Arabian horse auctions – Janów Podlaski, 1970-1991

The history of the first stage in the history of the Arabian horse auction in Janów Podlaski in the years 1970 - 1991 according to Marek Grzybowski.

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Contemporary breeding of Arabian horses in Poland is the legacy of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which politically and culturally bordered the Orient, and the enormous magnate fortunes enabled the import of the finest stallions and mares.

This thought was the guiding idea for me to promote both the breeding and the Janów auction, which I gave the title "Polish Prestige" at some point.

In order to invite people from the richest circles of this world to the gray and poor country behind the Iron Curtain, it was necessary to convince them that the product offered was second to none, and what's more - it could only be created in Poland thanks to the huge expenditures and uninterrupted work of many generations of Polish breeders .

SOME HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS

The export of Arabian horses is a business in Poland almost as old as breeding. The first recorded transaction took place in 1800, when the Great Hetman of the Crown, Count Seweryn Rzewuski, sold the leading stallion of his breeding to the East Prussian Weedern herd. The proud magnate did not hesitate to give his horse his own name, which can be considered an excellent promotional move. A good name usually favors a horse's career, I dedicate this thought to the modern breeders of Relax, Fartów, Gryp and Floder. The stallion Rzewuski did not bring shame to his surname, his daughters were the backbone of the breeding in Weedern.

When today we are trying to win Middle Eastern markets for our breeding, let us remember that already in 1864 the Turkish sultan bought two stallions from the Branicki family in Biała Cerkiew: Inak and Jarzmo, and a group of 90 mares for his royal stud in Istanbul. The power of the Branicki breeding is evidenced by the fact that during 53 years (1818-1870) they sold 2009 horses and gave away 1231 horses as gifts, which was meticulously recorded in their studbooks. Could the contemporary Polish Arabian horse, valued everywhere in the world but almost unknown in its own country, not be an excellent Polish state gift, winning over crowned heads in Arab countries, opening contacts and exporting various Polish products?

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Read more... (click to go to the Polish Digital Equestrian Library)

Author PLPJ editors based on the text by Marek Grzybowski - "The Horse and the Polish Matter" (Source: Koń Polski No. 4, 1994)