Last Sunday was the high spot of Arabian Horse Days – in the morning the National Championship finals were held, while in the afternoon there was the Pride of Poland auction. While the first event didn’t give us many surprises, the second one was quite unpredictable.
The medals were almost equally divided between Janów Podlaski-, and Michałów State Stud. The winners were those horses that were predicted to win from the very beginning. The private breeders managed to win only two fifth places in junior classes: Chrcynno Palace Stud entered the Top Five thanks to Chaos Persefona, while Czeple Arabians – thanks to Zimarc. The private breeding was much less successful than the last year. Both Gold Medals in junior categories went to Michałów State Stud (Zigi Zana and Empire) and two Gold Medals in senior categories stayed in Janów Podlaski State Stud (Pinga and Alert). Silver Medals went the other way round: Janów Podlaski won them in the junior categories (Primera and Pogrom), while Michałów – in senior category (Emmona, the higher score of the show: 95,33, and Kabsztad). Bronze Medals were also fairly divided between both studs – the winners were Piacenza and El Omari from Michałów, as well as Sefora and Salar from Janów Podlaski. The fourth places were won mostly by host stud representatives (Almanzor, Etnologia and Eurykles), one was won by Michałów State Stud (Wagira). Michałów, however, was the stud that received the last Top Five title – thanks to Zagrobla.
Maybe lack of surprises caused that the championships didn’t arouse that big emotions like during last years – or maybe it was caused by the anxiety of all interested in the auction. Not many buyers arrived in Janów Podlaski this year; probably the world crisis has eventually reached even the ‘Arabian branch’. Besides, records cannot be broken all the time and we had to remember that after many years of high prices, a fall would come. So the ultimate auction result, although it was lower than last years’ – EUR 1 021 000 – must be found successful, paid with organizers and auctioneers hard work. According to predictions, the highest price was achieved by Pilar (buyers from Qatar paid EUR 240 000 for her), mother of Pinga, a newly-awarded Senior Mares Polish Champion. Ermina, lot 25, was a second record holder – after a fierce bidding the auctioneer’s hammer fell, when the amount rose to EUR 90 000. It is the highest price in Janów Podlaski auction history that was offered by a private-bred
mare (and private-owned, by L-Arabians). Another auction’s favorite, Wilga, also achieved quite a high price – EUR 82 000 (the mare will go to Belgium). The amount of EUR 48 000, bid by a French buyer for a two-year old Gadnes, private bred and owned (Mała Wieś Stud), is also a very good result. Nine out of 36 mares offered at the main auction returned to stables, two out of four private-bred. El Azem, a stallion bought for EUR 30 000, became the Selection Sale record holder.
Monday and the Janów Podlaski breeding parade is a resting day for all participants. The rivalry, fight for trophies or buyers, comes to an end. That day, we had an extremely moving event: a presentation of Juliusz Kossak’s painting, a portrait of Mlecha, which is a gift for Janów Podlaski by Professor Andrzej Strumiłło. Hekla (a mare sold at the auction for EUR 40 000 to Halsdon Arabians stud), a mare from Mlecha line, stood near the painting, and she was identical, as her
great-great-great-grandmother! An alive work of art was no worse than the painted one.
And so, another Polish Arabian feast has come to an end. It will be certainly remembered as an uneasy moment in the show history (due to the dramatic experience with weather – a storm and a heavy wind caused collapsing of a provisional stable for guest horses) and the auction (due to the crisis). However, hard work always brings its fruit – even in the least favorable conditions.
