On March 29, 2025, the breeding seminar was held again in the National Stud Farm. Its focus is primarily dedicated to horse breeders, but everyone who is interested can participate. This year, almost thirty interested parties came. In addition to many breeders, teachers from the Šaľa Secondary School of Horse Breeding and Services, representatives of the hippology department of the Bratislava Police Force, representatives of the Košice Zoo and the Nitra RVPS came.

In the breeding season 2024  wrote The National Stud Farm “Topoľčianky” š.p. wrote to the breeding books, such as a gestor of traditional breeds of Shagya-Arabian horses, a Hucul horses, Lipican and Arabian thoroughbred, 54 born foals (Table 1). Of it:

16 Shagya-Arabian foals

19 Arabian thoroughbred foals

10 foals of lipican horses

9   foals of the Hucul horse

Number of registered foals in 2024 were stabilized compared to 2023.

Table: 1

Numbers of registered foals according to breeds in individual years

Table: 2

Number of breeding mares entered in the breeding books in the private sector in the years 2022-2024

Table: 3

Number of imported Arabian thoroughbred horses in the years 2020 - 2024

Table: 4

Newly registered horses of gene resources in studbooks in 2024

We must state that in the private breeding, there are largely no performance tests for mares. The mares in the private breeding were classified based on the evaluation of type, exterior and movement mechanics. In 2024, 24 breeding mares were entered in the breeding stud books (Table 4).

On June 6, 2024, performance tests and pre-selection of stallions were held at the National Stud Farm. 2 Hucu mares, 3 Lipizzaner mares and 3 Shagya-Arabian mares owned by the National Stud Farm passed the performance tests. 2 stallions owned by the National Stud Farm (Lipizzaner and Hucul horse), one Shagya-Arabian stallion, one stallion of the Arabian Thoroughbred breed (both owned by private breeders) participated in the pre-selection.

On October 24, 2024, performance tests and pre-selection of stallions were held at the National Stud Farm. The performance tests were completed by 2 Lipizzaner stallions, 2 stallions of the Hucul horse owned by the Topoľčianky Stud Farm, one Shagya-Arabian stallion and one stallion of the Arabian Thoroughbred owned by private owners. The pre-selection was attended by 2 Shagya-Arabian stallions (both owned by private owners).

In connection with the support of horse breeding through the "Rural Development Plan", breeders of traditional breeds requested the National Stud Farm to issue a certificate of registration of horses in the PK. The National Stud Farm "Topoľčianky", a state-owned company, complied with all requests and in 2024 73 certificates were issued for breeders involved in the project.

In 2024, the Stud Book Office confirmed 56 changes of owners, issued 126 certificates of origin of horses, issued 112 passports, 25 zootechnical certificates and, together with the chairman of the Selection Commission, confirmed the selection for breeding of 33 stallions in the private breeding. As of December 31, 2023, the Stud Book Office registered 968 horse breeders and owners and 2 916 actively living horses.

Table: 5

Number of registered horses and breeders - of the National Stud Farm “Topoľčianky“ š.p. in 2024 (as of 31.12.2024)

 Breeding stallions

In 2024, 33 breeding stallions were licensed and registered in the private breeding, of which:  

8   Shagya-Arabian stallions

18 Arabian thoroughbred stallions

2   Lipizzan stallions

5   Hucul horse stallions

The situation in the number of breeding stallions in private breeds is still favorable in terms of quality, age structure, geographical distribution of stallions and their line representation. The number of registered stallions in the 2024 season is stabilized.

In conclusion, it can be stated that the interest of breeders in traditional breeds and gene reserves is the same. The level of breeding material is balanced. The goal of breeders remains the production of high-quality and healthy breeding, sports, or recreational and "hobby" horses for everyday use, the development of agrotourism, the development of regional tourism and the building of a positive ralationship between young people towards nature.

The Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra and the National Stud Farm Topoľčianky will cooperate in the field of education, science and research, engineering counseling, designing scientific research and development projects, as well as promoting mutual cooperation.

February 28th marks the 20th anniversary of the death of the exceptional racing mare ARVA (Scottish Rifle – Arnika).Ryška, born in 1985 in Napajedlá, was the biggest star of the Topolčany racing stable.She was trained by trainer František Vítek.During her career, she started in 12 races, of which she won 10 and placed 2nd twice.The three-year-old won four classic races – the Grand Spring Prix, the Czechoslovak Derby, the Oaks and the Saint Legér and won the “Triple Crown”.

The National Stud Farm's event calendar is once again full of the breeding, sporting and social events.

At the end of March, we will welcome breeders and horse enthusiasts to the Breeding Seminar, which will include the presentation of stud stallions for the new breeding season. Other breeding events will continue throughout the year.

