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Salaterka and I

I have had the great opportunity to grow up with Arabian horses next door and this have led to a life filled with joy and great friends. Brita and Rolf Axelsson at Wilkesbacka Gård started their Arabian breeding in 1967 and they are the breeder of Edjora (Exelsjor-Edessa/Pietuszok), the dam of US National Champion Mare Kajora. I spent all my free time there since I was 12 years old and I had the great fortune to learn all about breeding, showing and training. The horses of Wilkesbacka were of pure Polish bloodlines and I learned to love all about the strength and beauty of the Polish Arabian.

In the summer of 1985 when I was 15 years old, I worked at Cavallo Arabian stud. I wanted to learn more about this wonderful breed and I finally got to attend my first National show. At Cavallo I had the fortune to work with the Polish-bred stallions Figaro (Negatiw-Fortunata/Branibor) and Dylemat (Gedymin-Doliwa/Comet) and my interest in the Polish Arabian horse increased.

When I graduated from school I decided to work with horses. I worked at Beit El Kheil Arabians and had one of the best teachers when it comes to Polish Arabians, Erik Melander. We had several outstanding horses at stud, including the stallions Etnograf (Engano-Etna/Faher), Karnawal (Etap-Kasta/Wielki Szlem), Parys (Tryptyk-Parma/Aswan) and Exodus (Cadyk-Ex Diara/Exelsjor). The mare-collection was impressive with Ex Diara (Exelsjor-Diara Mokka/Wielki Szlem), Salamalaika (Algier-Salexja/Exelsjor), Zadra (Dambor-Zamiec/Czardarsz), Zaduma (Bandos-Zadra/Dambor) and Epopeja (Palas-Eskapada/Nabor) and their daughters.

During the summer of 1988 I worked at Ekströms Training Stable. We had 17 horses in training and the highlight of the season was Parys – 1988 Swedish National Champion Stallion and 1988 World Reserve Champion Stallion and Saleta (Etnograf-Saldara/Dardir) – 1988 Swedish National Junior Champion Mare. Other horses in training were Etamina (Ellorus-Etna/Faher), Etheria (Palas-Etamina/Ellorus) and Eleis (Banat-Elewacja/Celebes). I worked with Carmen Romes (Vanier Arabians, USA) and we had Greg Hazlewood as the handler at the Nationals.

My first visit to Poland was in 1989. Horses like Zazula, Palas, Eukaliptus, Europejczyk, Kawalkada and Wizja made a great impact on me and since then I have made this trip as often as I could. I simply love the country, the people and their extraordinary horses! Poland is the place where I have met some of my very best friends and it is hard to not fall in love with this country.

I bought my first mare Sapala (Cadyk-Saldara/Dardir) in 1991 from SalEx Arabians (former Beit El Kheil Arabians). Salaterka by Elton is the daughter I have chosen to continue her legacy. I got the wonderful opportunity to have the exquisite Wiona (Angor-Warszula/Palas) from Kullatorp Arabians in 2002. She was a beautiful mare with a lot of her expression from her legendary dam Warszula.

In 2019 I bought my own farm together with my love Erik. We have two daughters of Salaterka in our breeding program – Silencia (by Ecaho) and Sharda (by Ganges) as well as Sharda´s 2020 daughter Shamira (by Ecaho) and 2022 daughter Shapala (by Marwan) and Silencia´s 2023 daughter Silje (by Marwan). Erik bought his first horse in 2020, Gazqoria (Equator x Gazira/Eldon) and she is a part of our breeding program with her daughter Giulia (by Marwan) in our breeding program. We have also leased some mares and have daughters by Marwan and Poter out of Calma (Ecaho x Calisia/Eukaliptus) and Chaya (Nader Al Shaqab x Confidentia/Lekier) respectively. The stunning bay Espinoza (Marwan Al Shaqab x Estetica/L.M. Limaal) came to us in 2020 in foal and we had her with us for her Syrian owners. When they sold her to our dear friend Kristina Lindfors of Arvak Nord we had the opportunity to lease her for a year and she had a beautiful colt El Marwan (by Marwan). We then had a stunning bay filly Espiranza (by Poter) in partnership with Kristina and in October 2023 we became the sole owner of her to retain in our breeding program. Espinoza was sold to Israel in 2024 and was bred to Poter and produced a gorgeous colt for her new owner in 2025.

