 125 to Romania. Ballena received an offer of 60 thousand (Sweden). Piaconella was not sold, and next came the confusion with Al Jazeera. Despite the consternation of the arena and the joy of a group of „well-wishers”, who awarded the blunder with huge applause, another mare, El Emeera, again achieved a good price – 160 thousand euro, offered by guests from Qatar. Esparta was purchased to Kuwait for 90 thousand euro. Later came a stagnation and subsequent horses left the arena unsold. Surprising was the lack of interest in the WH Justice daughter, Ekspiracja out of a dam by Monogramm. An interesting pedigree and beauty of the mare offered a chance of a high price. A lack of buyers willing to purchase this mare is one of the secrets of this auction.

This stagnation was finally broken by Wabia (Lot 13), sold for 100 thousand euro to the Middle East. The buyers from France activated themselves during the bidding for Ebona (30 thousand euro). The Kuwaiti purchased Angelina (50 thousand euro). A decent price was offered also for Cerena (33 thousand, Kuwait). The clients from Romania also successfully bid on Gabi (15 thousand euro), Cefena (15 thousand), Dama Trefl (18 thousand), Złota Korona (20 thousand) and Goltra (18 thousand). Edwina was sold to Saudi Arabia for 12 thousand.

And later, prior to the bidding on Alert (who didn’t have any interested buyers at 50 thousand, rather unsurprisingly), came the „surprise”. Emira once again entered the arena. The bidding proceeded strenuously, but proceed it did – until it reached 225 thousand euro, offered by the Swedish agent Anette Mattsson. The true buyer soon turned out to be the Qatari Al Thumama Stud – the one that the media informed would boycott (beside the American Hennessey Arabians) the auction. Let’s remind that Al Thumama is still leasing the stallion Morion.

„Important clients are boycotting the Pride of Poland Sale in Janów Podlaski”, heralded „Dziennik Wschodni” on May 9th**. And following the RMF FM radio station clarified that among the studs absent in the upcoming auction would be the “conflicted with Michałów Stud” Al Thumama from Qatar. „Important clients won’t come. Boycott of the Pride of Poland”, echoed TVN24 BIS and also mentioned Al Thumama. The information was also given among others by „Rzeczpospolita”, „Newsweek”, „Wprost”… Translated to English, it was spread across social media, as well as on the Facebook page „Reinstate Anna Stojanowska, Jerzy Białobok & Marek Trela”, set up by the manager of Al Thumama Stud.

„If an important buyer announces his absence at the Janów sale, others may find it suggestive”, Anna Stojanowska told the „Polska. Metropolia Warszawska” newspaper (16.08). No wonder that an influential buyer (and show sponsor), who first threatened to sue the stud that he previously cooperated with and announced that he won’t participate in the Janów sale – something that could discourage other potential buyers, including agents who could be worried about being stigmatized in the community – and later purchased the star of the auction for a price regarded by many commentators as a deal, was to many a great surprise. 

It seems that in the future potential buyers should not pay attention to information in the media (boycott of the sale, a dispute with a contracting party etc.) or a negative campaign in social media. Because they will be acting to their own disadvantage.

As „Gazeta Współczesna” wrote, a role in the bidding of Emira was also played by the former director of Janów Stud, Marek Trela: „Friends asked me to help them in the purchase of two horses, which I did, adding a little to the sale outcome”, he said. As the newspaper states, one of those horses was Emira. So did he therefore contribute to the selling of the sale’s star? „Also, because I was in constant contact with the lady who finally bought her”, admitted Marek Trela to AIP agency***.

However – if there was no (at least) six figure discharge allowance together with a non-competition clause – one shouldn’t expect that the fired stud directors would not run any business activity in the industry of Arabian horses. Though there may now be concerns about international judges having obligations towards particular studs and persons. „It would be bad if the former directors would act in the interests of buyers now. They possess reserved knowledge about the offered horses and on internal matters”, said the president of Janów Podlaski, Professor Sławomir Pietrzak (gazeta.pl****). 

However back to the auction. Al Jazeera was not sold. The bidding stopped at 200 thousand euro and the mare returned to the stable. The overall outcome was 1.271 million euro. Among the 31 horses offered for sale 16 found buyers.

Many people today ask whether the repeated bidding of both mares was a mistake or not. According to the organizers the purpose was to show the transparency of the auction. Marek Grzybowski comments: „It was a mistake. The reserve price was set at 700 thousand euro, which was unachievable in these conditions. Such prices can be paid for young mares with both a show and breeding future ahead of them. The confusion in not being able to establish the bidders of the highest offers during the first time was in my opinion the fault of the ringmasters. Perhaps the buyer withdrew himself, counting on the mare returning to the stable and being able to buy her for much less. Putting her in the auction ring again was as if saying „please give what you can”.

Also incomprehensible appear some of the other decisions regarding the reserve prices. For example Piaconella was offered a year ago (08.08.2015) at a tender in Michałów for 80 thousand PLN. Demanding a huge amount for her now had a very small chance of success. It would also be quite a feat to sell a horse with evident depigmentation. This was not managed.

Also not without significance was the offer itself, weaker than in previous years. That was noticed by auction frequenters, among others Faisal Al o Taibe from Saudi Arabia, who said to the New York Times newspaper: „the quality of the horses of the auction has dropped”*****. Similar opinions could be read on internet forums.

For the first time there was a group of people on the arena who clearly waited for every mistake. That was a novelty. Until now the public was always happy with the auction successes and was sad when the auction hit some bumps. This time there were clearly people wishing the sale ill luck. The conduction of the sale itself is still disputed about and this subject will probably continue for some time.

The disaster of the auction (though in the financial sense it was not a complete disaster; its result, as given by TVN station******, is 9th best since 2003 during the last 14 years) was made up of many other factors, which will definitely be analysed more than once. The organizers are not without fault (the commentary and music were poor and the ringstewards – though experienced according to TVP Info, as they had worked years ago with Animex and Polturf******* – just couldn’t cope). However it must be noted that the organizers worked under lots of pressure. Never before was there such a crowd of cameras and microphones right after the sale during an improvised press conference in a tent. There never were, because nobody expected such a conference before. No one attacked the organizers, even if the results were not the best and all explanations were considered well-meant. Not this time. The media behaved like hunters pursuing their prey. Already before they made the sale a political matter, which could not benefit the selling. Buyers do not like to be in the hot seat in the public eye – neither in Poland, nor in the world.

The overall bad atmosphere could not have not affected the potential buyers. Many people are noticing more and more that the declarations to stigmatize the people that would come to the Pride of Poland contributed to a smaller attendance. „Everybody has the right to buy a horse where and whenever they want”, we read in one of the comments pointing to the ethical aspect of the entire situation.

It should be mentioned that the „witch-hunt” was actively conducted by people who each time emphasize that Arabian horse breeding is something very close to their heart.

The effects of this love could’ve been witnessed during this year’s auction.

In the satirical play of Alexander Ostrovsky titled „A horse may have four legs, but that won’t prevent from tripping”******** (1868) one of the characters is working on a „Treaty on the harmfulness of reforms in general”. It also includes many other interesting and surprisingly modern motifs. I won’t encourage to read it, because nobody probably will. And that’s a shame.

Monday: the success of the Summer Sale

The excellent impression which accompanied the participants of the Janów event after the Polish Nationals appeared again during the Summer Sale. Auctioneers – Greg Knowles (USA) and the accompanying him Michał Romanowski, who has conducted many sales at the Służewiec Racetrack, were a harmonious duet and worked hard on each horse in order to sell it as best they could. The result of their efforts was very good – it was one of the best auctions ever since it became the Selection Sale and later the Summer Sale. Out of the 25 offered horses 18 found buyers. The prices stretched from 8 thousand euro for Michałów’s Chimera (who will remain in Poland) and Janów’s Poema (who will go to the UAE), to 50 thousand for Ersa from Michałów, purchased by Stanisław Redestowicz (StanRed Arabians). Ersa will also be joined by Kachiria (14 thousand euro).

Ersa would not have been the highest sold horse of the Summer Sale, had the owner of Lot 11 Ewarda, Krzysztof Goździalski from Falborek Arabians, decided to sell his mare. The bidding reached 95 thousand euro! The reserve price was 100 thousand, which is an unheard of amount at a sale considered „supplementary” to the main sale. Usually the seller, when the sum gets close to the reserve price (and this was the case here), agrees to sell the horse slightly below his expectations. Not this time.

