Honorary Patron: Polish Prestige Sp. z o. o., MGZ Gama Sp. z o. o.
Polish Prestige (est. 1990) the first private company in Poland providing services to the horse breeders and users community. Initiator and organizer of the Polish Arabian Summer Festival, the Polish Prestige Arabian horse auction in Janów Podlaski, auctions of other horse breeds, competitions, shows and many famous events with the participation of horses. Since 2004, through its own insurance agency MGZ Gama, it has been involved in horse insurance, as Lloyd's coverholder, a representative of the oldest and most respected insurance brand in the world [www.polishprestige.pl].
MGZ Gama Sp. z o. o – established in 2004 by Polish Prestige, the first insurance agency in Poland specializing in insurance for equestrianism and horse breeding, authorized by Lloyd's, offers insurance for horses, works of art, musical instruments, valuables and other beautiful and expensive property, in accordance with the slogan "we insure what you love" [www.mgzgama.pl].
The horse, a Polish matter – a blog run by Marek Grzybowski, where he presents his opinions on auctions, equestrianism, horse breeding and other topics relevant to the environment [www.konsprawapolska.pl].
Guardians: Marek Grzybowski, Radosław Wiszniowski, Marek Bojarski, the late Marcin Wyszomirski, the late Rafał Przedpełski
Marek Grzybowski, MA in Economics, Foreign Trade 1972, SGPiS, employee, since 1989 director of the Horse Export Office of the Foreign Trade Center "Animex", founder and president of Polish Prestige, author of the marketing program and co-organizer of the Arabian horse auction in Janów and the Polish Arabian Summer Festival. He represented Poland at WAHO congresses in Australia, USA, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Qatar. Author of many publications (www.konsprawapolska.pl), in the field of organization of horse auctions and breeding, horse riding and cavalry. A valued, long-term auctioneer in Janów and auctioneer of works of art in the largest Polish auction houses, as well as an auctioneer of Arabian horses in the USA, Sweden and Germany.
Radoslaw Wiszniowski – Managing Director of Polish Prestige, coordinator of the work of many teams involved in the planning and implementation of the event.
Marek Bojarski – Technical Director of Polish Prestige, responsible for the construction, operation and roll-up of the entire technical infrastructure of the show and auction in Janów.
late Marcin Wyszomirski – Member of the Management Board of Polish Prestige, responsible for international and commercial contacts as well as shipping of horses sold at auction.
late Rafal Przedpelski – Member of the Management Board of Polish Prestige, veterinarian responsible for the documentation and veterinary supervision of the auction and show.
The history of the Arabian horse auction in Janów for the years 1996–2000 according to Marek Grzybowski.
"This year (2023 - note ed. PLPJ) the 53rd Arabian horse auction in Janów Podlaski is to take place. For over twenty first years I was the organizer of this auction, the author of many marketing solutions, the auctioneer and the co-creator of the great international success of Polish thoroughbreds. You can read about how it happened that people from the richest spheres of this world began to make pilgrimages to the poor, gray country behind the "Iron Curtain" in my memoirs "The Horse and the Polish Matter" published in Koni Polski No. 4-6 from 1994, currently available on the portal "Legends of Polish horse riding":
Chronicle of the auction in Janów 1970-1977
Chronicle of auctions in Janów 1978-1980, Polish Prestige auctions 1980-1985
Chronicle of the Polish Prestige auction 1986-1991
In these memoirs, I will describe the years 1996 - 2000, when the private company Polish Prestige raised the Janów auction from the fall of 1992-1995, provided the auction with independent financing and development and opposed the AWRSP's privatization plans, as a consequence in 2001 it was removed from the organization of the auction and erased from history. I will also point out the reasons why the "Pride of Poland" auction is not the pride of Poland, but a symptom of the decline of Polish horse breeding.
(...)
1996 "Life Raft"
The auction in Janów, after our departure from Animeks, was losing its importance year by year. When the result in 1995 fell below 50% ($381.500) compared to 1991 ($873.100), the breeders decided in the spring of 1996 to start talks with Polish Prestige. Negotiations took place against the position of AWRSP, which saw me as the main opponent of its privatization activities. At that time, I wrote a lot and appeared in the media in defense of state studs and herds.
The agreement with Polish Prestige was blocked by one of the Agency's directors, who attended the meeting with a gloomy face.
