A Walk with Trela,

by Jeffrey Wintersteen

At 5:45 a.m. the Janów Podlaski’s streets are empty as I take a left at the church across from the small main square, then veering left again onto Aleja Andrezeja Krzyształowicza towards the stud. I am driving a little faster than I should, but tardiness is simply not possible today. I have been on many morning rounds over the years at Janów, but this one is special. I never thought I would have the privilege again after the political winds shifted in February 2016. That winter Arabian Horse Breeding Inspector and Coordinator Anna Stojanowska, Michałów Director Jerzy Białobok and Janów Director Marek Trela were dismissed from their posts causing an outcry of injustice in our small Arabian horse world, Poland herself, and for a brief moment, the rest of the world. For me, like many of my Polish and non-Polish friends, it was disaster. I had worked in one capacity or another beginning with Polish Prestige in 1999 and later its successor Pride of Poland. I was shocked that this was suddenly over, and feared what would become of the state studs. This spring, the political winds shifted again, and with it something we hadn’t felt for almost a decade, hope.

I first met Marek Trela in June 1995 during my family’s first visit to Poland. I have vivid memories of my parents  sitting with Trela as Pepton (Bandos x Pemba by Czort), the first horse presented to us in Poland, was brought out. As we waited for the next horse, Trela gave us a history lesson of the German occupation of Janów during WWII. Many trips later, my relationship with Trela has grown closer over the past three decades. That said, addressing him as Marek has never been as comfortable for me as Director Trela.

I park and walk briskly towards Privat Stanjia 1. A few of my Slovenian friends have also arrived, but we must continue moving as we exchange our good mornings. We pass a couple of race fillies that are coming back from the track, but we cannot spare the time to inspect them closer. 

We enter the stable at six a.m. on the dot. It is already alive with the bustle of morning chores by the grooms, with the mares and foals munching contentedly on their grain and hay. Veronika Sosnowska, the newly minted breeding manager, tilts her head with a slight smile, “You are on time.” I am not sure if she is noting her surprise, our just acknowledging our accomplishment. As for Trela, he just nods and begins down the aisle. Technically, he is no longer Director, but serves as an official advisor to the stud. But as Veronika and the rest of us follow after, it is clear to everyone, both horse and human, who is in charge. 

It has been eight years since the breeding decisions were his to make, something that he alludes to, pointing to one of the foals’ sire on the nameplate. “He would not have been my choice. Some traits you put in your herd, you can never get them out,” he says. It is the reason we are here, these pearls of wisdom that will be dispensed matter of factly over the next hour as we stroll through the barns. 

I ask about the Chilean bred HL El Ganador (HP Shakir TE x Lonco Baby Maria by HP Emir), Janów had five foals by him last season, some of them excellent. “There are some nice foals by him,” he explains, “but his pedigree scares me, I don’t know those horses.” 

There is a generation of horses that I have never seen before because of my absence. I get the sense, Trela, only back in this role since April, is still getting to know some of them as well. The 2016 Pogrom daughter Etruzja (out of Eteryka by Poganin) is one. She is an elegant bay with large dark eyes, epitomizing a classic Janów Kuhailan. But this pedigree Trela knows inside and out, having bred both sire and dam. Trela brightens discernibly at her stall, “the Pogrom daughters are very good and even better producers.” 

During these morning rounds, every horse on the stud will be seen in a little over an hour. We leave the Privat stables where a majority of the mares and foals are housed and walk over to the iconic Zegrowa stable, or clock tower. The Wielka Polska horses that drive the carriages are stalled here. They are enormous, and look even more so in their little boxes. That said, their quality is unmistakable. 

From there we walk to the traditional stallion stable of Czołowa, where I am surprised to see a yearling looking small in the first stall. It is the colt Comoros (out of Cedora by Kahil Al Shaqab), one of the successes by stallion HL El Ganador. When Trela is asked if he really thinks he will be kept as a stallion, he responds “I do, he is the best colt we have had in a while.” 