The Chinese were expected to participate in the sale, however they did not show up. But guests from Romania turned out to be rather good buyers. This is a new direction in the selling of Polish horses. During the Summer Sale the Romanians bought 4 horses: Oria (20 thousand), Czeszka (33 thousand), Egipta (20 thousand) and Elekteria (20 thousand). They also made purchases the day before during the main sale. Buyers from Kuwait secured two horses (Fila with a colt by Pogrom for 36 thousand and Alshira for 27 thousand). Other buyers came from Namibia (Złota Rola – 28 thousand, Perylla – 17 thousand), the UK (Pustynna Perła – 35 thousand, Felliza – 12 thousand), Saudi Arabia (Hulina – 13 thousand), Italy (Zenteria – 23 thousand) and the United Arab Emirates (apart from Poema also Entorja – 32 thousand and Fuksja – 13 thousand). The efficient and good atmosphere resulted in the total outcome of more than 400 thousand euro. The buyers were pleased, because the prices reflected the real value of the horses. So were the sellers, because it turned out that the lack of buyers was untrue.

Results

(Net prices in EUR)

Pride of Poland 2016

(30 mares offered and 1 stallion)

 
Sefora 300 thousand, Qatar

Emira 225 thousand, Qatar

El Emeera 160 thousand, Qatar

Formia (colt Filister by Vitorio TO sold after the auction with her) 125 thousand, Romania

Wabia 100 thousand, Kuwait

Esparta 90 thousand, Kuwait

Ballena 60 thousand, Sweden

Angelina 50 thousand, Kuwait

Cerena 33 thousand, Kuwait

Ebona 30 thousand, France

Złota Korona 20 thousand, Romania

Dama Trefl 18 thousand, Romania

Goltra 18 thousand, Romania

Gabi 15 thousand, Romania

Cefena 15thousand, Romania

Edwina 12 thousand, Saudi Arabia

Al Jazeera sold after the auction for a price not publicly given to Qatar

 
Summer Sale 2016

(25 mares offered)

 
Ersa 50 thousand, Poland

Fila (with colt by Pogrom) 36 thousand, Kuwait

Pustynna Perła 35 thousand, GB

Czeszka 33 thousand, Romania

Entorja 32 thousand, ZEA

Złota Rola 28 thousand, Namibia

Alshira 27 thousand, Kuwait

Zenteria 23 thousand, Italy

Oria 20 thousand, Romania

Egipta 20 thousand, Romania

Elekteria 20 thousand, Romania

Perylla 17 thousand, Namibia

El Kachira 14 thousand, Poland

Hulina 13 thousand, Saudi Arabia

Fuksja 13 thousand, UAE

Felliza 12 thousand, GB

Chimera 8 thousand, Poland

Poema 8 thousand,GB

—————————————————————–

P.D. – Examples of other auctions, which did not necessarily avoid complications:

2012 – we wrote: „Few buyers, low prices, very slight enthusiasm from the public – one could only dream about a heated atmosphere which should accompany an event of this rank”. (The overall sum at the time was 1.325 million euro from the main sale and 99.6 thousand from the Selection Sale). There is also some confusion with the selling of Ejrene: „The auctioneer announced that the expected priced is one million euro, but when the bidding came to a halt he was ready to seal the transaction at 450 thousand euro. The buyer however did not raise his offer and the mare returned to the stable. It was not until the end of the entire sale that Ejrene once again appeared on the arena. It was announced then that she was sold for the last offered bid”.

2011 – 14 horses are bought by a mysterious buyer from Australia, who does not pay for the horses later on. The final result of the sale is therefore much different than the one that is made public.

2010 – the main sale brings in just above a million euro. „The round 10th anniversary of organizing the event by Polturf did not end in a great celebration, as there wasn’t much to be happy about. It was the weakest auction of the past several years, as 10 out of the 36 horses offered in the main sale did not sell. Several were bought without any fight whatsoever after reaching the reserve price, which this year seemed to be set for many horses at a low level of 10 thousand Euro”, we wrote.

2001 – a new organizer (Polturf) takes over the auction after the removal of Polish Prestige. Out of the 39 horses offered in the main sale as many as 15 remain unsold and the average achieved price per mare is slightly below 40 thousand dollars.

———————————————–

The whole original article about the Arabian Horse Gala 2016 (A horse may have four legs, but that won’t prevent it from tripping) you can find here

**http://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/wydarzenia/artykuly/520145,wazni-klienci-bojkotuja-aukcje-koni-arabskich-pride-of-poland-w-janowie-podlaskim.html
***http://www.wspolczesna.pl/polska-i-swiat/a/pride-of-poland-marek-trela-prestiz-janowa-podlaskiego-dotkliwie-ucierpial,10517386/
****http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114883,20564115,naganna-aukcja-w-janowie-a-wladze-stadniny-przykrywaja.html

*****http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/08/14/world/europe/ap-eu-poland-prized-horses.html?_r=1
******Fakty, 16.08. http://www.tvn24.pl/wideo/z-anteny/16-08-2016-nie-cichna-glosy-krytyki-po-tegorocznej-aukcji-w-janowie-podlaskim-czy-posypia-sie-dymisje,1550552.html?playlist_id=19989

*******http://www.tvp.info/26615005/kto-wylicytowal-emire-portal-tvpinfo-odslania-kulisy-chaosu-w-janowie-podlaskim
********Polish title for the play „Enough Stupidity in Every Wise Man” (original Russian title: „На всякого мудреца довольно простоты”)

Record after record at the 2015 auction

The 2015 Pride of Poland Sale (Sunday, August 16th) was just five thousand Euro away from achieving an aggregate of a round 4 million Euro. As a comparison: last year this sum amounted to 2.74 million Euro, so twice as less. In turn the Summer Sale for the first time surpassed 600 thousand Euro (the final result of both auctions was 4,598,500 Euro: 3,995,000 from the main Pride of Poland Sale and 603,500 from the Summer Sale). The record result was made up of record prices for individual horses: Pepita achieved 1.4 million Euro – more than in 2008 World Champion Kwestura, purchased by Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi from Ajman Stud for 1.125 million Euro. For the privately bred and owned (Falborek Arabians) Wasa a buyer paid 252 thousand Euro and for Melody (bred and owned by Małgorzata and Józef Pietrzak) as much as 60 thousand Euro during the Summer Sale. 

There was also a record number of buyers – the tables in the VIP sector during the National Show were so close that it was almost impossible to walk by. There were even – perhaps for the first time ever – guests from China. However the highest bid came not from the VIP sector, but from the honorary tribune. Pepita’s buyer, representing Switzerland, outbid offers from Saudi Arabia and Qatar and later came onto the arena to celebrate his success in the spotlights. The arena was buzzing not only from the loud music, but also from gossip. Such spectacular purchases are usually made by well known Arabian horse buyers – descending from the Middle East or the UK (Halsdon Arabians). This time was different, which caused a wave of speculation. For who was this buyer working for? Iran? UAE? Saudi Arabia? Will he prove to be trustworthy? We will have to wait for an answer. 

Mares as hot items

Meanwhile however Polish mares were snatched up like scarce goods during the communist era. Only four (Esmeta, Cyraneczka, Flaminia, Ewena) did not reach their reserve price and left the arena unsold, but probably even they will find new buyers in the days to come.

After the Janów-bred 2014 Polish National Champion Pepita (Ekstern – Pepesza/Eukaliptus), listed as Lot 1, came time for Michałów’s 21 year old Georgia (Monogramm – Gizela/Palas), the dam of World Champion Galilea. “For Georgia it is the last moment in terms of breeding, though with today’s breeding techniques she will still be able to produce several foals. She can also win at prestigious shows. This is an offer for a true connoisseur”, said Michałów director Jerzy Białobok before the sale. The connoisseur turned out to be Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmad bin Abdulaziz, the owner of the Saudi Athbah Stud, which is already a home to several other Polish mares – Piacolla, Pomerania, Panika, Andaluzja, Ellissara, Etenta and Ermina. Because many horses purchased by Athbah Stud don’t leave Europe, remaining at European training centers, Georgia doesn’t have to worry about a radical change of climate. She will also probably meet her former stablemates from Poland. The mare achieved a price of 105 thousand Euro.

Lot 3, Janów’s Berenika (Eden C – Belgica/Gazal Al Shaqab) turned out to be slightly cheaper, but still quite expensive – 75 thousand Euro was offered for her by Suweco Stud from the Czech Republic. Lot 4 – multichampion Pistoria (Gazal Al Shaqab – Palmira/Monogramm) from Michałów, rekindled the auction thrills. Her bidding ended with a staggering result of 625 thousand Euro and the lucky buyer was Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani from Al Zobair Stud, known for his respect and admiration towards Polish horses. Pistoria will definitely become a worthy successor at is stud to her grandam Palestra by Penitent.

