Pride of Poland horse sale draws movers and shakers

Eyrene at the Pride of Poland horse sale: photo - PAP/Wojciech Pacewicz

Star of the auction of Arabian horses was eight-year-old mare Eyrene, who was snapped up by a buyer from the United Arab Emirates for the sum of 440,000 euro (about 1.79 million zloty).

Eyrene was followed by nine-year old mare Etnologia (Ethnology), in this instance bought by Shirley Watts, wife of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie.

The couple are regulars at the auction, and Mrs Watts purchased the grey mare for 370,000 euros (about 1.5 million euro).

All in all, some 19 mares were sold this year, bringing the overall tally to 1.325 million euro (about 5.4 million zloty).

Nine horses were withdrawn from the auction after bids failed to meet the expectations of the sellers.

The biggest sale to date at the auction occurred in 2008, when a buyer from the United Arab Emirates forked out 1.125 million euro (about 4.58 million zloty) for a horse named Kwestura.

The vast majority of the horses sold this weekend came from the state-owned studs of Janow Podlaski, Michalow and Bialka.

A stud has existed at Janow since 1817, and despite the ravages of wars, it has endured as one of the the most highly regarded on the international scene.

This weekend's auction followed the 34rd National Arabian Horse Show at the stables. (nh)