Another surprise was 30 year old Ganges in the last stall. “It is a secret,” Veronika explains, “he will be given the WAHO Trophy tomorrow, we want it to be a great surprise for everyone.” As to why he was stalled here, her response is simple.  “This horse deserves more than the temporary stall of the other Michałów horses.”

The stable next to Czołowa is Wyscigowa. Wyscigowa Stanjia translates to racing stable. During Trela’s previous tenure, when he wanted to start training Janów’s racehorses at the stud, Wyscigowa was the logical choice to put them. They still remain here, but fewer horses are in training than Trela would like. He explains they need to hire more exercise riders. Despite few in training and it is still early in the summer race meet, they already have some success with Wogit (Morion x Wiga) winning the Ganges Stakes. It is the bay colt’s second victory of the summer. 

The opposite end of the large Wyscigowa houses Anglo/Arabians and more Arabian mares with foals. Trela points to the stalls that kept Janów greats Bandola (Witraz x Balalajka) and Ellora (Witraz x Elza) as we enter. Janów is known for their Arabians, but they also breed excellent Anglos. A horse bred by Janów won Gold at the Olympics in Moscow in 1980. Another of that dam family competed in the Olympics in Atlanta but was disqualified. “They went the wrong way around a tree,” explains Trela. “Can you imagine going all that way and losing out because you took a two-meter shortcut?” he says with a chuckle. Trela then points out the Anglo mare Cypressa, saying “she represents the 25th generation at Janów Podlaski, her damline tracing back to the founding of the stud in 1817.” 

From Wyscigowa, we head to the stallion stables at the east end of the stud. One of the modifications Trela did during his tenure is the renovation of this building that the Germans had turned into apartments during the occupation. Two wings of stallion stables and reproductive lab was built, but, most importantly, paddocks so the stallions could spend their days outside, rather than just going on the walker as they did previously. When we arrive at Pogrom’s stall, Trela opens it and waits for him to come over. It is the only horse he has touched during these morning rounds. To prod his thoughts I note that Pogrom’s sire QR Marc could be considered the most successful outside sire used in Poland, having only a handful of foals but with multiple World and International Championships to his credit. “I think you might be right,” says Trela, “we only have a few here, but all of them good.” Then he turns his attention specifically to the bay in front of him. “Pogrom has some good daughters here and they are good producers.” It is the second time he has mentioned this, noticeable for a man that chooses his words carefully. “But, I still don’t think Pogrom was used correctly. Maybe the best is still to come for him.”

In the other wing of the stable is Alert (Piaff x Andaluzja by Sanadik El Shaklan) and the 24-year-old Salar (Ecaho x Saba by Etat). Both were used this spring, and for Salar, he is getting a last chance. “We chose some very good mares for him,” states Trela, “it makes no sense to give him something average.” Trela laments the lack of good bodies and sound structure found in the modern show horse. It is clear, after the last eight years, he is trying to reinvigorate this into his herd. There is no magic wand or sire that can right almost a decade of poor choices. He is going back to what he knows. 

In the next stable there are yearlings tied up and grouped by sire: Picasso Di Mar (Cavalli x SG Wendetta by Psyrasic), KA Nabras (Shanghai EA x AJ Nazwa by Al Ayal AA), WH Jahez (Jiuliusz De Wiec x Chili Pepper V by Jullyen El Jamaal) and Janów bred Prometeusz (FA El Shawan x Pianissima by Gazal Al Shaqab). It is an excellent way to assess how each sire worked with the Janów mares. As we leave the stable, Trela glances at a couple by the same sire, says simply, “disaster.” It is Trela’s not so subtle way of saying this breeding would not be repeated. 

And in the blink of an eye, an hour and twenty minutes is gone. The Slovenians and I say our goodbyes and rush back to grab breakfast and a shower to be ready for the show later this morning. I am conflicted with emotions as I drive back: the gratitude to be able to walk the stables again with this man, and overwhelmed by the daunting task facing Trela and his protege Veronika. But I am heartened by the fact they clearly have a plan, and hope the political winds will be steady to give them the time they need.