A high price was also predicted in the case of Michałów’s Wieża Róż (Ekstern – Wieża Babel/Laheeb). And this soon proved true – the mare will go to Qatar (Al Thumama Stud) for the sum of 270 thousand Euro. Also to Qatar, to a new stud of an undisclosed name, will go the new record price holder for a private owned horse, Wasa (WH Justice – Waresa/Empres), the dam of the internationally successful Wersa (by Ekstern). Her bidding was very interesting, because the increments “dripped” by a thousand up to 204 thousand Euro, after which the price took off to 250 thousand. Finally an agent from Germany raised it to 252 thousand and that was that. In that moment the overall auction result surpassed 3 million Euro. 

There were so many Saudi buyers that sale announcer Anna Stojanowska said more than once: “The mare will traditionally go to Saudi Arabia”. The Saudis won Anilla by Pesal (35 thousand). Eustachia by QR Marc (21 thousand), Wkra by Gazal Al Shaqab (260 thousand), Nefertari by Piaff (20 thousand), Ganga by Emigrant (88 thousand), Argolida by Grafik (16 thousand) and Farsala by Laheeb (36 thousand). A new home in Kuwait will be found by Esidona by Galba (56 thousand), Eureda by Ekstern (65 thousand) and Febris by Amir Ashiraf (40 thousand). Panonia by Eukaliptus (67 thousand) will head to the UAE. Iran will take over Wadi Halfa by Ekstern (36 thousand).

Not counting the buyer of Pepita, only four non-Middle Eastern countries were actively represented during the auction: the Czech Republic, Austria (Pellena by Ganges, 17 thousand), Great Britain and Belgium. The purchases of Shirley Watts this year included the mares Adyga (Kahil Al Shaqab – Amiga/Piaff) – 130 thousand and Altamira (Ekstern – Altona/Eukaliptus) – 250 thousand. Another known breeder, Christine Jamar, enlarged her collection with El Ghazala (Ekstern – Emigracja/Palas) – 65 thousand among others.

Just the daughters of Ekstern brought in 2.86 million Euro during this year’s auction. Even if we add the 45 thousand achieved during the Summer Sale, it will be clear that the 21 year old Polish multichampion and sire deserves great congratulations!

On Monday (August 17th) the records continue

Not only the main sale, but also the Summer Sale can boast record prices. For Melody by Psytadel (S/14), bred and owned by Małgorzata and Józef Pietrzak, a buyer from Iran paid 60 thousand Euro. Up to now the highest price at the Summer Sale was 42 thousand Euro offered last year for Elfera. As a matter of fact the prices at this year’s Summer Sale turned out to be record-setting in general. For Perespa (Enzo – Polenta/Ecaho) buyers from Saudi Arabia paid 42 thousand, Egeriana (Poganin – Elizka/Pamir) will go to Kuwait for 31 thousand, Wersja by Poganin to Saudi Arabia for 35 thousand, Elara by Gazal Al Shaqab (Poland) – 39 thousand, Mata Hari (Werbum – Martynika/Monogramm) – 47 thousand, Natasza by Ekstern (Kuwait) – 31 thousand and Złota Księga by Ganges (Saudi Arabia) – 30 thousand. Only 2 mares did not reach their reserve price. Also the stallions, Espimar and Gaspar, remained unsold. 

An unparallel success of this year’s auction lets us remain calm about the future of Polish Arabians – at least in the near years, until the time for an economic downturn comes again. But even in times of crisis, as previous years have shown, the Polish studs are doing rather well.

Results

(Net prices in EUR)

Pride of Poland 2015

(28 offered mares)

Pepita 1400 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Pistoria 625 thousand, UAE
Wieża Róż thousand, Qatar
Wkra 260 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Wasa 252 thousand, Qatar
Altamira 250 thousand, GB
Adyga 130 thousand, GB
Georgia 105 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Ganga 88 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Berenika 75 thousand, Czech Rep.
Panonia 67 thousand, UAE
El Ghazala 65 thousand, Belgium
Eureda 65 thousand, Kuwait
Esidona 56 thousand, Kuwait
Emmbelarda 46 thousand, Belgium
Febris 40 thousand, Kuwait
Farsala 36 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Wadi Halfa 36 thousand, Iran
Anilla 35 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Eustacha 21 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Nefertari 20 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Sanda 20 thousand, Belgiium
Pellena 17 thousand, Austria
Argolida 16 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Ewena sold after the auction for a not publicly given price

Summer Sale 2015

(29 offered mares nad 2 stallions)

Melody 60 thousand, Iran
Mata Hari 47 thousand, Kuwait
Perespa 46 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Elara 39 thousand, Poland
Wersja 35 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Egeriana 31 thousand, Kuwait
Natasza 31 thousand, Iran
Złota Księga 30 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Galeona 27 thousand, Kuwait
Bursa 23 thousand, Iran
Czateria 20 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Karbala 20 thousand, Kuwait
Estuma 18 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Zuzelia 17, 5 thousand, Kuwait
Etisa 17 thousand, (?)
Ereira 16 thousand, GB
Eyrynia 16 thousand, Kuwait
Brekina 15 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Euzetia 15 thousand, Poland
Miriana 14 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Papua 11 thousand, Kuwait
Fellena 11 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Grasantka 10 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Heriana 9 thousand, Kuwait
Baida 9 thousand, Sweden
Floriana 8 thousand, Poland
Elwa 8 thousand, Saudi Arabia

Read the whole article about the Arabian Horse Days 2015 (Record after record at the 2015 auction. The Nationals almost without private breeding) here

Breathtaking Piacolla (August 15th-17th)

 
If we were to assess the macroeconomic situation by the results of this year’s Pride of Poland Sale we should herald the end of all crises. However it is common knowledge that the Arabian horse market goes by its own rules and doesn’t necessarily reflect the global tendencies. Nevertheless a certain „sagging” could be felt over the last couple of years – there were less buyers, lower prices, more horses remained unsold. This time there was an air of optimism and the atmosphere of the auction itself was much better, because even those horses that returned to the stables unsold stirred interest – a huge feat, since in the past the auctioneer’s best efforts were sometimes met with a deadly silence. This year the auction was indeed a true gala of the Arabian horse and the buyers didn’t have to be begged to place quite high bids.

Prices and destinations
 
There weren’t any „high income” horses that would bring half a million euro, but nevertheless the vast majority of the horses changed owners. The public’s enthusiasm did well for the bidding. The highest sold horses, as expected, was the Michałów-bred young champion Piacolla (Enzo – Polonica/Ekstern). Just two years of age, she already has a huge collection of titles under her belt, including Junior Spring Show Champion Mare from Białka, Polish National Junior Champion from Janów Podlaski and European Junior Bronze Champion from Verona. The magnificent looking and full of charm bay filly was out of reach for many of the auction’s guests. The highest price – 305 thousand euro – was offered by Athbah Stud from Saudi Arabia. And so Piacolla will join other Polish mares (Pomerania, Panika, Andaluzja, Ellissara, Etenta and Ermina) already owned by Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmad bin Abdulaziz. After a very promising beginning, when the first three offered mares readily found buyers (Gazal Al Shaqab daughters: Norma for 250 thousand euro to Al Muawd Stud from Saudi Arabia, Perfirka for 220 thousand euro to Cedar Ridge Arabians from the US and Alabama for 165 thousand euro to Qatar), there was a slight musical break before the „entrance of the dragon”, namely – the bidding for Piacolla (Lot 4). And though after her sale the tension subsided somewhat, the buyers still kept the momentum going. Already Lot 7 – Wieża Marc’a (by QR Marc), sold for 70 thousand euro to Sinus Arabian Stud (Sweden) – broke the barrier of one million euro. Two millions were „broken” after the sale of another Gazal Al Shaqab daughter, Windawa (45 thousand euro, Saudi Arabia). The overall outcome of the Sunday sale amounted to 2.074 million euro.

 
The purchases of Shirley Watts (UK) this year included three mares: Cenoza by Ekstern (240 thousand euro), Emantia by Emigrant (180 thousand euro) and Alhambra by Ecaho (140 thousand euro). What’s interesting is that the Halsdon Arabians breeder usually buys horses from Janów, but this time she decided also on a Michałów purchase (Emantia). Two horses from the main sale will remain in Poland: Pustynna Róża by Emigrant (15 thousand) and Piraneza by Ecaho (36 thousand). The first will enrich the stud of StanRed Arabians and the second of PPH Parys. Out of the stallions offered at the Summer Sale only one found a buyer – Pegasus (Gazal Al Shaqab – Pepesza/Eukaliptus) and he will also stay in Poland. Only Europia, Chimera, Dębowa Polana and Elima left the ring unsold, but in the course of post-sale negotiations the last two found buyers soon after.