- "Titanic is sinking, we are changing to a life raft" - cut short director Jaworowski and the authority of the great breeder prevailed. On behalf of the studs, the agreement was signed by Ignacy Jaworowski, Michał Maciejewski (Andrzej Krzyształowicz had already retired), Andrzej Guziuk and Władysław Guziuk. For our part, me and Radosław Wiszniowski. It was a transparent agreement written on one page between partners who had known each other for a long time and had full confidence in each other. In return for an 11% commission, Polish Prestige was responsible for preparing and conducting the auction, settling the transaction and delivering the horses to the buyers. The costs of the auction were settled after the auction between the beneficiaries of the sale, in proportion to the revenues obtained. Polish Prestige participated in covering 11% of the costs. In fact, our share in the costs was greater than 11%, because the basis for customer acquisition was my trips to shows in the USA, Europe or WAHO congresses, financed by our company. Together with the breeders, we set the annual budget of the Festival, including the proceeds from sponsorship, sales of VIP cards, trade stands, tickets, catalogues, car parks, etc.
(...)
Read more... (click to go to the Polish Digital Equestrian Library)
Author Marek Grzybowski
Entry updated: 2025/03/26
Publications in the Polish Digital Equestrian Library:
Click the tabs below and then the link of interest to access related content (will open in a new tab):
“Polish breeding of Arabian horses and its successes in the world” (2017) – Krystyna Chmiel
"They created beauty" (2007) - Krystyna Chmiel
"Two centuries of Polish breeding..." (1983) - Witold Pruski
"The Breeding of Purebred Arabian Horses in Poland" [EN](1989) - Roman Pankiewicz
"Top 10 Horses Sold at Auctions 1970-2023" (2023) - Krystyna Chmiel
"Dubious pride, forgotten prestige" (2023) - Marek Grzybowski
"Meanders of the Auction in Janów" (2019) - Marek Grzybowski
"Dąbrowski's Mazurka in the Desert" (2018) - Wiktor Ferfecki
"Another point of view - Arabian horses" (2018) - Jerzy Białobok, Marek Trela, Anna Stojanowska
"The evil of privatization" (2018) - Marek Grzybowski
"Results of the auction in Janów Podlaski" (2017) - Krystyna Chmiel
"Neophytes of capitalism" (2000) - Marek Grzybowski, Radosław Wiszniowski
"Talks about the market" (1996) - Marek Grzybowski
"Sale or sale" (1996) - Marek Grzybowski
"New Dynamics of the Ministry of Agriculture" (1996) - Marek Grzybowski
"Anti-conception" (1993) - Marek Grzybowski
"Keep Herds, Save Tradition" (1993) - Marek Grzybowski
Related Legends:
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.
Urszula and Jerzy Białobok
Prominent breeders of Polish Arabian horses. Michałów Stud, during their work, received the Award of the President of the Republic of Poland - Aleksander Kwaśniewski (2001).
Izabella Pawelec-Zawadzka
A highly regarded, world-class authority in the field of Arabian horse breeding. Together with Alina Sobieszak, she created Araby Magazine.
WITEŹ II (OFIR - FEDERATION)
He had a huge impact on Arabian horse breeding in the world. He had his own museum while he was still alive.
The first auction of Arabian horses in Poland – Janów Podlaski, 1970
The first Arabian horse auction in Poland and Europe, which was organized by the Breeding Association of Breeding Animals, the Animex Foreign Trade Center and the Association of Breeding Animals at the Janów Podlaski Stud on June 5, 1970.
Ignacy Jaworowski
Permanently associated with the post-war history of rebuilding Arabian horse breeding in Poland and the successes of Michałów Stud.
Andrzej Krzyształowicz
SK in Janów Podlaski is inseparably associated with the figure of its long-term director. He became a legend while still alive.
Roman Pankiewicz
Siberian, miner, author of many books and publications about Arabian horses. Head of the Albigowa Stud, breeder of the legendary stallion Bask.
Gallery:
Photos from the Polish Prestige archive / konsprawapolska.pl
Shirley and Charlie Watts (drummer of the cult band The Rolling Stones), British horse breeders who fell in love with Polish Arabians.
Shirley Watts receives congratulations from Marek Trela. The first from the left, the President of Poland, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, honored with his presence the auction in Janów Podlaski, 2000.
Festival 2000: President Aleksander Kwaśniewski (first from the left), Shirley Watts (in the middle), Charlie Wats (first from the right), photo: Stuart Vesty.
Paulo Bilyk from Brazil is happy after purchasing Pamir. photo. Stuart Vesta from the collection of Marek Grzybowski.
The atmosphere and attendance at Polish Prestige auctions and shows have always been good.
Director Norbert Zalis defended SK Kladruby against privatization, which as a national asset still belongs to the state.
Marek Grzybowski, in an interview with the Sheikh of Bahrain, promotes Polish breeding.
