Riding the great plains, or puszta, of Hungary may call to mind horse racing on the steppes of Mongolia, and for good reason. After all, Mongolians invaded Hungary in the 13th century and brought their prowess as horsemen with them. Both countries have open fields and unfenced expanses where the greatest threat to a good gallop is an unseen gopher hole. One big difference is in the size of the horses: unlike Mongolian ponies, Hungarian breeds such as the classic Kisber Felver start at 15 hands, and are adept at jumping and sporting events.

You may feel like a Hungarian cowboy (csikós) after a few days at the Sarlóspuszta Club Hotel in Kiskunság National Park, about 60 kilometres from Budapest. The accommodations are unfussy and the food likewise, but the riding is as demanding as you want, in and outside the ring. You can also practice carriage driving and gypsy caravan riding . . . but don’t try the “Puszta- Five”, where a horseman drives five horses at a gallop while standing with one leg on the back of each of the two rear horses.

Sarlóspuszta Club Hotel: H-2375 Tatárszentgyörgy-Sarlóspuszta


Written by  Claudia Flisi.

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