Representatives of the European State Studs met for their annual conference in the Polish State Stud Sieraków on 22 - 24 April 2015. The breeding institution, founded as Royal Prussian Stud Zirke and neighbouring Sieraków Castle provided an ideal environment to discuss the historic, current and future role of the traditional studs of Europe.
In its seventh year of existence the European State Studs Association (ESSA) has consolidated itself and entered into a new period of international cooperation. Within the conference working groups have been established dealing with the topics breeding and genetics, education and research, marketing and events and heritage and visitor management.
Marian Pankowski, president of the agricultural enterprise Galopol, to which Sieraków stud is attached, and stud director Pawel Wojtowicz invited numerous guests from Poland, who are interested in the developments in other European countries and gave an insight into the Polish horse sector. The Agricultural Property Agency (APA), being responsible for the Polish State Studs, was represented by section manager Aneta Burghardt and the horse breeding specialist Anna Stojanowska, for the Polish Horse Breeders Association spoke president Prof. Zbigniew Jaworski.
Highlight of the two day event was a show programme in the stud hippodrome, for which horses, riders and drivers of the whole country gathered. The studs Bialka, Janów Podlaski and Michalów presented their famous Pure Bred Arabians, Michalów also sent a five‐in‐hand with the stud’s special appaloosa breed. Racot and Pepowo showed Wielkopolskie and Polish Sport Horses, from Prudnik Malopolskas (Polish Anglo‐Arabians) came. Ksiaz stud enchanted the audience with Slesian Warmbloods, which were skilfully presented as excellent carriage horses. The diversity of Polish breeds was completed by draft horses from Nowe Jankowice, Huculs from Gladyszow and the Konik Polski horses from hosting Sieraków.
A festive evening with regional music and dance rounded the event off. “We are very impressed by the hospitality, the fascinating tradition and the high standard of Polish horse breeding, which doesn’t need to fear international comparison in the sport horse sector and is absolute world class in Pure‐Bred Arabian breeding. Especially in the current situation of crisis in the European horse sector the state studs stand for continuity” concludes ESSA president Dr. Astrid von Velsen‐Zerweck.
The next ESSA conference will take place from April 22nd to 24th 2016 at the Portuguese National Stud Alter Real.
Photo © Tadeusz Andrzejewski
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