4 amazing places for pony lovers

Kővágóörs is the largest settlement in the Káli Basin, halfway between Tapolca and Veszprém. The Káli Riding School has been dedicated to promoting equestrian life for twenty years. With a fenced sand pitch, a sand round pitch and a grass pitch, they offer top quality services. They are convinced that riders need theoretical knowledge as well as practical skills, so they also give lectures, while the skills of grooming and saddling are not left out of the training package either. Contract-based maintenance is also possible, subject to availability. Complex equine exercise therapy has also been developed for preventive and curative purposes. Therapeutic riding has a complex effect: physical, psychological and social, it contributes to the improvement of deficient skills or the healing of injuries suffered. Therapy is not just the prerogative of humans here, as instructors also undertake programmatic training of young horses and retraining of problem horses.

Many of us know the bear shelter in Veresegyháza, but perhaps fewer of us know the neighbouring mini-farm. The beautiful Shetland ponies (Lola, Maya, Zita, Csillag) live freely with other animals (pigs, bunnies, poultry). It really is like stepping into a Sunday movie. On the farm, built in a fabulous landscape, professional photographers are on hand to capture family gatherings. From a very young age, at 12 months, they put interested children on pony backs. It is also a fair thing that they also think about those who for some reason don’t want to ride, but like the proximity of animals. They will be taught how to lead the ponies on a trot, and can even lead the willing animals through obstacles in pony agility exercises, strictly instructed from the ground. Relatives will not be bored either: as well as being spectators, they can practice on barefoot circuits and electric vehicles if they like. As for young adults, the Pony Adventure Foundation welcomes those interested in volunteering in the community.

Taksony, located on the (smaller, more natural) Danube branch in Ráckeve is a huge leisure park for families, where camps are organised in summer and school trips are organised during the year. At their special events, they hold a children’s show in costume, called Western show, where they evoke the days of Indians and cowboys. Their one and a half hectare riding arena offers training for beginners and professional dressage riders. The local pony farm currently has a choice of seven Shetland ponies (three stallions, four mares). These are relatively large animals, so they are only allowed to be ridden with a guide and a lead. However, they also have a Welsh pony, who can be hired out on the trot if you have the necessary knowledge, and will even be let out to more advanced riders without any restrictions.

Nőtincs is a thousand-year-old village in the Rétság small region of Nógrád county. In the words of the founders, Seholsziget is a playhouse in nature. In addition to the forest bird trail, interactive forge, maze playground, group tractor rides and countless other imaginative activities, they also have their own riding stables. Falcon’s Eye Riding Stables is a riding arena with enclosed and open spaces and a large pasture. Trained instructors provide training tailored to individual needs, whether it is a one-off celebration, preparation for a competition, or development training for small or large groups. In keeping with the unrivalled natural setting, star-tour-like trail rides are also led in the neighbouring Cserhát.