The show season in Poland starts with the Junior Spring Show for Arabian Horses.

The Show first took place in 1983 at the Łąck Stallion Depot. The next one was held 5 years later in 1988 at Białka Stud. Michałów Stud was the host of the Show during 1993-1996 and in 1997 the Show returned to Białka, where it has been held annually ever since.

Up until 2006, male winners of the Junior Spring Show were acknowledged with the title of Polish National Champion & Reserve Champion Colt. Beginning with 2007, the National Colt Championships will take place at the Polish National Arabian Horse Show at Janów Podlaski in August.

The Show currently consists of 6 classes:

Class I - Yearling colts
Class II - Two year old colts
Class III - Three year old colts
Class IV - Yearling fillies
Class V - Two year old fillies
Class VI - Three year old fillies

The winners and the second placed horses qualify for the Junior Spring Show Female & Male Championship. The Best in Show Horse is chosen from among the Champions. 

♦ Dressage
♦ Jumping
♦ Classic Pleasure
♦ Classic costume
♦ Polish historical costume

Performance classes are held separately for mares and geldings and separately for stallions.

The Polish Purebred Arabian horses are placed in the world"s most forefront for years, while Pure Polish brand is the byword of the highest quality among the breeders all over the world. In 1864 sultan Abdul Aziz, establishing his own bloodstock, imported 90 mares and two stallions from Branicki"s studs. In 1908 stallion Van Dyck was sold to Spain and along with stallion Ursus, imported later on, has been placed in the pedigrees of the majority of Arabians bred over there. In 1913 famous Polish stallion Skowronek was imported into the Great Britain and in 1920 entered Lady Wentworth"s stud in Crabbet Park establishing the foundation of that breeding. 

The first sale to the USA took a place in 1937, when general Dickinson purchased 6 mares, including 4 from Janów Podlaski. Next year apart from general, who purchased another 5 horses himself, also new American breeder Mr Henry Babson came to Janów Podlaski and bought 5 horses as well.

The Second World War turned this promising beginning of the export sales to the USA in vain. In order to resume the sales abroad Poland has been waiting until 1958 when Mrs. Patricia Lindsay came over to Janów Podlaski. Out of 5 mares purchased by her Celina and Karramba, within a short time, have been awarded champion titles during shows in England. Ms Lindsay, fascinated with the Polish breeding, learned Polish and became a frequent visitor in Poland. Both her visits and the fame of the horses she bought resulted in 

1960 in a trip of a group of the clients from the USA who bought 8 horses.

The dynamic sale development has been seen when only next year 16 horses were sold to the USA, while 43 in 1963. Increased interest in the Polish breeding all over the world, proven by the great number of visitors present during the celebration of the 150-year anniversary of Janów Podlaski Stud, as well as the sale of imported formerly from Poland stallion Nabor, during the auction in the USA for 150.000 dollars, a record price at that time, caused the decision of selling the horses from the Polish state studs, starting from 1970 exclusively during the auction in Janów Podlaski. This policy resulted in increasing the number of horses being sold and in rising the prices. In 1970 Mr. Denis Sculli from the USA paid 30.000 dollars for stallion Bajdak, while in 1976 mare Saletra was sold to Mrs. Eleanor Romney from the USA for 61.000 dollars.

In 1977 the auction was conducted along with the celebration of the 160-year anniversary of Janów Podlaski Stud, and the income from the sale passed the level of a 1million dollars for the first time. Grey mare Carawella, which Mr. Leonard Skeggs from the USA paid 153.000 dollars for, became the star of the auction. Stallion Engano obtained 75.000 dollars, while chestnut stallion Eros, sold for 31.000 dollars, was awarded the Vice-Champion of the USA title a year later. 

In 1978 Mr. Starting from 1979 due to the decision of the organizers of the auction and the breeders, the event is being preceded by the Polish National Arabian Horse Show. The same year the new design has been established by introducing a great tent, which could secure enough space not only for all the foreign guests but also for the Polish audience.Alec Courtelis from the USA, who made his first visit to Janów Podlaski, purchased the daughter of stallion El Paso, a grey mare Dacja for 90.000 dollars. The highest price among the stallions obtained Czeremosz i.e. 50.000 dollars paid be Mr. Norman Sauey from the USA, and in 1981 was awarded the Vice-Champion of the USA title.

In 1980 auction in Janów Podlaski gained its international brand Polish Prestige in order to stress on the importance and the scale of the biggest Purebred Arabian horses auction in Europe and one of the biggest ones all over the world.

Starting the same year the division into the open auction and the silent sale i.e. the written form offers tender for each horse on the list, has been introduced. This new system allowed the horses being in training at the Warsaw racetrack to be included in the sale without interrupting its training program and moving all those horses to Janów Podlaski. That year during an open auction Mr. David Murdock from the USA bought mare Persja from Michałów for 185.000 dollars, while Mr. Frank Smothers from the USA purchased mare Elita from Janów Podlaski for 167.000 dollars. The third price in row obtained mare Wena from Michałów being sold for 101.000 dollars.

