The largest agricultural fair in Slovakia, AGROKOMPLEX, celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. During the exhibition, from September 3 to 7, 2025, the Topoľčianky National Stud enriched the accompanying program of the exhibition with its performances.

On September 13-14, 2025, dressage competitions were once again held in the National Stud Farm in Topoľčianky, which which also the Slovak Republic Dressage Championships. This time, categories for young horses and seniors were announced. Based on the qualification criteria met by the rider-horse pairs, all categories were opened except for 7-year-old horses, where the minimum number of participants was not met.

MSR

Saturday and Sunday were primarily marked by a two-round battle for the championship titles. In the category of 4-year-old horses, the gold medal with a significant lead was won by Tatiana Gombarčíková with the mare Raheeli Marbella from JK Kubiš Trnava. Silver was claimed by local rider Michaela Horná on the horse Bella Grande, and bronze went to Monika Černáčeková on the horse Total Present from JK Equiteam Most near Bratislava. Among 5-6-year-old horses, the championship title was won by the duo Milan Kuhajda and Destina from JK Jurský dvor Nitra, as was the silver, but this time with the horse Galleria's Destano's Dream Come True. The bronze medal was awarded to Silvia Záhorská with the mare Pastorale from JK Scarlett Šamorín.

The second round of the senior category is very attractive to spectators. It is a freestyle performance to music at level T. This year, 7 rider-horse pairs qualified and started in the first round. After adding the results from both rounds, the clear winner and thus the Slovak Champion was Zoja Ledecká on the horse Django from JK Balunky Bratislava.The silver was taken by Milan Kuhajda with the horse Ariston ER from JK Jurský dvor Nitra, and the bronze medal was won by Michaela Balážová and Marengo from JK Polet Trebostovo.

We congratulate all the winners and those who placed, and wish them much sporting success in the future.

Autor text, foto: NŽT

On August 23, 2025, during the dressage competitions - Pony Riders Championships, the National Stud Farm Topoľčianky was visited by the State Secretary for Research, Development, Youth, and Inclusion, Ing. Ján Hrinko, PhD.

Accompanied by the stud farm director, Ing. Samuel Sokol, he toured the historic stables and the five horse breeds bred in Topoľčianky.

On August 13-14, 2025, the Slovak Pony Rider Dressage Championships took place at the premises of the National Stud Farm in Topoľčianky. Two categories were announced: Pony Riders Children and Pony Riders Juniors. Both categories were well represented based on meeting the qualification criteria.
The event schedule included open competitions at levels from Z to T, including tests for pony riders and young horses.

On August 16, 2025, the Topoľčianky National Stud became part of a spectacular gala program of a night show at the Hungarian Szilvásvárad Stud. The main theme was the historical development of the Lipizzaner breed from its beginnings to the present day.

On August 2, 2025, grand celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Tlumačov State Stud took place at the Bahňák racecourse. The Topoľčianky National Stud and its Classical Topoľčianky School were invited to participate in the rich gala program.

On 20.7.2025, the 11th race day in Slovakia took place at the Topoľčianky hippodrome. The program included five flat races, one hurdle race, the Great Topoľčianky steeplechase, and two heats of the premium trotter races. Pleasant summer weather attracted a large audience to Topoľčianky, creating a fantastic atmosphere.

As part of the discussion symposium "Topoľčianky Forum," held on June 10, 2025, the Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár and the Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský visited the National Stud Farm Topoľčianky.

On May 31, 2025, the director of the National Stud Farm, Ing. Samuel Sokol, and the director of the Secondary Vocational School of Horse Breeding and Services in Šaľa, Ing. Lívia Szabóová, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. This project is a continuation of the already initiated cooperation, aimed at connecting theoretical knowledge with practical experience. It is an essential component needed to improve the professional training of students. We believe it will open new opportunities, raise the standards of education in the field of horse breeding, and at the same time contribute to the popularization of the study program.

Right in the opening contest of the rainy Topoľčany meeting, spectators could applaud the success of the local colors of NŽ Topoľčianky and the first triumph of Jaroslav Línek. The most experienced Slovak jockey did not hesitate in the Machulince Municipality Prize (V. cat., 1250 m, €1600) and guided Peter Kubík’s trainee VIVA FRITZ to the finish six lengths ahead of the rest of the field.

On the last weekend of May, the first of this year's sports events took place in the grounds of the National Stud - the May Prize show jumping of the Topoľčianky National Stud. More than 100 riding pairs from all over Slovakia and the Czech Republic came to test their strength, which resulted in almost 300 starts. Competitions were announced from the ZM level to S - 130 cm. As part of this event, one of the qualifying rounds of the Young Horse Criteria, which is covered by the Association of Horse Breeders in Slovakia, was held. The rich audience backdrop made the atmosphere of the entire event pleasant.

Evaluation Committee

• Ing. Péter Görözdi – poverený predseda
• Ing. Eugen Feherváry
• Ing. Vladimír Šmelko
• MVDr. Štefan Karahuta - ospravedlnený
• MVDr. Marián Pavľak - ospravedlnený
• Prof. Ing. Marko Halo, PhD.
• doc. Ing. Eva Mlyneková, PhD.
• Ing. Kamil Šulko
• Ing. Michal Urban
• MVDr. Viktor Tábiš

This year's Open Day, traditionally held every May 1st, celebrated its 25th anniversary. Pleasant spring weather combined with the prospect of a day full of experiences attracted more than 15,000 visitors to Topoľčianky.

9:00 a.m.    Performance tests: evaluation of type, conformation, rideability (dressage)

11:15 a.m.  Performance tests: marathon, dressage test, driving course.

1:30 p.m.    Evaluation and recording of performance tests.

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).