General Description

Hungary's great tradition of horses and horsemanship is reflected in these rides which are an excellent choice for experienced riders who enjoy fast riding on top quality horses. They are organised by by a well known ‘ Kisberi’ breeder and one time rider for the Hungarian Three Day Event team. There are two 7 night itineraries to choose from, each exploring a different region. The Great Plains Ride takes place in the 'Puszta' vast open plains which include the Hortobagy National Park, traditionally used as grazing for cattle and sheep. The Vanyarc to Eger Ride begins on a farm about an hour’s drive north of Budapest and ends in Eger, an historic town and another famous wine growing area. With hardly a single fence or man-made obstacle to cross on the way, the going on both rides is excellent.

Summary

2008 Dates:		Great Plains Ride 24th to 31st May 23rd to 30th August 30th August to 6th September 20th to 27th September 27th September to 4th October Vanyarc to Eger Ride 26th April to 3rd May 3rd to 10th May 17th to 24th May 31st May to 7th June 7th to 14th June 6th to 13th September 13th to 20th September Other dates on request for a minimum of 6 riders
Season:		April to October

Horses and Riding

The horses used are pure Kisberi, bred at the stud belonging to Janos Loskas who leads the rides. A noble elegant horse bred for the cavalry officers (Hussars) during the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, the Kisberi breed achieves excellent results in all fields of equestrian sports (show jumping, dressage, cross country and endurance) and almost all the horses ridden are trained to event with several having qualified at an international level. Most are between about 16hh and 17hh and all an intelligent, responsive, forward going and thoroughly enjoyable ride.

Hours: The rides include an average of 4 to 6 hours riding a day and are lead by Janos. You are expected to ride English style and to keep up and together with the group, both stopping and moving on when requested. You also need to be quite fit as the riding is quite strenuous, often in an endurance style.

Pace and experience required: The pace of all itineraries is moderate to fast with good opportunities for long canters and during the 4 to 6 hours riding each day you are likely to cover 40 to 50 kilometres (about 30 miles). The rides are aimed at the experienced English style rider and you should be well balanced, comfortable and secure in the saddle and able to control a well-schooled horse outside at all paces. Riders are encouraged to use a ''forward seat'' position at the canter with little lower leg contact. This means that a good independent seat and balance are very important.

Accommodation

Rides include a variety of accommodation, mostly in modern hotels but sometimes in private guesthouses, converted manor house and castles. Generally the rooms have en-suite facilities, though sometimes bathrooms are shared between two rooms and you do need to be prepared for this on some nights.

Rates & Travel

Travel
The meeting point for the rides is Budapest and transfers from / to Budapest at set times on the first and last days are included in the ride rate. British Airways and the Hungarian Airlines Malev both fly direct to Budapest from London. There are also low cost airlines such as Easy Jet and Wizz who fly from regional UK airports to Budapest. Airfares vary depending on the airline and season but expect to pay between £140 to £220 for an economy return.

Itinerary in Brief (Great Plains Ride)

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