 
Clients from Iran made themselves seen with their purchases of Papusza (20 thousand), Piera (81 thousand), Zigana (34 thousand), Perrara (7 thousand) and during the Summer Sale – Herminja (7 thousand). Monday’s Summer Sale revealed that new destinations for Arabian horses are in the making: heading for Namibia (Africa) are three daughters of Ganges: Janów’s Eora (12 thousand) and Czartana (10 thousand) and Michałów’s Drzewica (18 thousand).

The private breeders also had reasons to celebrate. Fortycja (Pegasus – Florencja/Oset) from Bełżyce Stud was sold to Saudi Arabia for 80 thousand, Falborek’s Szanta (Ekstern – Słonka/Wojsław) to Germany for 24 thousand, whereas Przemysław Sawicki’s Lenka (Piaff – Ludmiła/Pesal) also went to Germany for 37 thousand. Not to mention the rather large sums that the Monday Summer Sale brought. Its record holder was the Lech Błaszczyk bred Elfera (Psytadel – Eiffla/Ekstern). Buyers from Saudi Arabia paid 42 thousand. The yearling Zinaria (Shanghai E.A. – Zeksterna/Ekstern, Czeple Arabians) achieved 20 thousand (Saudi Arabia); Bint Mama (Marajj – Bint Moleta/Ecaho) from Falborek – 16 thousand (Kuwait); similarly her stablemate Sotika (WH Justice – Słonka/Wojsław), which will head for Germany; Moja Miła (Złocień – Malowana Lala/Empres) of Krzysztof Falba – 23 thousand (Saudi Arabia), Ewitacja (Ganges – Ewunia/Etogram) from Mała Wieś – 7,5 thousand (Saudi Arabia), Missouri (Wachlarz – Mina/Monogramm) – 14 thousand (Saudi Arabia). Only three mares from the Summer Sale remained unsold (out of 26) which is an unusual result in comparison to previous sales (last year only 8 were sold out of the 26 offered). The concept of creating a separate Monday sale appears to be a huge hit and seems to be developing in the right direction.

Results

(Net prices in EUR)

Pride of Poland 2014

(28 mares offered in the catalogue, 1 withdrawn, 27 present)

Piacolla 305 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Norma 250 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Cenoza 240 thousand, GB
Perfirka 220 thousand, USA
Emantia 180 thousand, GB
Alabama 165 thousand, Qatar
Alhambra 140 thousand, GB
Piera 81 thousand, Iran
Fortycja 80 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Wieża Marc’a 70 thousand, Sweden
Zadora 47 thousand, UAE
Windawa 45 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Lenka 37 thousand, Germany
Piraneza 36 thousand, Poland
Zigana 34 thousand, Iran
Szanta 24 thousand, Germany
Primawera 22 thousand, Belgium
Czarnota 20 thousand, Qatar
Hestia 20 thousand, Russia
Papusza 20 thousand, Iran
Elima 15 thousand, GB
Pustynna Róża 15 thousand, Poland
Huella 12 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Perrara 11 thousand, Iran
Dębowa Polana sold after the auction for a not publicly given price to Australia

Summer Sale 2014

(28 mares offered in the catalogue, 1 withdrawn, 27 present and 3 stallions)

Elfera 42 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Espa 30 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Emberiza 26 thousand, GB
Moja Miła 23 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Zinaria 20 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Drzewica 18 thousand, Namibia
Bint Mama 16 thousand, Kuwait
Sotika 16 thousand, Germany
Lanckorona 15,5 thousand, Kuwait
Missouri 14 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Eora 12 thousand, Namibia
Bordiura 11 thousand, Kuwait
Emfonia 11 thousand, Belgium
Czartana 10 thousand, Namibia
Eskarina 10 thousand, Kuwait
Bajana 9 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Elfuria 9 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Erie 9 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Ellua 8 thousand, UAE
Ewitacja 7,5 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Celma 7 thousand, Kuwait
Cyrwila 7 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Herminja 7 thousand, Iran
Gemellia sold after the auction for a not publicly given price to do USA
Piktawia sold after the auction for a not publicly given price to Poland

Pegasus 16 thousand, Poland

You can find the whole article about the Arabian Horse Days 2014 (Janów Podlaski 2014: Sensational Equator, breathtaking Piacolla) here

Half a million for El Saghira

The grand success of this year’s Janów Podlaski sale which brought in more than two million Euro last Sunday (August 18th) and a further 124 thousand on Monday (August 19th) can easily obscure the fact that there is still a lack of buyers for the average-priced horses. Transactions are sealed mainly for the biggest stars for sky-high prices and for bargain-horses, being good specimen at low prices. Decent horses, which should achieve decent prices, find buyers only when they are really inexpensive! It is extremely difficult to sell a weak horse. 63% of the overall outcome from the Pride of Poland Sale – 2,072,000 Euro – was “made” by just three mares: Belgica (410 thousand) and Ekspulsja (400 thousand), purchased by Shirley Watts (UK) and the record seller of this year’s sale, El Saghira, sold to Ajman Stud for a round half a million Euro. It remains a mystery why Spała, a price record holder of the Summer Sale from Monday (40 thousand Euro), was not featured in the Pride of Poland, while others that qualified sometimes did not find interest among the buyers even for 5 thousand Euro.

New and good ideas

Without a doubt the construction of the auction list in such a way to have the (potentially) most expensive horses accelerate the bidding turned out to be a good move. We all remember how the atmosphere sank in previous years when subsequent horses left the arena unsold. The level of optimism decreased with each horse that did not find a buyer. This time the sale received a huge boost when the price of Belgica (Gazal Al Shaqab – Belladona/Europejczyk), offered as Lot 1, soared to 410 thousand Euro. Right after Lot 2 – El Saghira (Galba – Emira/Laheeb), set the record of the 2013 sale: half a million Euro! El Saghira was won by Elisa Grassi (wife of Frank Spönle) for Ajman Stud. Lot 3 was a “return to reality”, achieving a still decent price of 45 thousand Euro. Eferada (QR Marc – Efuzja/Emigrant) will head for Saudi Arabia. In all a total of 12 mares from the main list will end up in the Middle East (beside those already mentioned: Alegra, 45 thousand, Wagira, 45 thousand, Figurantka, 21 thousand, Zmowita, 20 thousand, Ostoja, 18 thousand and Espinilla, 67 thousand – will head for Saudi Arabia; Perlahaba, 20 thousand and Prosna, 12 thousand – to Kuwait, Eudora, 33 thousand – to UAE). Remaining in Europe, beside Belgica and Ekspulsja, are: Pietra (95 thousand, will join the others at Halsdon Arabians of Mrs. Watts’), Dama Kier (50 thousand, France), Cerinola (25 thousand, Germany), Kraśnica and Złota Orda (65 thousand and 35 thousand, Sweden) and Enaam (33 thousand, Austria). Palatina and Poezja will not leave Poland (90 thousand and 22 thousand, PPH Parys Ltd.); Antaja will fly to the USA (21 thousand). As we can see almost half of the sale’s result (905 thousand Euro) cames courtesy of Shirley Watts, before which Janów Podlaski should roll out the red carpet and maybe even build a monumental statue. Out of the 27 mares in the offer only 5 returned as unsold to their maternal stables.

The successful result of the sale probably also had to with the fact of moving the Arabian Horse Days so that they would took place after the Ramadan. This date is definitely more suitable for buyers from the Middle East.

Another good move was the rescheduling of the sale, known previously as “silent”, to Monday and changing its formula. Bidding on horses in an empty arena gave a very sullen impression. This time the horses were led out onto the arena just like during the main sale. And though there was less public and VIPs than during Sunday, the noon-ish time of day made the auction less dreary than when held in previous years after the main sale. Only 8 mares out of the 26 offered were sold. The most emotions were stirred by Spała (Ekstern – Słonka/Wojsław), bred and owned by Bogusław Dąbrowski, for which a buyer from Saudi Arabia offered a higher price (40 thousand) than those offered by buyers the day before for several mares from the main list. Second placed Michałów’s Pustynna Fiesta (Ekstern – Pustynna Róża/Emigrant), secured by buyers from the UAE for 23 thousand Euro.

The new auctioneer from Ireland, Andrew Nolan, lived up to his task and conducted the bidding very well. It’s only a pity that the sound system in the arena was a bit shaky over on the “worse” side, as in the one on the opposite side of the VIP tables. It took a lot of effort to understand what the auctioneer and announcer, Anna Stojanowska, were saying.

The biggest income was made by Michałów Stud, which is a lovely result in a year when the stud celebrates its 60th anniversary: 1.194 million! Plus an additional 55,600 from the Summer Sale. Second placed Janów Podlaski with 816 thousand plus 10,500 from the Summer Sale. Third came the private breeders with 81 thousand (including the Summer Sale). Closing the field is Białka with 39 thousand from both sales.

