REPORT MADE AT 2009 WAHO CONFERENCE

Mrs. Krystyna Karaszewska who is the Registrar, and myself, Dr. Marek Trela, represent the Polish Arabian Stud Book, one of the original foundation registry members of WAHO.

The total estimated number of living purebred Arabian horses is at present around 4,000. Our current published stud book is Volume 15 supplement 1, up to the year 2002. We are currently switching our system from publishing stud books to electronic ones. The next volumes and supplements in electronic version will be ready by the end of 2009, however the electronic data is already available on request.

DNA testing has been mandatory since the year 2004, the parent verification of all foals before registration is also mandatory. Poland is not yet using microchipping but this will be introduced as mandatory by the end of 2009. Passports are in use and also mandatory since 2004. The use of Artificial Insemination and transported semen both imported and exported are allowed. The frozen semen of a stallion which has died can only be used for one year from the date of his death. We are not yet using Embryo Transfer.

The most popular activities for Arabians in Poland are:

Racing: There were 202 races for 241 Arabian horses in 2008 racing season at three racecourses, the principal course in Warsaw, then in Wroclaw and in the summer season in Sopot.

Showing, both in halter and ridden: We held 3 ECAHO C shows in 2008 including the Polish National Championships and the All-Arabian Sport Championships which has classic and costume classes, dressage, show-jumping, and western riding. We are pleased to report that these ridden events for Arabian horses are becoming more and more popular.

Endurance Rides: 15 meetings were organised in 2006 by the Polish Equestrian Federation’s Endurance Division, open for all breeds. The purebred Arabian horses are definitely dominating in that discipline. Altogether there are approximately 80 purebred Arabian horses registered for the sport events with the Polish Equestrian Federation.

The structure of the purebred Arabian breed in Poland is the following: three State Studs with a total number of 250 broodmares between them, which are: Janów Podlaski – established in 1817; Michalów – established in 1953; and the youngest Bialka - established in 1981. And there are now about 200 private breeders with the total number of 830 broodmares between them. During the last three years a further significant development of purebred Arabian breeding has been noticed in our country, particularly as far as private breeders are concerned. During this short time the number of registered foals per year has increased by nearly 7%; the number of mares entered for breeding has increased by nearly 15%; the number of stallions active in breeding has increased by 24%; the number of exports has risen by 24%, and the number of imports has risen from just 4 horses in 2005 up to 26 in the year 2008.

The reasons for this increased interest in Arabian horses are varied and include the following: Poland’s growing economy and generally stable political situation; the rapid growth in the standard of living of Polish citizens who are now able to revive their long tradition of horse-ownership and equestrian sports as a popular leisure activity; the great promotional aspects of our Polish Arabian Days, which is the Annual Show and Sale organised at Janów Podlaski State Stud with official television coverage including the WAHO Trophy award ceremony; the extremely informative activity of the websites of our State Studs particularly of Janów Podlaski State Stud with a pedigree database, news, articles, show and race results, live transmissions from the most important European shows, links to WAHO, ECAHO, Polish Arabian Stud Book and other organizations active in the Arabian horse field; the publication of the quarterly magazine ‘Araby’ with numerous articles on history, breeding, racing, endurance and equestrian sports within the Arabian breed; the strong educational activity of the Polish Arabian Horse Breeders Society which organizes seminars, educational and judges training courses, shows, presentations and other events as well as running its own very popular website. The tasks of the Polish Arabian Horse Breeders Society, which is an Associate Member of WAHO, is to promote the Arabian breed on country level and worldwide, and to educate the new owners and public on the history, care and uses of the purebred Arabian horse. There are also many other interesting websites connected to the increasing number of Polish private studs and promotional organizations.

Our 2008 WAHO Trophy winner was the stallion Ekstern, by Monogramm out of Ernestyna, bred by Michalów State Stud. He is the well known sire of international champions and is himself the undefeated Triple Crowned winner of the Nations Cup, European and World Championship titles.

