Above: Yearling Colt Champions: left, Silver Champion Partes (Dominic M x Protekcja) and right, Gold Champion Comoros (HL El Ganador x Cedora). Photo by Sylwia Iłenda.
By Mirek Kolodziej
As featured in the Fall 2024 issue of Arabian Horse World
Following the parliamentary elections in Poland in the fall of 2023, the Polish and international purebred Arabian community held their breath. Everyone was anxious about the future of the state studs in Janów Podlaski and Michałów. Poles have a saying, “Pośpiech jest złym doradcą” translated into English, meaning “Haste is a bad counselor.” Therefore, little to none changed over the course of the first months after the new government was sworn into office in mid-December. Real changes started happening much later, and in mid-May came the grand announcement that the Polish Arabian Horse Days were returning. Perhaps a little too late, but then again, as the French saying goes, “Rome ne s’est pas faite en un jour” – “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” so let’s see how the story of the Polish Arabian unfolds in the years to come…
In Poland, everyone has heard of Janów Podlaski and seen the purebred Arabian horse at least once – if not in real life, then on the telly. And no one would dare question the significance of this breed to Polish tradition and culture. Alas, too few are familiar with the history of this breed and how it came to be that a nation in the heart of Europe rose to prominence as breeders of some of the best Arabians the world has seen. The Polish explorer and orientalist Wacław Rzewuski, the honorary Emir of Bedouin tribes, known among them as Taj al-Fahr – the Crown of Glory, or Bodgan Ziętarski, equerry to the princely House of Sanguszko, traveler to Arabia and visionary of Arabian horse racing, are merely two examples of men who shaped the tradition of purebred breeding in what was to become the Republic of Poland in the 20th century. And these are stories worth telling and saving for posterity.
Unsurprisingly, the sudden changes in management of the state studs in 2016 shocked the entire international community. What followed were frequent management rotations, a lack of a cohesive or consistent breeding program, and several scandals at auctions – all tarnishing the good name and reputation of the majestic Arabian born and raised in lush Polish pastures. Hopefully, these are all past things, and the future is bright for the horses’ sake. However, the recent events in Janów allow us to be more than just cautiously optimistic. The 2024 Polish Arabian Horse Days were, after all (mostly), a success.
The Senior Mare Championship. Photo by Karolina Misztal.
Almost 100 horses participated in this year’s Arabian Horse Days in Janów, excluding the breeding parades. What many don’t realize is that the event is not a monolith; on the contrary, it comprises of the Sports Championship, the Polish Nationals, two auctions and two breeding parades – that’s why we need as many as five days to really feast our eyes with the crème de la crème of Polish Arabians. While many things have changed since 2016, what remains unaffected is the quality of Polish horses. Year in and year out, judges worldwide are in awe of the horses bred in Poland, be it yearlings, senior horses, or 30-year-old pensioners.
This year, the state studs in Janów Podlaski, Michałów, and Białka took most championship titles in the Polish Nationals home. The privately-owned Klikowa Arabians, with their novel breeding program, won gold for junior colts, while other private breeders took 2nd and 3rd places in individual championships, e.g. Wojciech Parczewski for his exquisite yearling filly Monserat sired by EKS Farajj or Agata Parys for her 6-year-old dazzling stallion Petrus PA, son of the late King of Michałów Ekstern. And while all championships were breath-taking and thrilling, those were the senior horses who received a standing ovation, respected sires and broodmares, champions both in Poland and abroad, in particular the Janów-bred and -owned flea-bitten revelation, the gracious and feminine Adelita.
If you follow European shows, you might have heard her name. The Kahil Al Shaqab daughter out of the beloved Altamira is the 2015 Gold European Yearling Champion from Verona. A decade later, she is back on the showground, enjoying the spotlight and looking like a million bucks. Together with her handler Mateusz Tokarski, she won gold in Tarnów at the National B-show, gold at the Polish Championships, and gold in Prague. Erantis, the 2017 chestnut son of Ascot DD out of Eugara, was the one to win gold next in the Senior Stallion Championship. The judges were unanimous in their decision – just like in Adelita’s case, and it is no surprise that he’s a son of Janów Podlaski.
Senior Mare Gold Champion Adelita (Kahil Al Shaqab x Altamira). Photo by Karolina Misztal.
Senior Stallion Gold Champion Erantis (Ascot DD x Eugara). Photo by Karolina Misztal.
The future of the Polish Arabian is indeed bright. The All Nations Cup and the Europeans are next, and the show season will end in Paris at the World Championship. With so many stories to tell, let’s wait and see what happens in the foreseeable future.