An analog heritage park

Battling modern methods of coverage is tilting at windmills – you can delay the introduction of changes, but they are inevitable. Similarly to the coverage. The lack of broadcast from the National Show caused a wave of outrage among normal viewers, who could not come to Janów. Regardless of the organizer’s reason behind this, there simply is no other way – of course if we care about the promotion of Polish horses. If not, we can create a heritage park of sorts. We must add that the decision was not consistent – in the last moment it turned out that the auction was broadcast after all. So what, since many people convinced that there is no coverage, didn’t even bother searching for it. Either way, the confusion with the broadcast did not suit the promotion of the “Polish Arabian” brand, though we will find defenders of the non-broadcast concept who will say that it is better to meet in person than by means of the internet. That’s true, but the organizers of the Arabian Horse Days do not make these meetings easy for the Arabian community. Strictly divided zones, guarded by an army of security people are not a good idea for creating a pleasant atmosphere. Especially since many participants were unpleasantly surprised that their VIP passes were not what they thought they were. Breeders which gave up on the catering (there were complaints about it for years anyway) were additionally sentenced to separate entrances (one would want to say “from the kitchen”, though it was the kitchen that the breeders wished to avoid…), sitting behind high barriers in the indoor arena which made viewing difficult and on Monday – a lack of tables and water – unavailable outside the VIP sector. The Monday restrictions, which hit many interested breeders, were difficult to understand because the “better” VIPs were already few that day. Therefore the excessive protection could not have resulted from fear of a large crowd in the VIP sector. In turn the members of the PAHBS, who on Friday and Saturday had at their disposal the worse part of the tent, were outraged that they only saw a part of the arena – the rest was obscured by a curtain hanging between two sectors.
Since the better and worse guests did not have a chance to meet, it is hard to speak about a gala, a mutual celebration in the real world.

What next?

Let’s hope that in the future the National Show will not transform into a competition between just two studs. It is true that standing in the barns of Janów and Michałów are one of the most beautiful horses in the world, but the temperature of the contest would rise if other horse owners could have a feeling that it is also their show. Returning like a boomerang is the subject of qualifying horses for the main sale. Despite a clear decrease in numbers, motivated by the “elitism” of the group, the list still includes horses known colloquially as “monthly tender” horses, meaning they are of lesser value and lower the overall quality of the offer. In turn the auction, which today is known as the Summer Sale, each year brings surprises showing that a proper selection of private bred horses can bring a rather good result.

Results
(Net prices in EUR)

Pride of Poland 2013
(27 mares offered)

El Saghira 500 thousand, Ajman, UAE
Belgica 410 thousand, GB
Ekspulsja 400 thousand, GB
Pietra 95 thousand, GB
Palatina 90 thousand, Poland
Espinilla 67 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Kraśnica 65 thousand, Sweden
Dama Kier 50 thousand, France
Alegra 45 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Eferada, 45 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Wagira 45 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Złota Orda 35 thousand, Sweden
Enaam, 33 thousand, Austria
Eudora 33 thousand, UAE
Cerinola 25 thousand, Germany
Poezja 22 thousand, Poland
Antaja 21 thousand, USA
Figurantka 21 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Perlahaba 20 thousand, Kuwait
Zmowita 20 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Ostoja 18 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Prosna 12 thousand, Kuwait

Summer Sale 2013
(26 mares offeres, 1 withrawn, 25 present)

Spała 40 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Pustynna Fiesta 23 thousand, UAE
Wieża Snów 14 thousand, UAE
Permila 18 thousand, Belgium
Cervinia 10,5 thousand, UAE
Dombra 7,5 thousand, USA
Ellanda 5,6 thousand, France
Zatoka Perska 5,5 thousand, Germany
Alcazara sold after the auction for a not publicly given price to Saudi Arabia
Bint Moleta sold after the auction for a not publicly given price to UAE
Ezygona sold after the auction for a not publicly given price to UAE
Warsa sold after the auction for a not publicly given price to Saudi Arabia

Read the whole article (Arabian Horse Days 2013: half a million for El Saghira, Norma Best in Show) here

Unattainable millions

Few buyers, low prices, very slight enthusiasm from the public – one could only dream about a heated atmosphere which should accompany an event of this rank. Even the number of trade booths was considerably smaller than last year. That in short is the summary of this year’s Pride of Poland. The two stars offered at the auction – Etnologia and Ejrene – were sold for impressive sums, but sums which weren’t even close to the expected millions. Both mares, though of world-class quality, did not manage to give the entire auction the much needed “push”, which indicated that the crisis – so long avoided by the Arabian horse industry – finally found its way to Poland. The overall outcome of 1,325 million euro brought in by the main sale and a further 99,6 thousand from the Selection Sale is not a result which can be considered a great success, though two years ago the aggregate from both was even lower, barely surpassing one million euro with only one mare being sold for more than 100 thousand euro (Pilar). Of course things could always be worse. “I remember many auctions, also those with much lower prices”, comments Prof. Krystyna Chmiel from the Polish Arabian Horse Breeders Society board. “After the American financial crisis the 1995 sale’s highest price was 35 thousand dollars for the daughter of Pilarka – Pisanka by Pepton. But it is also true that this year’s offer was all over the place. There were three stars, then nothing for a long while and finally the rest of the offer. In my opinion there was too large of a disproportion in the quality of the offered horses.”

How the stars were sold

The highest price of the auction was achieved by Michałów’s Ejrene (Gazal Al Shaqab – Emocja/Monogramm), for whom the owner of Kwestura, Sheikh Ammar Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, the Crowned Prince of Ajman, offered 440 thousand euro by means of his agent, one of the most renowned trainers and handlers in the world – Frank Spönle. The price was not immediately accepted by the seller. The auctioneer announced that the expected priced is one million euro, but when the bidding came to a halt he was ready to seal the transaction at 450 thousand euro. The buyer however did not raise his offer and the mare returned to the stable. It was not until the end of the entire sale that Ejrene once again appeared on the arena. It was announced then that she was sold for the last offered bid. Therefore the Director of Michałów Stud, Jerzy Białobok, could enjoy the highest price of the auction. On a side note – demanding a million euro for Ejrene or Etnologia was a rather risky marketing gimmick. It doesn’t seem probable that either of them can compare to World Champion Kwestura.

In the case of Etnologia (Gazal Al Shaqab – Etalanta/Europejczyk) there was also just one determined buyer, namely Shirley Watts from Great Britain, known for her great weakness towards Janów-bred horses. Now her collection will be enlarged by Etnologia for the price of 370 thousand euro. It was as clear as day that the market again verified the initial, too daring estimation of a million euro. Besides Etnologia Halsdon Arabians will also welcome a mare which unexpectedly achieved the third highest price of the sale – Janów’s Biruta (Ekstern – Bajada/Pamir), for whom the new owner dished out a round 100 thousand euro. And so the purchases of Mrs. Watts turned out to constitute more than one third of the outcome from the main auction, similarly to the purchase of Sheikh Ammar. Less than one third of the aggregate came from the remaining 16 horses sold from among the 28 which qualified for the main list. “It seems that the offer was not attractive enough to draw numerous buyers to the Arabian Horse Days”, says Krzysztof Poszepczyński from Chrcynno-Palace Stud. “The breeding material should be of a higher quality. Two stars is not enough. It was actually the buyers themselves who evaluated the offer by not coming to Janów this year. And those who did come made no secret in their conversations that the offer leaves a lot to be desired. Of course we have a crisis, but regardless of the economic situation there will always be those willing to buy good horses. Those responsible for compiling the offer, the Organizing Committee and the Qualifying Panel, have some food for thought. The auction’s well-being is definitely also in our best interest; we want it to be attractive, not plain.”

Very decent prices were offered for private owned horses. The young star from Bełżyce, Gataka (Ekstern – Gwarka/Monogramm), will find her way to Saudi Arabia for 55 thousand euro, which turned out to be the fourth price of the sale. Espinezja (Psytadel – Entaga/Ganges) from Falborek will also head for Saudi Arabia – the buyer paid 50 thousand euro for her. The owned by Przemysław Sawicki mare Piawea (Ekstern – Powiewna/Wachlarz) was sold for 30 thousand euro. Emmonida (Gazal Al Shaqab – Emmona/Monogramm), for whom bidding reached 63 thousand euro, did not meet her reserve price. Quite a large number of mares from the main list – as many as seven, not counting those which remained unsold – were outdone in terms of price by the Selection Sale-offered Echidna (Ararat – Elandra/Monogramm), for whom the buyer from Saudi Arabia paid 20 thousand euro. There’s a good chance that if the mare was presented on the main list, her price could’ve been even higher. It seems that different criteria apply during qualifications for the main sale depending whether the horse is state or private owned.

