From 16th to 19th July, Klub Jeździecki Michałow im. 1 Pułku Strzelców Konnych, supported by the Michałów State Stud and the National Centre for Agricultural Support, organised: the first ever European Championships for Arabian Sport Horses in Michałów (Poland had previously hosted the European Championships in 2014–2015, when they were held at the Janów Podlaski Stud). It also marked the 17th edition (since 2015, with the exception of 2018 when the Polish Championships were not held) of the Polish Championships.
A total of 76 pairs from six European countries – Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and a strong Polish contingent – entered this year’s event.
The competition was judged by a panel comprising: Wacław Pruchniewicz, Łukasz Wituchowski and Waltraud Gruber (classic disciplines) and Johanna Vorraber, Barbara Hengge and Alicja Poszepczyńska (pleasure and western disciplines). In the Type & Conformation competition, alongside Alicja Poszepczyńska, the horses were judged by Emma Maxwell, the newly elected head of the ECAHO Sports Committee (EAHSpC). Stanisław Helak was the designer of the show jumping course.
Thanks to the tremendous efforts of the equestrian club’s team, led by Chairwoman Marta Jaros and supported by the Company’s staff, 51 classes were held over four days across various disciplines: dressage, show jumping, Western Pleasure, Trail, Reining, Classic Pleasure, Hunter Pleasure, Ranch Riding, Traditional Arabian Riding (Classic & Western), Ladies Side Saddle (Classic & Western), across three levels of difficulty.
Thursday’s programme was filled with Novice – level competitions, designed for young horses and riders gaining experience. On that day, the biggest triumphs were achieved by the pair WITAR and Agnieszka Romszycka, who won the D-5 dressage class and the Classic Pleasure class, and ALLORA with Marianne Essinger, representing Austria, who won the Traditional Arabian Riding Western and Trail in Hand classes.
Friday was the day on which the competitions took place as part of the 17th Polish Championships for Arabian Sport Horses, which determined the medallists in the various events:
TRAIL IN HAND:
EDINET (Włodarz – Ellila / Wachlarz) and Amelia Wiącek
ECHISTKA (Ganges – Echala / DA Adios) and Marta Kulczyńska
WITAR (Tresor Enzino – Witalia / Vitorio TO) and Agnieszka Romszycka
SKOKI PRZEZ PRZESZKODY (95 cm):
NURMI (Pougatin Kossack – Nambi / Biquest) and Kinga Orłowska, result 0 / 60,46
WEBISTA (Perseusz – Webera / Porto) and Karolina Hernik – Jasik, result 0 / 60,84
ALTI (Pomian – Anima / Ekstern) and Aleksandra Kozioł, result 4 / 56,03
UJEŻDŻENIE (N-2):
CHICAGO (Wortex Kalliste – Calatea / Ekstern) and Katarzyna Stawiska – Semeryło z wynikiem 60,72%
HIRO (El – Jad – Hiuma PS / HK Krystall) and Agnieszka Helbik – Kuśmierz, , result 59,94%
EL DINO (Ararat – Eutina / Eutin) and Monica Migliorino, , result 59,33%
CLASSIC PLEASURE:
EL DINO (Ararat – Eutina / Eutin) and Monica Migliorino
CHICAGO (Wortex Kalliste – Calatea / Ekstern) and Katarzyna Stawiska – Semeryło
HIRO (El – Jad – Hiuma PS / HK Krystall) and Agnieszka Helbik – Kuśmierz
LADIES SIDE SADDLE:
ELMIR (Barbarossa – Elope / Ecaho) and Danuta Konończuk
HIRO (El – Jad – Hiuma PS / HK Krystall) and Agnieszka Helbik – Kuśmierz
EL – SALEM (Piaff – El – Zachra / Machmut Nur) and Hanna Dziża
HUNTER PLAESURE:
PURYTANIN (Kabsztad – Pustynna Malwa / Ekstern) and Karolina Ziobro
CHICAGO (Wortex Kalliste – Calatea / Ekstern) and Katarzyna Stawiska – Semeryło
ALTI (Pomian – Anima / Ekstern) and Aleksandra Kozioł
POLSKI STRÓJ HISTORYCZNY:
HIRO (El – Jad – Hiuma PS / HK Krystall) and Agnieszka Helbik – Kuśmierz
ECHARON (Ontario HF – Echara / Wiliam) and Iwona Sternak
ELMIR (Barbarossa – Elope / Ecaho) and Danuta Konończuk
TRADITIONAL ARABIAN RIDING CLASSIC:
HIRO (El – Jad – Hiuma PS / HK Krystall) and Agnieszka Helbik – Kuśmierz
PURYTANIN (Kabsztad – Pustynna Malwa / Ekstern) and Karolina Ziobro
CHICAGO (Wortex Kalliste – Calatea / Ekstern) and Katarzyna Stawiska – Semeryło
At the same time, the winners of the international competitions were decided during Friday’s events.
