2009 POLISH NATIONALS AND PRIDE OF POLAND SALE
purchase. When he was 17, and they had a good son to replace him, the Poles felt comfortable in parting with him. It is an honor to have him. “My herd of around 80 horses is 65% to 70% pure Polish,” he adds, “because I have copied what good Polish breeders are doing, keeping in mind that the Poles have added Palas and other stallions who trace to Nazeer, one of Egypt’s most influential stallions, ever.” Vierra bought several mares at the 2009 sale. This was photographer Jeffrey Bloom’s second visit to Poland. Both times, he has accompanied brother-inlaw Raymond Mazzei. “Raymond has been to Poland so often,” he notes. “Accompanying him to this year’s Polish Nationals, I was grateful for every hour we spent in Warsaw, at the state studs, and lastly, in Kraków. “The Polish Nationals was a magical, seamless experience, enjoyed by thousands. Attendees ranged
from celebrities, who arrived every morning in private helicopters, to Polish locals who came on foot, like pilgrims, resolutely walking the long road to the show grounds. They sat good-naturedly under a hot summer sun, cheering enthusiastically for their favorite horses and handlers. “The late Andrzej Krzysztalowicz, Director of Janów Podlawski Stud, had experiences during World War II that have become legendary. Everywhere I looked, Krzysztalowicz’s inf luence, combined with the monumental, often tragic history of the Polish horses, was evident—even in the faces in the crowd.” “You can’t catch the Polish,” states Shirley Watts. “They have 200 years of ongoing Arabian horse breeding behind them. Although they keep their cards pretty close to the vest, the Polish Arabian breeders really are the final authority.”
Above are just a few of the images captured by photographer Jeffrey Bloom at this year’s Polish Nationals.
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