The Chamber of Deputies Petition Committee once again supported the petition for the Napajedla Stud Farm

Prague - The House of Deputies' petition committee has once again supported the petition for the rescue and preservation of the Napajedla Stud Farm and its horse breeding, which was terminated two years ago. They reached out to the ministries of agriculture and culture today, similarly to this April. In August, the Ministry of Culture decided in accordance with the petition that the historical buildings of the stud farm will be declared a national cultural monument. According to the petitioners, this is not enough for the restoration of breeding, as the adjacent pastures are not included in the decision.

The Otrokovice company Sygnum, as the owner of the stud farm, disagrees with the ministry's decision, which will ultimately be up to the Minister of Culture Martin Baxa (ODS). The status of a cultural monument is intended to help ensure that the stud farm's premises, established in 1886, cannot be used for other purposes. The company ceased breeding English thoroughbreds in the spring of last year, citing economic reasons. "Breeding English thoroughbreds in Napajedla has ended, and there is no hope for its revival," it stated on its website.

The owners sought to achieve a change in the zoning plan so that they could build apartment buildings on part of the pastures. The profit from the leases was, according to their earlier statements, intended to go towards the operation of the stud farm. However, the zoning change was not approved by the city council. The owners of the stud farm would still like to develop its premises into a social center. Therefore, they plan a "sensitive reconstruction" so that the area can find new uses in the future.

In April, the petition committee recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture initiate negotiations with the owners of the stud farm about its future, taking all possible steps towards agreeing on the conditions for the continued operation of the Napajedla Stud Farm, including the possible involvement of the Czech Republic at least as a guarantor of the national breeding of English thoroughbreds. According to the committee, the ministry should establish specific subsidy and support titles for the breeding of English thoroughbreds, considering the critical situation of national breeding.