In 2020 we leased the stallion Marwan (CE Magnum x Margotka/Algorytm) from the legendary Blommeröd Arabian Stud and we had 4 beautiful foals in 2021, 5 foals by him in 2022 and 2 gorgeous fillies in 2023. Marwan was a very valuable producer for us and will always be a part of our breeding program through his wonderful daughters.

One of my big loves has always been the legendary Ecaho (Pepton x Etruria/Palas) and ever since I saw him win the Polish National Champion title in 1995 he has been one of my all-time favorites. I was lucky to own him for his last years together with Mr. Joaquin Bin but unfortunately we lost him in August 2019 at the age of 29. The same year Janów Podlaski had 10 foals born sired by Ecaho and among them one was particularly interesting, a grey colt out of the amazing Pinga (Gazal Al Shaqab x Pilar/Fawor) named Poter. I went to look at him as a foal but the the pandemic then stopped me from going to my frequent trips to Poland. I was stunned when I saw in March 2021 that they put up 5 Ecaho-sons for sale at a monthly auction and that Poter was one of them. I put in a bid in the auction and was lucky to win the auction and I was overwhelmed by joy when I welcomed Poter to our farm in April 2021. He got his first offspring in May 2022 – Chayla (out of Chaya) and produced 4 foals for us in 2023 – 3 fillies and one colt. Poter has been shown twice and awarded 2022 Swedish National Junior Bronze Champion Stallion and 2024 Swedish National Gold Champion Stallion.

I knew early that I wanted to work as a journalist and a photographer and I have had the great opportunity to do it with Arabian horses! I really love to capture the beauty of the Arabian horse and the challenge to get the best shot possible on each horse. My work makes it possible to travel and meet lots of fantastic people and their horses. I feel very fortunate to be able to work with the things that I love most.

For inquiries please contact:

Anette Mattsson – Mattsson Photography
Bergsveden 24
S-78192 Borlänge
Sweden
anette@arabitis.com
+46 70 753 10 75

My Services

Photography

I have been working as a professional photographer since 1992 and I travel a lot around the world to capture the beauty of the Arabian Horse. I also work as a journalist and work frequently with Arabian Horse magazines all over the world.

I photograph children, dogs, cats and special occassions such as weddings and I love the variety in my work. No challenge is too hard and I love capture all things that come in front of my camera. I feel very priviligued to work with the things I love the most, to photograph and to write. And to be able to combine this with the amazing Arabian Horse is a blessing.

Please contact me if you would like me to do a farm-shoot of your horses or if you are going to a horse show where I will be!

Pedigree Research

I offer promotional writings, apraisals and pedigree researching for websites and adveritising. Since 1987 I have been working with pedigree researches for sale catalogues and farm broschures.

 

For inquiries please contact:

Anette Mattsson – Mattsson Photography
Bergsveden 24
S-78192 Borlänge
Sweden
anette@arabitis.com
+46 70 753 10 75

The Arabian Horse

Two of my favourite stallions, El Nabila B and Bey Ambition
Two of my favourite stallions, El Nabila B and Bey Ambition

One thing that I have always loved about the Arabian Horse is the history of the breed and that you behind each and every horse can see a history filled with great stories. It is no wonder that this breed has been sought after and for me it is a thrill to be able to work with those amazing horses on a daily basis!

One of the things I wanted to share on my websites is the knowledge about the Arabian Horse and as I always has been Polish in my heart, there will be a lot about the Polish Arabian horse but also about Sweden and the history behind the breed here and many other things.

