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

To begin with: Białka in a nutshell

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yearling fillies – the gold stays in Białka

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Junior fillies: fifteen fight for glory

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Girls outside the Top 5

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

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

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

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

One down, two to go

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

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

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