This year's breeding season at the National Stud Farm began on January 15. On this date, the first foal was born at the Rybník breeding facility. It is the noble stallion Tobrok IV-17. The foal's mother is the breeding Shagya-Arabian mare 826 O'Bajan V-4 (Kadisza Mloda family, founded in 1902) and the father is the thoroughbred Arabian stallion - Tobrok IV (Uzaar).

Based on the provisions of Section 19a of Act No. 111/1990 Coll. on State Enterprises, as amended, we announce the results of the selection procedure for the position of Director of the National Stud Farm "Topoľčianky", a state-owned company, which was held on January 8, 2025.

This year the little ones did not miss the arrival of St. Nicholas at the National Stud Farm in Topoľčianky. As is tradition, it was preceded by a rich accompanying program. However, the biggest attraction for the audience was the fairy tale story in the magical atmosphere of the upcoming Christmas holidays.

On the occasion of the meeting of the Government on November 27, 2024 in Topoľčianky, the director of the National Stud Farm Topoľčianky Samuel Sokol welcomed the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic Richard Takáč, the State Secretary of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic for the Recovery Plan and Knowledge Economy Alena Sabelová, and the State Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic Filip Kuffa. The rare visit toured the stud farm and all 5 bred horse breeds. As part of the short program, the riders demonstrated mirror riding pas de deux and demonstrations of exercises from the Classical Topoľčianky School.

 This year, the breeders at the National Stud Farm Topoľčianky commemorated an exceptional jubilee. On July 21, 2024, a sturdy Lipizzaner stallion was born at the Hostie stud farm. That would not be anything extraordinary, but this stallion is the 9,000th foal born in the 103-year history of the National Stud Farm. Conversano XVII-9 was born out of the dam 775 Sotéria by Favory XII Allegra (from the Stornela family). This elite broodmare has already bred 10 foals and her daughter Salencia is also active in the stud farm. The stallion's father is the bay stallion, Conversano XVII Grandéza, who, after the performance tests he completed in 2018 in the Elite class, was included in the sports testing in dressage.

On October 24, 2024, stallion performance tests were held at the National Stud Farm: 2 Lipizzaner stallions, 2 Hucul stallions and 1 Shagya-Arabian stallion owned by the National Stud Farm “Topoľčianky“ š.p., one Shagya-Arabian stallion and one Arabian thoroughbred stallion owned by a private breeder.

Every year, the National Stud Farm and the Slovak Equestrian Federation end the sports and breeding season with a festive Hubert's Ride. This year's participants were accompanied by truly beautiful sunny weather with pleasant temperatures and a romantic palette of autumn colors.

The Selection Committee for Horse Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as the "MPRV SR") held the autumn horse breeding evaluation at the "Topoľčianky" stud farm on October 16-17, 2024.

On October 17, 2024, the President of the Slovak Republic, Peter Pellegrini, visited the Nitra Self-Governing Region. He concluded his regional trip with a visit to the National Stud Farm in Topoľčianky, continuing the tradition established by the first Czechoslovak president, T.G. Masaryk, when each of the former Czechoslovak and Slovak presidents visited the National Stud Farm.

On September 7-8, 2024, the second part of the Slovak Dressage Championships took place at the Topoľčianky National Stud Farm. This time, categories were announced for young horses, pony riders and seniors. Based on the fulfilled qualification criteria of the riding pairs, all categories were opened except for 7-year-old horses, where the minimum number of participants was not met.

On August 31st, almost all vaulting clubs from Slovakia gathered again in the National Stud Farm. The reason was the penultimate round of the Slovak national ranking Slovak Vaulting Cup 2024. For all trainers, lungers and their horses, it was an opportunity to improve their previous scores in their category. Almost 50 individuals, 3 pairs and 3 groups performed here. The performances were truly fantastic, there was something to watch....

On August 10-11, 2024, the Slovak Dressage Championship was held at the Topoľčianky National Stud Farm. Of the four announced categories, three were opened based on the fulfilment of the qualification criteria for the riding pairs - the children's category, younger juniors and older juniors. Unfortunately, the young rider category did not open due to the lack of the minimum number of participants.

On July 21, 2024, popular horse races were held again in Topoľčianky. It was the eleventh horse race day in Slovakia this year and the second in Topoľčianky. The pleasant summer weather attracted more than 2,000 fans of this adrenaline-fueled equestrian discipline.

On July 6-7, 2024, the first of three planned dressage events took place at the National Stud Farm. Competitions were held at levels from "Z" to "T", including tasks for young horses.

As part of the first foreign visit at the level of agricultural ministers today, July 1, 2024, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, Richard Takáč, welcomed the Minister of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, Marek Výborný. The topics of the joint talks were mainly the common agricultural policy, imports of agricultural commodities from Ukraine, problems with large carnivores and deforestation.