A horse for the Pope!
Gift from the Polish breeder Andrzej Michalski in honor of the Holy Father
October 16, 2025 at 5:43 PMBy s.wilhelm
With a white Arabian stallion, Pope Leo XIV has certainly received a very unique gift: "Proton" was presented to him by Andrzej Michalski, the founder of an Arabian stud farm in Kołobrzeg-Budzistów, Poland. The horse is intended to reflect both the symbolic meaning of the papal office and the values of love and the gesture of gratitude, as vaticannews.va reports.
Gestures of love and gratitude
The idea of giving the Pope such a horse arose after seeing a photo of Leo XIV on horseback in Peru. Michalski wanted to give him a gift that not only reflected the papal gown, but also a gesture of gratitude for the values of charity and solidarity that Pope Leo XIV emphasized in his apostolic letter "Dilexi te". The gift was presented during a ceremony before the Pope's general audience, where he was delighted with the gesture.
Michalski Stud Farm and its social projects
Andrzej Michalski's stud farm not only specializes in breeding Arabian horses but is also involved in social projects. One of the stud's main concerns is hippotherapy, an equine therapy that particularly benefits children with motor disabilities.
Related Articles
Two Barns at Tampa Bay Downs Quarantined Following Equine Herpesvirus Case
Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla., has placed two barns under quarantine after a horse tested positive for Equine Herpesvirus (EHV), according to an announcement released on the track’s official social media channels.The specific strain of the virus has not yet been confirmed.
OtherDecember 11, 2025
Your Ultimate Equestrian Christmas Gift Guide
The holiday season is here, and whether you're shopping for your horse, your barn bestie, or treating yourself (because let’s be honest—we all deserve it), we’ve wrapped up the ultimate equestrian gift guide for Christmas. From thoughtful stable essentials to rider must-haves, these ideas will bring joy to every horse lover in your life.
OtherDecember 4, 2025
Introducing: ClipMyHorse.TV Watchmas!
Introducing: ClipMyHorse.TV Watchmas! 🎄🐴This holiday season, we’re unwrapping something truly special for you.
OtherDecember 4, 2025
Latest News
Mark Bluman and Phelina de Septon Capture the 5* Winning Round in the Desert
Three is a lucky number for Colombian Mark Bluman. He and the 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Philina de Septon were the last to go in the jump-off and clocked in at 33.33 seconds to win the $62,500 1.50m FEI 5* Winning Round by BrainJava.Ireland's Conor Swail and the 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding Theo 160 finished second in the Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) class in Thermal, California.
Jumping13 hours agoCallie Schott and Garant Fly To a Win in the MLSJ Palm Springs Grand Prix
U.S. Rider Callie Schott and her partner Garant did not hold back in the jump-off at Desert International Horse Park. She and Garant were rewarded with the victory in the $340,000 1.60m FEI 5* Grand Prix by GoRentals in Thermal, California. "I think that was the fastest I've ever gone in my life," Schott said. "It was really fun.
Jumping13 hours agoFarrington and Greya Deliver Commanding Victory in $1.4 Million Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva
The Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva once again lived up to its reputation as one of the sport’s ultimate proving grounds, and on Sunday, Kent Farrington and Greya answered the challenge in emphatic fashion. From a field of 40 elite combinations, the American duo emerged victorious in the $1.4 million CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix, a key leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.
Jumping14 hours ago