The National Stud Farm in Topoľčianky is known as being one of the most important breeding centers in all of Europe. It is the national center for the breeding and cultivation of horses in Slovakia. It has been approved as a center for recording the breeding books of the Lippizaner, Hucul and Arabian breeds. The center maintains the central records of horses in Slovakia and is the only institution allowed to issue certificates on the provenance of all accepted horse breeds in Slovakia. The National Stud Farm is an active member of all major European and international breeding organizations.
The creation of Czechoslovakia was an historic milestone for horse breeding in Slovakia. As one of the successor states of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Czechoslovakia claimed and received a certain part of the monarchy's cultural heritage in the form of thoroughbred horses. The Czechoslovak Ministry of Agriculture evaluated the local soil, climatic and wind conditions of the region and on October 15, 1921 the Topoľčianky State Stud Farm was established. Its purpose was to breed and produce for the domestic market breeding stallions of the Arabian, Lippizan, Nonius, English Half-blood and Hucul breeds.
After its establishment, the stud farm took over the formerly Habsburg properties of the riding school building, which was the center for horse breeding. Gradually other buildings for breeding were added - Breziny, Rybník, Krásny majer and Hostie. Thanks to the devotion of horse lovers breeding at the stud farm has been maintained until today and in March of 2001 the stud farm celebrated the birth of its seven thousandth foal, an Arabian thoroughbred mare. She was named Snežienka.
The founding of the stud farm was a truly wonderful idea thanks to which horse lovers and breeders got their chance. And they didn't waste it. Today the stud farm is not only a cultural treasure in Slovakia, but also a European rarity. No other city on the old continent has a place for the cultivation of for different breeds of horses the way they do in Topoľčianky.
Ing. Michal Horný, PhD.
Director The National Stud Farm in Topoľčianky