The goal of the event – held alongside the annual Cichon stallion show, and the stallion show organized by the Silesian branch of the Polish Association of Horse Breeders – was to empower the local breeders with the knowledge of foreign experts. Also to offer advice to breeders of local mares which bloodlines and stallions would be the most suitable match for them. Those case studies were among the highlights of the very busy day in Radzionkow, yet let us start from the very beginning.

One of the most interesting speakers of the conference was Eva Möller from Helgstrand Dressage, Germany – a very knowledgeable and awarded German dressage rider, and last year’s bronze medallist at the World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in the five-year-old age group. As a rider with 40 years experience, having ridden some 2,500 horses – including auction and Grand Prix horses – Möller talked about riders’ expectations in terms of a ‘modern’ dressage horse. “The horse I would like to ride should of course have super gaits, be of a nice type, and healthy and sound in the stable. A horse from a good childhood, and well fed as a foal. But the most important thing is that this horse should be willing to learn and have a positive attitiude to work. This is my answer to the question ‘how to breed success’,” she said. “Horses come in different shapes, but the crucial factor is their natural talent. Nowadays, there are more horses with talent and attitude, so we as riders have the responsibility to get the best out of them.”

Möller also duscussed the horses she’s competed with in international dressage arenas, including a very elegant mare, Candy OLD (Sir Donnerhal x Fürst Heinrich) with whom she won bronze last year in Ermelo. In response to the question ‘which bloodlines are her most or least favourite, she said, “You don’t breed by name, you breed by match”...

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