Benita and Benita

The happiest people during the entire sale were those buyers, who on Sunday purchased their first horse ever. Benita Zuzek, known to the guests of the Pride of Poland as the owner of the bed and breakfast inn “Dworek nad Bugiem” near Janów together with her husband Zbigniew, had long dreamed of buying the Janów-bred mare bearing the same name: Benita (Enzo – Bogini/Arbil). And that dream came true! For the sum of 30 thousand euro the mare became her property and Benita and Zbigniew Zuzek became the only buyers from Poland this year. Their joy was the most touching moment of the Sunday afternoon. “I rode horses when I was young”, said the excited Benita Zuzek. “But I never suspected I would have my own! We have observed Benita for years, because Director Trela was inspired with my name when naming her. We felt a great sentiment towards this horse and decided that it cannot go anywhere else than to us. And now my husband has to deal with two Benitas – one with four legs and one with two. I will take care of the four-legged one and my husband will have to deal with the other.” And so Benita not only stays in Poland, but will remain very close to her home stud!

On the fingers of one hand

The award for the buyer of the greatest number of horses went to the client from Saudi Arabia. Let’s hope that he will turn out more trustworthy than last year’s record buyer from Australia, who did not collect about a dozen of his purchases. Apart from Saudi Arabia (which was represented by two buyers), the United Arab Emirates and Great Britain, the only other buying countries included Germany and Poland. France, the USA, Ireland and Belgium “joined in” during the Selection Sale. This means that the number of buyers could be counted on the fingers of one hand. Perhaps the event should get a new wind, some new energy, which would bring back the excitement and make buyers from all over the world reach into their pockets to purchase our wonderful Polish horses?

What next?

It would be wonderful to be able to say that another edition of the great gala of the Arabian horse in Poland has come to an end. However, when speaking of such a festive occasion, there are too many “buts”, the most visible of which is the decreasing presence of breeders from both Poland and abroad. Even those that make their living in euros are shocked by the high price of the VIP cards. And the Poles? Among those visiting the stud on Saturday where several who decided to not stay until Sunday for the finals and auction, though it was initially in their plans. Instead they made their way towards the Bread Festival.

Results
(Net prices in EUR)

Pride of Poland 2012
(28 mares offered)

Ejrene 440 thousand, UAE
Etnologia 370 thousand, GB
Biruta 100 thousand, GB
Gataka 55 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Espinezja 50 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Pomerania 47 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Herlina 45 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Funkia 35 thousand, Australia
Benita 30 thousand, Poland
Piawea 30 thousand, Middle East
Elgina 25 thousand, GB
Cymra 20 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Emboria 19 thousand, Middle East
Agatia, 13 thousand, Middle East
Nizara 11 thousand, Middle East
Pepina 11 thousand, Germany
Esmirna 10 thousand, GB
Ciri 7 thousand, Middle East
Elirdia 7 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Emmonida sold after the auction for a not publicly given price to Belgium

Selection Sale 2012
(26 mares offeres, 1 stallion)

Echidna 20 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Elgara 15 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Emlahaba 11 thousand, France
Epifa 8,5 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Bastia 7,5 thousand, Denmark
Cisowa 6,5 thousand, USA
Epikryza 5 thousand, Denmark
Giralda 5 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Wieża Maraam 4,6 thousand, Belgium
Nefer 4,5 thousand, Belgium
Emissa 4 thousand, Ireland
Eukaria 4 thousand, Germany
Zariba 4 thousand, Ireland

Read the whole article “Pride of Poland 2012: Unattainable millions. The Polish Nationals: A shower of medals for Janów (August, 10-12th)” here

Harvest time. Arabian Horse Days – Poland 2011 (August 5th-7th)

The Arabian Horse Days, which take place in August, are the crowning event of a year’s – sometimes more – worth of breeders’ work. Considering that the event coincides with the harvest, a certain analogy comes to mind, as in both cases it is the time of reaping the results of hard labor. We have become used to blaming the changeable weather for crop failure, but let’s not forget that a properly prepared soil can to a large extent prevent against temporary unfavorable conditions… Have the breeders prepared themselves for the unfavorable aura, which has come upon us with the economic crisis and did they manage to reap such crops as they have hoped?

Białka

Last year Białka Stud put up six mares on the main auction list (one was ultimately withdrawn), with only two of them finding buyers. The bay Perita (Ekstern – Perforacja/Ernal) was sold to France for 22 thousand euro, while the grey Natea (Gazal Al Shaqab – Nutella/Pers) headed to Kuwait for the price of 23 thousand euro. The aggregate amounted to a rather small sum of 64 thousand euro, out of which just 45 thousand was paid for horses off the main list. This year the decision was made to decrease the number of horses and to increase the quality of the offer. And so only three mares were chosen to represent Białka at the 2011 Pride of Poland. The first of these, the grey Fabryszka (out of Fula/Partner), a true daughter of Gazal Al Shaqab who proudly displayed a long arched neck and struck a statue-like pose, became one of the stars of the auction. After a fierce bidding she achieved the third highest result of the sale – 150 thousand euro! With that she wrote herself down in history, beside the sold in 2006 for 160 thousand euro to Australia Hula (Penthagonn – Hulanka/Eukaliptus), as one of the highest price-fetching graduates of the youngest Arabian State Stud.

The second of the offered mares, the gifted with outstanding Arabian type and a beautifully carried swan-like neck Camilia (Piaff – Calineczka/Metropolis NA) was the youngest of the mares appointed for sale this year (Piacenza is 20 days older), but one that could already boast successful show starts. Her young age gives reason to hope that there are more of those still ahead of her. She will soon travel 15 thousand kilometers to her new home, as she was sold for 60 thousand euro to Australia*. The third, Hulala, did not achieve her reserve price.

The offer from Białka was complemented with the Polish National Junior Champion from 2007, the expressively moving Celsjusz (Ekstern – Carina/Pesal). The stallion was purchased by Mohamed Omar from Egypt for the price of 20 thousand euro. This may not seem like a stunning amount, but in these times it is difficult to sell a stallion. Summing up, Białka Stud earned a total of 230 thousand euro, which is an almost fourfold increase as compared to last year.

Janów Podlaski

Last year Janów Podlaski Stud was the only one that had fended off the crisis, earning as much as 560 thousand euro. This year the financial result is even better! The stud’s treasury will collect a total of 749 thousand euro, due mainly to the spectacular sale of Palabra (Enzo – Palmeta/Ecaho) for 400 thousand euro to Saudi Arabia.

A round sum of 100 thousand euro was paid by Athbah Stud from Saudi Arabia for the dam of last year’s Polish National Senior Champion Stallion, the grey Andaluzja (Sanadik El Shaklan – Antwerpia/Eternit). A large surprise was also the extremely good sale of the black Ekstern daughter Sarbia (out of Samura/Ararat) for 85 thousand euro. The mare was purchased by Shirley Watts from Halsdon Arabians, perhaps because of the mare’s future offspring by HS Etiquette. Below expectations was the price achieved for the dam of Poganin, the grey, flea-bitten Pohulanka (Pepton – Pestka/Probat), who brought just 35 thousand euro for her home stud. The mare will head for France, to Lutetia Arabians.

Michałów

The largest takings can be boasted by Michałów Stud, who sold 9 out of the 12 offered mares for the sum of 779 thousand euro and an additional 61,5 thousand euro from the Selection Sale. The total of 840,5 thousand euro, as compared to last year’s 368,7 thousand euro, must be considered a very good result. Although there were times when that result was even greater, as two years ago the aggregate amounted to more than one million euro and a year before that, thanks to the sale of Kwestura, this sum reached nearly two million euro!

The star of the 42nd Pride of Poland Auction, the grey Piacenza (QR Marc – Primawera/Emigrant), was ultimately secured by Greg Gallun for Al Shahania Stud, who paid 475 thousand euro. A decent amount of 125 thousand euro was collected for the 15 year old Panika (Eukaliptus – Plisa/Probat), whose characteristic mark on her head makes her a one of a kind – unique and recognizable. She will take up her new home in Saudi Arabia. A certain disappointment was the bidding of Wieża Babel (Laheeb – Wiaźma/Arbil), which will now call France (Lutetia Arabians) her new home. This mare, boasting both show and breeding successes, was sold for 20 thousand euro without any fight.

Private breeding

The private breeders put up a group of highly decorated young mares for the 2011 auction. The average age of the three offered horses was 5 years and is 3,5 lower than that of the representatives of the Agricultural Property Agency which amounted to 8,5. The total outcome of the “private” sales amounted to 118 thousand euro, out of which half of this amount was made by the wielder of an international pedigree Kashira (Magnum Psyche – Kahila IV/Ibn Bint Inas), bred by Stanisław Redestowicz and owned by Bełżyce Arabians. A champion from the Drammen, Casino Cup in Baden and St. Petersburg shows displayed top form and an additional treat in the shape of a confirmed pregnancy to Ajman Moniscione. This undoubtedly encouraged the buyer from Australia*, who paid 57 thousand euro for her. Kashira will be accompanied on this long journey by Lot 3, the also much decorated Bajaderka (Złocień – Bagatela/Pesal), bred by Agricola Farm and owned by Monika Luft, who was sold for the price of 30 thousand euro. The Autumn Show Junior Champion from 2008, Pasterna (Ekstern – Pasywa/Wachlarz), bred and owned by Lech Błaszczyk, will not have to travel as far, as for the amount of 31 thousand her destination will be the Czech Republic.

Whereas the Selection Sale saw 7 private-bred mares change owners, for the total amount of 57 thousand euro. The highest price, 14,5 thousand euro, was fetched for the mare Waresa (Empres – Włócznia/Borek), bred and owned by Falborek Aabians, which will make her way to France. Her good result probably stemmed from the fact that she is a proven broodmare, having foaled the 2007 Junior Spring Show Reserve Champion Wasa (by WH Justice).

Summarization

In 2008 the auction’s aggregate amounted to 3 million euro, a year later to 2,5 million and in 2010 – just a little above 1 million. It was speculated that the slump in the market might last several years, but as we can see, a diligently prepared offer can prevent a crisis growth to a large extent. There will always be those eager and willing to pay for beautiful and highly decorated horses and the auction’s stars will draw masses of clients. This year’s result nearing 2 million euro shows that the concept of decreasing the number of offered mares to 30, offering younger, already highly decorated horses, as well as setting reasonable reserve prices for the older horses, can bring an intended result. It would perhaps be a good idea to increase the amount of private-bred mares boasting breeding and show successes to at least five in the place of weaker State Stud horses, which have been previously offered at the regular monthly tenders. That would change the atmosphere which to some of us resembles the former political system, when goods had to be rationed.

*the horses sold to Australia were not collected.

Results
(prices in EUR)

Pride of Poland 2011
(30 offered mares and i 2 stallions)

Piacenza 475 thousand, USA
Palabra 400 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Fabryszka 150 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Panika 125 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Andaluzja 100 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Sarbia 85 thousand, GB
Camilia 60 thousand, Australia (not collected)
Kashira 57 thousand, Australia (not collected)
Forminga 46 thousand, Australia (not collected)
Bohema 42 thousand, Australia (not collected)
Egzonera 40 thousand, USA
Pohulanka 35 thousand, France
Pasterna 31 thousand, Czech Republic
Bajaderka 30 thousand, Australia (not collected)
Entima 28 thousand, GB
Luanda 25 thousand, Poland
Ebora 20 thousand, Czech Republic
Wieża Babel 20 thousand, France
Grobla 20 thousand, GB
Watra 10 thousand, France
Cisowa 8 thousand, Australia (not collected)
Adelina 8 thousand, Australia (not collected)
Cetula 8 thousand, Australia (not collected)

Celsjusz 20 thousand, Egypt

Selection Sale 2011
(29 offered mares, 1 withdrawn, 28 present, 3 stallions)

Waresa 15 thousand, France
Wegaza 14,5 thousand, GB
Fuksja 11,5 thousand, Australia (not collected)
Pasadena 10,5 thousand, USA
Estorissa 10 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Elsterina 8 thousand, Qatar
Alta 7 thousand, Germany
Wahida 7 thousand, Germany
Echmea 6 thousand, Australia (not collected)
Epifa 6 thousand, Australia (not collected)
Satenia 6 thousand, France
Salta 5 thousand, Belgium
Eila 4,5 thousand, Belgium
Pereja 4,5 thousand, Qatar
Efrodycja 4 thousand, Australia (not collected)
Estanteria 4 thousand, Australia (not collected)
Eulera 4 thousand, Germany
Willa Rosa 3 thousand, Germany

Zigi Zan 21 thousand, Australia (not collected, sold later to Sweden)

You can read the whole article “Harvest time. Arabian Horse Days – Poland 2011 (August 5th-7th)” here

Janów Podlaski 2010: an Arabian roller coaster

The Arabian Horse Days, which have permanently written themselves down in the calendar of the Polish breeding tradition, surprise us with something each year and are remembered due to certain events and horses participating in them. Two years ago they caused much excitement by means of the spectacular successes of the invincible Pianissima and the sale of World Champion Mare Kwestura for a “trifle” of 1,125,000 Euro. Last year for the first time in the history of the auction a yet unborn foal was sold, while the National Show ended with the success of the private breeders, who returned home with four out of six junior medals, including two Reserve Champions.

The 32nd Polish National Arabian Horse Show combined with the 41st Pride of Poland Sale was to be the year of Pilar, who held promise for a financial success, especially since her perhaps most titled daughter was entered into the National Show – the bay Pinga, Polish National Champion Filly and Best in Show of 2005, who returned to Poland just a month ago after residing almost two years in the US. Unfortunately the weather and the worldwide economic crisis foiled all plans and this year’s Arabian Horse Days will be remembered as a dramatic evacuation of horses in pitch-darkness during the storm and a decrease of the auction’s income after several years of prosperity. However Pilar fulfilled the expectations and she achieved the highest price of the auction: 240 thousand Euro.

The Sale

After a small break all gathered in the indoor arena where Fryderyk Chopin’s 200th birthday was commemorated with a special performance by Arabian stallions, which presented themselves to live music. The riders threw white roses in the direction of the piano, handed to them previously by a lady with a child in historical costumes. This beautiful picture of our tradition and national achievement began the 41st auction, known since 2001 as the Pride of Poland. The round 10th anniversary of organizing the event by Polturf did not end in a great celebration, as there wasn’t much to be happy about. It was the weakest auction of the past several years, as 10 out of the 36 horses offered in the main sale did not sell. Several were bought without any fight whatsoever after reaching the reserve price, which this year seemed to be set for many horses at a low level of 10 thousand Euro. The world crisis finally caught up with the Arabian business, but I don’t think anyone expected such a decrease of prices. In 2008 the auction brought a total of 3 million Euro, last year nearly 2,5 million and this year only slightly more than a million… Of course we should mention that in the previous years the high financial result came courtesy of the sale of the spectacular Kwestura, but analyzing the average price achieved from the sale of horses from the main auction list in 2007-2009 (excluding the mentioned mare from our statistics) we see that the average maintained an even level of around 80 thousand Euro per horse. This year that amount is lower by half, being a little more than 39 thousand Euro. A similar decrease can be observed in the number of horses which reached the 100 thousand Euro mark: in 2007 there were seven such horses, in 2008 and 2009 – six. This year the magical number of 100 thousand Euro was surpassed only by Janów’s Pilar (240 thousand euro). However this year’s auction doesn’t necessarily have to herald a long lasting crisis, as in the last decade we have witnessed similar events right after entering the new millennium. In 2001 fifteen out of the 39 offered horses did not sell and the average price for a mare was just under 40 thousand dollars. The next year was slightly better, as up for sale was the freshly crowned Reserve Champion Filly – Wieża Wiatrów (Ganges – Wiaźma/Arbil) and the auction ended with the sale of 30 out of the 33 offered mares with an average price of 36 thousand dollars. A year later again 13 out of the 37 offered mares did not change owners, with the average amounting to just 32 thousand dollars. The highest prices were given for Embella (Monogramm – Emanacja/Eukaliptus) and Elwia (Ecaho – Etopka/Eukaliptus), for whom 140 thousand Euro was given each*. The third price of the auction was 105 thousand Euro for the Michałów-bred Figlarka (Monogramm – Frejlina/Pepton). These three mares “made” the entire auction, as the rest sold around 10 thousand Euro per horse. The years 2004-2005 brought a breakthrough. The number of offered horses was decreased to 29-30 and the prices went up. The mare Palestyna (Monogramm – Palestra/Penitent) achieved a sum of 300 thousand Euro, a year later Elandra (Monogramm – Erlanda/Eukaliptus) reached 290 thousand Euro. Sums surpassing 100 thousand Euro began to appear more frequently and after lean years again came years of plenty. In capitalism there are often fluctuations and there cannot always be increases and record prices.

A large surprise this year was the fact that in the top five of the highest sold horses two belonged to private owners. Purchased for a sum of 48 thousand Euro was last year’s Autumn Show Champion Filly from Janów Podlaski – the bay Gadnes (Psytadel – Gracea/Etogram), bred and owned by Jan Głowacki. This two year old filly showed a direction in which the demand of the market will probably be heading. Foreign buyers are looking for young horses, promising a show career and the most sought after are individuals with achievements under their belt. Such a horse was without a doubt Lot 25 Ermina (Galba – Echidna/Ararat), bred by Samko P.U.H. and owned by Monika Luft, a granddaughter of Elandra, a regular at international shows where she placed in the Top Five of her classes and a class winner from Białka. She found a buyer for the second highest price of this year’s auction, 90 thousand Euro! This mare with a uniquely beautiful carved head is the highest sold horse of private ownership in the history of the Janów sale. Her new owner however wanted to remain anonymous. It is only known that Ermina will leave Poland. The other two private owned mares (Primadonna and Sotika) were not sold and the reserve prices of 75 thousand Euro seemed to be too high for this year, though sometimes it is better to leave a good horse in your own stable than to sell it below the value that it means to us.

Looking at the Pride of Poland offer we find a different regularity than the one that the world demand is heading for. The average age of the offered mares is 8 years – with the state stud horses averaging 8,5 and the private-bred slightly over 4 years. Of course we must remember that we cannot sell only young and unproven mares, as they must leave progeny in Poland in order to maintain the continuity of the dam line and their sale cannot compromise our breeding itself. The interest in Monogramm daughters has decreased, who beside those with an outstanding show career aren’t such an attractive offer as they used to be a couple of years ago. Foreign buyers prefer to purchase the younger daughters of Ekstern than to spend large sums on 15-16 year old mares, burdened with a reproduction risk and problems with re-selling the horse at a later time. We must remember that our mares after producing several foals at the buyer’s stud often change owners, being simply a good investment. Six out of the seven Ekstern daughters offered this year for sale were sold. The highest price was achieved by the Junior Spring Show Reserve Champion Filly from 2001, Wilga (out of Wenessa/Egon). This 11 year old mare can boast a successful breeding career with her signature daughter by Gazal Al Shaqab – the grey Wilda, last year’s Polish National Reserve Champion Mare from Janów Podlaski. It is definitely a pity to sell such a handsome mare, proven broodmare, in foal to an outstanding sire of show horses QR Marc for a sum of 82 thousand Euro to Belgium. With that she became the highest sold horse from Michałów Stud, who this year painfully felt the world crisis in comparison to previous auctions. The stud’s budget will be enlarged by 368,700 Euro from horses sold at both the main auction and Selection Sale. Last year Michałów’s auction income amounted to more than one million Euro and two years ago, thanks to the sale of Kwestura, almost two million Euro! An even worse balance has been made by Białka Stud, which earned a total of just 64 thousand Euro… Whereas Janów Podlaski Stud is the only one that saved itself from the crisis, though this year’s result is lower than the previous, which surpassed one million Euro. The total of 560 thousand Euro, considering such a tough year, should be recognized as a rather large amount.

Considering that last year Shirley Watts from Great Britain purchased two Janów mares, offering for the daughter of Pipi, the bay Preria (by Ararat), 230 thousand Euro and several minutes later half a million Euro for the young Pinta (Ekstern – Pilar/Fawor), her total purchases amounted to 730 thousand Euro, which is slightly less than the entire outcome of this year’s auction! This time Halsdon Arabians will welcome three mares: Michałów’s Pampa (Gazal Al Shaqab – Palestyna/Monogramm) for 45 thousand Euro and Janów’s Hekla (Primo – Harpia/Ernal) and Agusta (Piaff – Albigowa/Fawor), for which Mrs. Watts paid 40 thousand Euro each, having spent a total of 125 thousand Euro. Everyone betted that due to the love for this dam line Mrs. Watts would make her dream come true and purchase the dam of the previously bought daughters: Pinta (500 thousand Euro) and Pieta (300 thousand Euro). Though during the pre-sale presentations she inspected Pilar thoroughly, applauding her loudly, during the sale she moved aside for Al Shaqab Stud from Qatar, allowing them to purchase this epochal mare for the already mentioned 240 thousand Euro. The new owners gave Shirley Watts a joyful hug – was it a thank you gesture for the opportunity to purchase this mare? Pilar has produced good looking foals each year and during her 10 year breeding career at Janów Podlaski gave ten foals, the most successful by Gazal Al Shaqab, to whom she was bred five times. So it is not surprising that it were buyers from the Middle East that were interested in purchasing this mare. Heading off to Qatar is also a Laheeb daughter – the grey Ariadne (out of Argentyna/Partner), for whom 60 thousand Euro was given and an Angor daughter – Galatea (out of Gehenna/Monogramm), who was sold for 27 thousand Euro. A decisively smaller group of horses will journey to the US: three mares for a total sum of 46 thousand Euro. This shows the change in the clientele market. Not as far as a couple of years ago buyers from the US were the most active bidders during the sale and today their presence is barely visible. Whereas the European market is developing more intensively – this year it was led by France, who purchased as much as seven horses for a decent total of 215 thousand Euro. Also the highest sold horse of the Selection Sale (30 thousand Euro) will head to France: the stallion El Azem (Gazal Al Shaqab – El Fatha/Entyk). Last year the stallion Eol (out of Eutona/Etogram), for whom 12 thousand Euro was given, also went to France. As we can see, our countries have more in common than just a love for Chopin’s music – perhaps the time has come for the expansion of Polish Arabians in that country?

Also our domestic breeders did not fail and took advantage of the sale offer to acquire good genetic material for their herds. Three mares will stay in Poland, including a Monogramm daughter, the chestnut Wyborna (out of Wybranka/Piechur), sold for 20 thousand Euro. Slightly more expensive at 30 thousand Euro was Emetyna (Ekstern – Esina/Sinus) and for a minimum price of 10 thousand Euro the beautiful Laheeb daughter, Percepcja (out of Perturbacja/Laheeb) was bought. The total amount of domestic purchases is 60 thousand Euro, which is 14 thousand higher than the American buys, not counting the four mares purchased by the Poles for a total of 18,5 thousand Euro at the Selection Sale, where the buyers from America were not present at all.

The auction itself was rather spiritless, without frequent surges of thrills and emotions which we could’ve witnessed in the previous years. A truly vibrant atmosphere appeared only during the bidding of Pilar and Ermina. The audience also did a good job of cheering on the horses and encouraging the potential buyers to make a decision to bid.

As this year’s auction showed it is time to search for new markets, as the buyers who have been coming to Poland for years have this time greatly reduced their purchases. We can only hope that the Polish Arabians, as many times before, will come out of yet another crisis unscathed.

Results
(prices in EUR)

Pride of Poland 2010
(36 mares offered, 1 withdrawn, 35 present)

Pilar 240 thousand, Qatar
Ermina 90 thousand, Saudi Arabia
Wilga 82 thousand, Belgium
Ariadne 60 thousand, Qatar
Gadnes 48 thousand, France
Pampa 45 thousand, GB
Agusta 40 thousand, GB
Etyka 40 thousand, France
Hekla 40 thousand, WB
Ebla 35 thousand, France
Emetyna 30 thousand, Poland
Pustynna Tęcza 30 thousand, France
Natea 23 thousand, Kuwait
Altea 22 thousand, USA
Dębowa Góra 22 thousand, France
Perita 22 thousand, France
Galatea 20 thousand, Qatar
Wyborna 20 thousand, Poland
Papaya 18 thousand, France
Efuzja 17 thousand, Austria
Bajgora 12 thousand, USA
El Haza 12 thousand, Belgiium
Emigra 12 thousand, USA
Erreuza 12 thousand, Kuwait
Percepcja 10 thousand, Poland
Petrara 10 thousand, Kuwait

Selection Sale 2010
(33 offered mares, 1 withdrawn, 32 present, 8 stallions)

Pernacja 20 thousand, GB
Emfora 12 thousand, Qatar
Gioconda 8 thousand, (?)
Papua 8 thousand, Belgium
Manresa 7,5 thousand, South Africa
Alena, 6,5 thousand, Denmark
Cyminka 6 thousand, Poland
Eka (z klaczką Ekanta po Celsjusz) 6 thousand, Switzerland
Pomposa 4,7 thousand, France
Equita 4,5 thousand, Poland
Eneryda 4 thousand, Luxemburg
Erydia 4 thousand, Qatar
Euskoma 4 thousand, Qatar
Fabira 4 thousand, Poland
Nimba 4 thousand, Kuwait
Pensacola 4 thousand, Poland

El Azem 30 thousand, France
Wembley 7,5 thousand, Italy
Abbar 5 thousand, Belgium

 —————————————————-

*Embella was not paid and she remained in Michałów until 2007 when she was sold at a monthy tender to Dubai (7 July 2007) (added by polskiearaby.pl)

You can read the whole article “Janów Podlaski 2010: an Arabian roller coaster” here