We strongly believe that thanks to the above mentioned efforts the Arabian horse is the most popular of all horse breeds in Poland, is highly respected and loved not only by the horse breeders but also by the ordinary people, politicians, media and so on. The magic name “purebred Arabian horse” opens even very tightly closed doors and is our “national treasure”. That concludes the report for Poland. Thank you.

REPORT MADE AT 2007 WAHO CONFERENCE:

The Polish Arabian Stud Book according to the Act of the Ministry of Agriculture is maintained by the Polish Jockey Club with its office located in Warsaw. In 2005 the Polish Arabian Stud Book registered 592 foals, with 945 broodmares and 162 stallions active in breeding, 82 horses exported and only 4 horses imported. In the year 2006, we registered 571 foals, with 970 broodmares, 164 stallions active in breeding, 60 horses exported and 9 horses imported.

During the last 5 years a significant development of purebred Arabian horse breeding has been noticed in our country. In 2002, PASB registered 424 foals, which was 147 less than in 2006. In 2002 there were 723 broodmares which was 252 broodmares less than in 2006. There were 72 stallions active in breeding in 2002, compared to 164 last year. There were 63 horses exported in 2002, and 10 imported. The reasons for this growing interest in breeding Arabian horses are mostly due to our growing economy and generally stable interior and exterior political situation, the rapid growth of standards of living of the Polish people and search for luxury goods. Promotional aspects are also very important, including our Arabian Horse Days National Show and Sale organized every August at Janow Podlaski Stud. Strong educational activities are also run by the Polish Arabian Horse Breeders Society.

The total estimated number of living purebred Arabian horses in Poland is at present about 4,000. The structure of the purebred Arabian breed in Poland is as follows – we have 3 State Studs which are Janow Podlaski, established in 1817; Michalow established in 1953; and the youngest Bialka established in 1981, with a combined total number of 300 broodmares. There are now 175 private breeders with a total number of 675 broodmares. The current published stud book is Volume 15 Supplement 1 covering the year 2002. The Polish Arabian Stud Book is presently switching its system from a printed stud book to electronic ones. These will be ready at the end of the year 2007. DNA testing has been used since 2002, parent verification of foals before registration is mandatory. Poland does not yet use microchipping. We allow the use of Artificial Insemination, transported semen both imported and exported. The frozen semen of stallions which have died can be used for one year from the date of death only. Embryo Transfer is not currently allowed.

The most popular activities for Arabians in Poland are: Racing, there were 265 races in 2006, at 3 racecourses of Warsaw, Wroclaw and Sopot; Showing, both in halter and ridden, we held 4 ECAHO affiliated shows in 2006 including the Polish National Championships and we also held All-Arabian Sport Championships with classic and costume classes at Janow Podlaski Stud. Sport events for purebred Arabian horses are becoming more and more popular, in 2006 and 2007 a spectacular success was achieved by the small 146 cm mare, Niniwa, when she won the title of European Sport Champion in Stadl Paula in the show jumping category. Our shows are run jointly by the Polish Arabian Horse Breeders Society, the Agricultural Property Agency, the State Studs and local administration authorities. Endurance rides are also popular, there were 11 events organized in 2006 by the Polish Equestrian Federation’s Endurance Division, open for all breeds. The purebred Arabian horses are definitely dominating in that discipline.

The Polish Arab Stud Book Registry Office helps breeders to facilitate registration procedures by giving complete information on the internet, on the Polish Jockey Club website, and on the occasion of seminars and meetings, as well as keeping the registration and paperwork fees on a safe level. The tasks of the Polish Arabian Horse Breeders Society, which is an Associate Member of WAHO, are to promote the Arabian breed on a national level and also worldwide, to educate the new owners and the public on the history, care and uses of the purebred Arabian horse; to organize shows, events, seminars, presentations and educational courses; to publish the Arabian horse magazine ‘Araby’ quarterly, and by writing articles for use in various horse magazines.