In 1981 the Sale catalogue received its beautiful, modern layout by courtesy of US Arabian Horse Journal, illustrated by the pictures of two outstanding Polish photographers: Mr Marian Gadzalski and Mrs Zofia Raczkowska.

The beginning of the Sale thrilled the audience with extraordinary information. The auctioneer announced the sale of bay stallion El Paso for the record and not matched ever after price of one million dollars paid by famous American businessman, Armand Hammer. El Paso won US Championships during his stay in America on the leasing contract in 1976-1978. The Lasma Arabians Stud owned by Dr Eugene LaCroix paid 138 thousand dollars on the score of this contract.

In the next year the sale began with the presentation of outstanding son of Negatiw out of legendary Bandola, who was Bandos. David Murdock purchased him for 806 thousand dollars for Ventura Farms. Very interesting situation occurred in 1983. Stallion Deficyt from Michałów Stud offered at Silent Sale after fierce auction received price of 609 thousand dollars paid together by two bidders from USA: Richard Patterson and Leonard Skeggs.It was the top price of Silent Sale up to date and one of the highest prices paid for Polish horse at Janów Podlaski Sale ever. 

In the last few years the record prices were paid for stallions exclusively.
The Champion of England and very well proved in Polish Studs sire Banat was the finest attraction of the sale in 1984. Dr Eugene LaCroix paid 525 thousand dollars for this horse. 

In February 1985 Polish Studs in co-operation with American company Lasma Arabians realized unparalleled project of Polish sale in Scottsdale, Arizona selling 18 mares brought to USA for total 11 million dollars. The average price paid at Polish Ovation Sale achieved the level of 565 thousand dollars, while the two top mares were sold for 2,7 million dollars: grey Penicylina from Janów Podlaski Stud to David Murdock for one and a half million and chestnut Diana from Michałów to John Palafito for 1,2 million.

Born in Saudi Arabia and based in United States, Abdul Wahed Al Saihati, purchased two bay stallions: Algierczyk for 310 thousand dollars in 1985 and Aloes for 395 thousand dollars in 1987. In both cases the purchase followed a very impulsively auction with Dick Patterson, who was the main adversary. In the meantime, in 1986 Mr. and Mrs. John and Peggy Yates from USA bought grey stallion Haracz for 385 thousand dollars. 

During the next 10 years prices at Janów Sale haven"t approached the past records. In 1990 it was the last time of the maximum excitement, when the European and World Champion Mare Pilarka appeared in the Sale ring. The owner of Milfield Stables, Mr Paolo Gucci, purchased Lot 1 Pilarka for 215 thousand dollars.

In 1991-96 only once the star of Janów Sale achieved the purchase price of 100 thousand dollars. It happened in 1994, when Mrs. Shirley Watts was ready to pay this price for Janów bred Palba. Since 1996 private company Polish Prestige, originning from the past Animex team, has held the responsibility for organisation and promotion of the Sale. The turnover increase to up the level not recorded for 10 years was the fruit of five years co-operation between the State Studs and Polish Prestige Ltd. The most spectacular successes were selling of two stars of Warsaw Racecourse to Turkish Jockey Club: grey Batyskaf for 450 thousand dollars in 1997 and chestnut Druid for 500 thousand dollars in 1999. 

Mrs Shirley Watts from England was the most loyal and the most generously purchaser of those times paying for mares Emilda in 1998 and Euza and Alejka in 2000 prices of 200, 110 and 100 hundred thousand dollars respectively.

The Millennium Sale in 2000 was the last one of the Polish Prestige mark. In 2001 both the event name was changed and the organization turned over to the new people. Polish Arabian Horse Days covering the Janów Sale and Polish National Arabian Horse Show are organized by two private companies: Polturf and Dreadlines Ltd. For the new Millennium the world"s longest tradition Sale was named proudly Pride of Poland. The new mark brought luck to the State Studs and to the new organizers in their first year of activity. The highest price mare Lot 1 Egna was sold to Mrs Shirley Watts for 120 thousand dollars, while the average price paid for the mares achieved the record level of 38 thousand dollars.

Descriptions of past PRIDE OF POLAND auctions:

32nd PRIDE OF POLAND SALE - August 11th, 2001

33rd PRIDE OF POLAND SALE - August 11th, 2002

34th PRIDE OF POLAND SALE - August 10th, 2003

35th PRIDE OF POLAND SALE - August 15th, 2004

36th PRIDE OF POLAND SALE - August 14th, 2005

37th PRIDE OF POLAND SALE - August 13th, 2006

38th PRIDE OF POLAND SALE - August 12th, 2007

Junior Spring Show Male Reserve Champions
& Polish National Reserve Champion Colts:

 Polish National Reserve Champion Colts: