Our Polish Experiences

Impressions of Poland 2008 The first impression is getting there, around 27 hours of flight and stopovers from Queensland.  This can be a bonus if you look in the right places. Singapore airport, duty free shopping at good exchange rates.  The second leg we fly is to Zurich.  CHOCOLATE!!!!  In Zurich airport they have a Lindt chocolate shop with an accredited chocolatier working behind the counter.  Start up a conversation there and you get to try all the free samples of his chocolate surprises.  Fly Swiss air to Warsaw and they serve chocolate after the meals. When you arrive at Warsaw airport you are greeted by the Polturf hostesses and are guided to all the right areas.  The Polturf organizers Barbara Mazur and Joanna Krawczyk and their staff welcome you more as family than as just guests. The Polish Horse Festival starts with a visit to the Warsaw Racetrack where we get to see several races.  One of which was for Anglos only and was a steeplechase race, and the Europa Cup was a highlight.  Getting a decent feed was a bit difficult with the language barrier but getting a beer was easy! Our accommodation was at Zaborek, in one of the Manor Houses on the estate. After checking into our rooms to freshen up, we then all boarded buses for the trip to Janow for the colt halter classes and the parade of sale horses. The table at which we were seated was front row centre stage.  Perfect!  Bar was open with unlimited wine, spirits and beer. Next day was show day.  Driving down through the long tree line avenue to the freshly painted historic gates of Janow Podlaski and seeing the famous clockbarn in the distance surrounded by majestic trees still sends a tingle down my spine after 4 visits. Never expect things to be on time in Poland, the clock is just a guide, the place runs on Polish time (sometime…) One of the many highlights of this year’s show was seeing Pianissima shown to champion on home soil and the georgeous Espradilla gain the Reserve Garland and Grafik finally become Polish Champion after 4 Reserves.  By the way, front row seats and dead centre of the arena.  Bar was OPEN. Next day was sale day.  Parade of sale horses in the morning, lunch, wine and then time to walk the barns and inspect all of your favorite horses you are planning to bid on in the auction that evening.  The big highlight of the evening was the sale of World Champion Mare, Kwestura for 1,125,000 Euros to Ajman Stud. Stud Tours.  Bialka:  Old world charm.  The grounds around the old stone barns are perfectly manicured parkland.  Arrived for lunch, to homemade soup in bread bowls, chilled vodka and beer.  Bialka is a stallion station as well as a breeding farm and in the off season could house up to 200 stallions.  The parade of anglo stallions was first and then a presentation of equitation and jumping with a group of Anglos used for 3day events.  The parade of purebreds followed in family groups and over the years we have seen a great improvement in the quality of stock being bred at this farm.  After the parade, a walk through the old barns is paramount before getting on the bus to the historic city of Kielce. Michalow:  Limestone barns, chestnut treed lanes and the horses.  Michalow staff put on a parade of a group of stallions, mares and foals that most would only see in magazines.  EKSTERN, ELDON, WACHLARZ, GRAFIK, GASPAR, PIRUET, DRABANT to name a few. Mares like EMANDA, ESPRADILLA, EMBRA, EMGRACJA, ZAGROBLA, KWESTURA, GASKONIA, EJRENE, PALMIRA, EL DORADA, FALLADA, EMMONA and some of the latest foals.  After the parade lunch is served with plenty to drink and then a memorable walk through the barns, with so many World, US, European and Polish champions inside. The friendships made on a trip like this are forever, because it is all about the Polish horses.  Just on the tour bus there was English, Polish, Brazilian, Kuwaiti, American (Texans, I think they are different to other Americans), Belgium’s, Swiss, Austrian, Australians and many more and to listen and be involved in the conversations held are precious and educational. It is a must trip for the true Arabian breeder.  See you there in August next year!