The second edition of the Sopot Arabian Horse Show took place on the last weekend of July, at the Hippodrome in the seaside Sopot in Poland. Good organisation of the first edition encouraged breeders and owners to submit their horses to this year’s edition of the show, affiliated by ECAHO as a ‘Breeders Show’. This year, as well as Polish exhibitors, we also had the opportunity to admire horses from abroad and this made the event more attractive.
A total of 77 horses were entered for the show, divided into six classes and then sub-divided into sections. The Sopot Arabian Horse Show stands out from other Polish shows through its judging system. The evaluation consisted of seven marks: type, head, neck with shoulder blade, body, front legs, hind legs, and movement. This allows the judges to consider the presented horses much more precisely.
Judges and officials
The show was judged by: Hendrik Mens from Belgium, Maria Ferraroni from Italy, Jaroslav Lacina from the Czech Republic, and Paula Bohmer and Karin Zeevenhoven, both from the Netherlands. The ringmaster was Gerard Oben, who is well known and liked in Poland.
With a pleasant, holiday-like atmosphere and music that is pleasing to the ear coupled with the good running of the show with no delays in the schedule make this even to be remembered for all the right reasons. Indeed, we can already look forward to the 2022 event!
Gold Yearling Filly Champion De Queen of Life (Pireno x Dekstera by Ensenator)
The Gold Yearling Filly medal was won by De Queen of Life (Pireno x Dekstera by Ensenator), bred and owned by Petroniusz Frejlich. Petroniusz also took the Bronze Senior Male title with his stallion El Wiktorio (Eternal x Elwiktoria by Ekstern). Both horses are sired by Polish stallions bred by private breeders, making these results extra noteworthy.
Bronze Senior Male Champion El Wiktorio (Eternal x Elwiktoria by Ekstern)
The Gold Yearling Colt medal was won by Empirial Babel (Ghaith al Zobair x Eden Beauty KA by QR Marc), bred and owned by Babel Arabian Stud. This colt had exceptional movement and perfect type.
Gold Yearling Colt Champion Empirial Babel (Ghaith al Zobair x Eden Beauty KA by QR Marc)
The Junior Female Gold Medal went to the two-year old Evetta (RFI Farid x Evolett by Ajman Moniscione) bred and owned by Katarzyna Dolińska-Witkowska. Last season, this filly did not stand out as much while this year, she is improving from show to show.
Gold Junior Female Champion Evetta (RFI Farid x Evolett by Ajman Moniscione)
The Gold Junior Male title went to Vinci (Wadee Al Shaqab x Valencia Al Shaqab by Marwan Al Shaqab), owned by Waldemar Bąk.
Gold Junior Male Champion Vinci (Wadee Al Shaqab x Valencia Al Shaqab by Marwan Al Shaqab)
It is worth noting that the youngstock classes were distinguished by the progeny of RFI Farid (RFI Maktub X RFI Fayara el Shiraz by Shiraz el Jamaal), who has been very popular among breeders in Poland in recent years. Now, horses sired by him are noticeable in the show-rings. In Sopot, as well as Evetta, the Bronze Yearling Filly title went to Ceyla AO (RFI Farid x Cetula by El Nabila B), bred and owned by Adam Ochman, while the Silver Yearling Colt medal went to Glorius M (RFI Farid x Ginga by Galba) bred and owned by Piotr Podgórny. Piotr also took home a second Silver medal, this time in the yearling fillies with Eselaja M (AJ Elaf x Espanera by Kabsztad).
Bronze Yearling Filly Champion Ceyla AO (RFI Farid x Cetula by El Nabila B)
Silver Yearling Colt Champion Glorius M (RFI Farid x Ginga by Galba)
Silver Yearling Filly Champion Eselaja M (AJ Elaf x Espanera by Kabsztad)
The Senior Female Champion was Pila (Abyad AA x Piba by Ekstern) from Janów Podlaski Stud, who was shown in Białka in 2019. Since then, she has grown up and gained a lot, and Pila impresses with her type and movement.
Gold Senior Female Champion Pila (Abyad AA x Piba by Ekstern)
The Senior Male Champion was also the highest-rated horse and Best In Show. This was the bay Magic Algazal (Gazal al Shaqab x Ale by Magnifique by Magic Magnifique) bred by Sweden Arabian Stud and owned by Arahman Saoud bin Khalid H Alqasse.
Gold Senior Male Champion & Best in Show Magic Algazal (Gazal al Shaqab x Ale by Magnifique by Magic Magnifique)
An additional attraction was the Gelding Championship, with the prize in this championship being €2,000. The Gold Champion was Muranas Messi (Invictus x Muranas Majesta by Muranas Jassehr), owned by Aleksandra Czarnul.
Gold Gelding Champion Muranas Messi (Invictus x Muranas Majesta by Muranas Jassehr)
The Best Handler went to Paweł Kozikowski, who won six medals – three gold, one silver, and two bronze. In the first five classes, he presented 10 horses.
Best Handler Paweł Kozikowski
Congratulations to breeders, owners, trainers, and handlers, but also to the organisers for this well-organised edition of the Sopot Arabian Horse Show. We will miss you and hope to see you in the same place next year!
Cameg Ecosse (ES Sarab x Cameg Parisa by HT Nybraska), Bronze Yearling Colt bred by Cameg Arabian Stud and owned by Aldeem Arabians
IS Essencia (Poseidon OS x IS Ella Nora by El Mariachi), Silver Junior Female Champion bred and owned by Nils Ismer, Ismer Stud
AJ Areej (AJ Kafu x Ania Moniscione by WH Justice), Bronze Junior Female Champion bred by Ajman Stud and owned by Tomasz Tarczynski
DS Fedor (EKS Alihandro x Fedora RG by WH Justice), Silver Junior Male Champion bred by Athbah Stud and owned by Danisa Arabians
Almagram (Wadee Al Shaqab x AHB Aidha by Nijem El Aziz), Bronze Junior Male Champion bred by Silvatica Black Arabians and owned by Alicja Napiora
Vision of Justice (WH Justice x Exquisite Dream by Magic Dream), Silver Senior Female Mare bred by J & L Havice and owned by Aldeem Arabians
Ebora (Ekstern x Eberia by Ecaho), Bronze Senior Female Champion bred by Michałów Stud and owned by Suweco Stud
Atius O (Shahim Al Nakeeb – Atia oOne by Johann El Jamaal), Silver Senior Male Champion bred by oOne LLC and owned by Jas Stud
Lead photo: Glorius M and Empirial Babel
To read more show reports, click here.