Saturday’s competition served as a prelude to Sunday’s finals as part of the European Championships. In the 11 finals held, the national anthems of Austria and Belgium were played three times each, Germany’s twice, and those of Denmark, Sweden and Poland once each. The Belgian pair FA MONACO (M.M. Sergio – Princess Odessa / KAR Uranio Son) and Lotte Lenaerts won the most gold medals, triumphing in the dressage, Ladies Side Saddle and Hunter Pleasure classes, as well as being awarded the title of All-Around Champion Classic. In total, Lotte and FA MONACO won five medals for their country – three gold, a silver in the Traditional Arabian Riding Classic and a bronze in the Classic Pleasure.
Among the competitors from Austria, gold medals were won by: GFH ENIGMA (Baikal – Enaam / Ekstern) and Reinhard Hochreiter, who took gold twice in Ranch Riding and Reining, and GFH SAGUARO (Baikal – Sonora / Metropolis NA) and Lilly Huber in Traditional Arabian Riding Western.
For our neighbours from across the western border, gold medals were won by: GRAN TORINO (Kabsztad – Goltra / Alert), bred at Michałów, and Luca Dill in Western Pleasure, as well as ZAHIMS NAVII (Zid Ibn El Zahim – India / Saljut) and Martin Pauli in Trail Western, who were also the highest-placed pair in the All-Around Western.
Competitors from Denmark won one gold medal each: FA MOONSHADOW (Marajj – GF Kavadis / Katarac) and Helena Jodie Byrne in Classic Pleasure, and from Sweden: MACKENZIE (Carwyn – Miya / LM Limaal) and Beatrice Hagström Peterzon in the show jumping class, who completed the 120 cm course with one knockdown. The versatility of the pair Mackenzie and Beatrice is further demonstrated by the bronze medal they won in dressage, where they achieved an average score of 63.24% in the Prix St George’s test.
Poland’s only gold medal was won by the pair CHICAGO (Wortex Kalliste – Calatea / Ekstern) and Katarzyna Stawiska-Semeryło, who triumphed in the spectacular Traditional Arabian Riding Classic. The other medals for Poland were won by: WEBISTA (Perseusz – Webera / Porto) and Karolina Hernik-Jasik, who took silver in show jumping; PURYTANIN (Kabsztad – Pustynna Malwa / Ekstern) and Karolina Ziobro, who took bronze in Hunter Pleasure; HIRO (El – Jad – Hiuma PS / HK Krystall) and Agnieszka Helbik – Kuśmierz; and ELMIR (Barbarossa – Elope / Ecaho) and Danuta Konończuk, who took silver and bronze respectively in the Ladies’ Side Saddle event. Our sole competitor in the Western disciplines – Julia Steuer and MASSAD (Etnodrons Psyche – Milady / Wołyń) – concluded their participation in the European Championships with a silver medal in Trail Western.
Medal table for the European Championships
| GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE | TOTAL | |
| AUSTRIA | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| NIEMCY | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| POLSKA | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| BELGIA | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| DANIA | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| SZWECJA | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Walor (Aslan – Wyprawa / Etogram), bred by Leszek Sikora, was honoured with a special award; for the past 18 years, he has been Daria Klimecka’s best friend and sporting partner. The PZHKA Sports Committee awarded Walor the Special Prize for an Outstanding Sport Horse – in recognition of his exceptional achievements, sporting spirit and the place he occupies in the history of Polish Arabian horse sport.
Detailed results of the SMPKA and the European Championships can be found on the Arabian Essence platform:
https://www.arabianessence.tv/events/european-and-polish-ch-for-arabian-sport-horses-2026/1119/:
The Polish Championships and the European Championships would not have been complete without representatives from the Michałów Equestrian Club, who were prepared for their performances by Monika Słowik.
The organisers would like to express their sincere thanks for the support and assistance provided in organising the competitions to: the National Centre for Agricultural Support; Michałów Stud, ECAHO, the Polish Federation of Cattle Breeders and Milk Producers, the Polish Arabian Horse Breeders’ Association, Albidayer Stud, Al Wajba Stud, the ‘Morawski’ Feed Mill, the ‘BÓR’ Ornamental Tree and Shrub Nursery, and Polskie Składy Budowlane; the “WŁOSZCZOWA” Dairy Co-operative; AGRO Insurance; “DR. DUDA” Spa Cosmetics; SUEMPOL; HRS FEED by Blattin; and, above all, the members of the Michałów Equestrian Club and the volunteers who supported us with their hard work.