Last weekend the Horse Festival at Bełżyce took place. Crowds of spectators that came to this popular touristic area for the weekend holidays watched the various breeds and equestrian sports parades. We have been interested in the day third – the IIIrd All-Polish Arabian Horse Championships especially.
The jury: Cristina Valdez y Colon de Carvajal (Spain), Christina Wale (Sweden) i Krystyna Chmiel (Poland) judged 57 horses.
Polish State studs from Janów Podlaski, Michałów and Białka supported the show as always however they were very serious competitors – taking the world – known stars with Egzonera and Fallada (Polish National Champion Mare and World Reserve), Polish National Reserve Champion Colt – Esparto and National Champion Stallions – Emrod and Gaspar from their stables. Janów Podlaski stud left its brightest stars at home but the „middle-class” juniors didn’t give any chances to the rest – Janów won both yearling and fillies 2-3 years old classes.
Metropolis NA that was given as a gift to the Janów Podlaski stud by his breeder – Mike Nichols was also entered but it finally didn’t come – unfortunately – as this slightly incorrect but spectacular mover could have been very interesting challenge for the judges. Maybe they would give him a couple of „twenties” finally as the highest scores were very rarely given at this show. The low scores occasioned a lot of emotions – especially when the same horses had been scored a few points higher two weeks before – at Białka Junior Spring Show. As Izabella Pawelec-Zawadzka, President of Polish Arabian Horse Breeders Society said unofficially – the reason could be a last trend amongst the European judges to give the scores rather lower recently – against the tendencies of the past years when the horses had been scored with „19” or „20” too often sometimes. Maybe the jury at Bełżyce judged properly then? There were also some horses scored higher than at Białka, by the way.
Probably the slippy ground (after heavy raining) was the reason that many horses didn’t show their moving abilities. This time the best movers were the matured progeny of Ekstern and Monogramm. The horses sired by this two stallions were judged with the highest scores and they won most of the trophies.
At junior mare championships the only HS Pirandelo daughter to be shown – black Elwinga from Janów Podlaski competed very successfully (she had been beaten by Michałów – bred Pistoria at Białka) and 2006 Polish National Reserve Junior Champion Stallion from Białka – Porto (Janów Podlaski) was placed third in his class at Bełżyce!
The one that could be very satisfied with his horses’ scores was Andrzej Wójtowicz. He is the owner of Kashira (bred by Stanisław Redestowicz) – the mare was scores similarly as at Białka and became the best private bred and owned horse of the show at Bełżyce. Comparing this mare to Gaja Selene – the best private bred and owned horse from Białka show could have been very interesting but Gaja Selene has not been entered this time unfortunately. Beating the Janów – bred Eurykles by Piwosz was also very successful moment for Andrzej Wójtowicz – breeder and owner of the stallion. Eurykles is not only one of the most promising sires but also one of the most beautiful Polish stallions – he won the class at Polish Junior Nationals and was Top Five during the Senior one!
Despite the changes of weather and luck we should remember that the main goals of the shows as All-Polish Arabian Horse Championships are: the regional promotion of Arabian horse breed, the chances of competing in the nice atmosphere (not so stressful as Nationals) and at last but not least – one more chance to meet the group of Arabian horse breeders and lovers. During one of the breaks between the championships we have seen the sweet scene – a father taking a picture of his child touching the Polish National Champion Stallion – there would not be a chance to take such a picture anywhere else than at Bełżyce. Let it could be one of the reasons to come for the next years’ championships there!