I have posted articles I wrote (and or did the photography in) during my years in the business and if you want to see something special here, do not hesitate to contact me and I will make it happen!

My Horses

I have a small and carefully selected breeding program based that started out with the celebrated dam family of  Milordka through Saga (Hardy x Jaga II) and her Amurath Sahib-daughter Sakla. Since we bought our farm in 2019 my breeding program has grown but the base is still the Milorka-family.

I bought my foundation mare Sapala (Cadyk x Saldara/Dardir) in 1991 from SalEx Arabians (former Beit El Kheil Arabians) and today I have her granddaughters Silencia (by Ecaho x Salaterka) and Sharda (by Ganges x Salaterka)  in my breeding program as well as Sharda´s two fillies Shamira (by Ecaho) and Shapala (by Marwan). In 2020 Erik bought the bay, great moving Gazqoria (Equator x Gazira/Eldon) – a representative of the great Gazella db. family – primarily as his riding horse, but he only got to ride her for one year, since then she has been a mother producing 3 great foals for us with the stunning Poter-filly Gabriella at side. We were honored to have the opportunity to lease two amazing mares from Maria Rendahl/Kullatorp Arabian Stud in 2020 – Calma (Ecaho x Calisia/Eukaliptus) and Chaya (Nader Al Shaqab x Confidentia/Lekier) and they have given us beautiful foals. Both Calma and Chaya belongs to the great Milordka-family through the Saga-daughter Canaria (by Trypolis). In the fall of 2020 the charismatic Espinoza (Marwan Al Shaqab x Estetica/LM Limaal) came to us and was boarded here while foaling. She was sold in February 2021 to my dear friend Kristina Lindfors/Arvak Nord and we got the opportunity to lease her and breed her to Marwan (CE Magnum x Margotka/Algorytm). Espinoza belongs to a very special dam family for me, the valuable Woloszka family.  I grew up with the family of Woloszka through the great Ellora and her daughter Edessa´s descendants at Wilkesbacka Arabian stud. Espinoza belongs to the family of Elzunia (Witraz x Elza), one of three full-sisters with the other being Ellora and Celina. Elzunia is the dam of one of the greatest mares at Janów Podlaski, Etna (Faher) and she was the dam of World Champion Etruria (by Palas), the dam of my beloved Ecaho (by Pepton). Etruria also got four daughters by Aloes (Celebes x Algoa/Czort) – Enaria, Etruska, Etana and Ettoria. Etruska is the great granddam of Espinoza. Espinoza is now in foal to Poter for a 2023 foal and this special baby will carry 2 lines to Etruria.

We have been standing the wonderful stallion Marwan for 3 breeding seasons and we have been blessed with 11 amazing foals. I was the owner of the legendary Ecaho (Pepton x Etruria/Palas) together with Joaquin Bin and we were devastated when he passed away in 2019, but we are so happy that we got to have him in our lives for so long, when he passed he was 29,5 years old and was still breeding. The same year he got 10 foals at his birthplace Janów Podlaski – 7 colts and 3 fillies. I had my eyes on one of the foals from the start and had hoped for a colt as I just felt that this combination would be a match made in heaven. The mare who foaled this colt was no one less than World Champion Pinga (Gazal Al Shaqab x Pilar/Fawor), a superior show horse and an incredible broodmare. In March 2021 I could not believe when Janów Podlaski put up 5 of Ecaho´s 2-year old sons for sale and I knew that I had to bid on “my” colt. I had the great fortune to be able to buy this Polish treasure from Janów Podlaski and in April 2021 Poter (Ecaho x Pinga/Gazal Al Shaqab) arrived at our farm. He was everything I had hoped for with this combination and I can see so much of both his legendary parents in him. He bred Chaya in July 2021 and she gave birth to a stunning filly the following year named Chayla and she was all I could have dreamt of! We are now expecting 4 foals by Poter in 2023.

We have some fillies and colts available for sale, so please don´t hesitate to contact me for more information! And we love to have visitors to see our beloved horses!

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