Hungary - Puszta Based Stay

Please Note: The opinions expressed in these reviews are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Trails Ltd. These reviews are "directly from the horses mouth" and unedited. Unicorn Trails may make additional comments for clarification clearly identified in red.

Review received from GF of Dudley on 15/06/2024

Riding Lessons
There is the option to have hour-long riding lessons (in place of two hours trail riding) during the based stay. These are aimed at intermediate level riders who want to develop a more advanced partnership with horses using good technique rather than force. The horses here are soft, sensible and well educated, and will help guests improve their riding with a better understanding of, and therefore relationship, with their horses. The lessons will be in groups of up to 4 people, or 1-to-1 for a supplement of €10 per hour. Please let us know at the time of booking if this is something you are interested in. Additional lessons can be booked on site for an extra charge (€20 for 1-to-1, €15 for small group).

Additional stay in Budapest:
Budapest is a beautiful city and well worth a visit in its own right. Highlights include: a night-time cruise on the Danube; a spa experience at the magnificent historical Gellert Baths; the Chain Bridge across the Danube, Buda Castle, St Stephen's Basilica, Parliament Buildings and Heroe's Square to name but a few. The city centre is compact and most sights are easily accessible on foot. For a well-located good basic hotel, we recommend Kalvin House Hotel in Budapest (www.kalvinhouse.hu).

Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

The horses are a mix of Hungarian half-blood, Kisbéri, Arabian half-blood and Thoroughbred, mostly of a fair size (15.2-17hh) with a few 14-15hh. They are all experienced trail-horses and are kept in very good condition (rest period from November to March), warmblooded and forward going. The tack used on this ride is English and the riding style is English.

Trail riding: The light sandy soil makes the region perfect for riding under any weather conditions and offers a varied landscape just perfect to ride through. Ride time: usually about 2 hrs in the morning (starting at 9-10 am) followed by a picnic break and then 2-3hrs in the afternoon. Arrival back at the farm usually at 4-5 pm. The going is mainly sandy and ideal for long canters.

Riding Lessons: There is the option to have hour-long riding lessons (in place of two hours trail riding) during the based stay. These are aimed at intermediate level riders who want to develop a more advanced partnership with horses using good technique rather than force. The horses here are soft, sensible and well educated, and will help guests improve their riding with a better understanding of, and therefore relationship, with their horses. The lessons will be in groups of up to 4 people, or 1-to-1 for a supplement. Additional lessons can be booked on site for an extra charge.

Riders should be experienced, be comfortable spending up to four hours a day in the saddle and have a secure seat at walk, trot and canter. There is assistance with mounting and dismounting if required and no steep terrain or drop offs are encountered during the daily rides.

The weight limit for this ride is 187 lb/85 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

This is above average for Eastern Europe and the farm has double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. The food is excellent; varied and filling and many National dishes are cooked. During the months of June and the beginning of September there is a swimming 'pond' available for guests to use. This is not a conventional pool filled with the usual chemicals, but a lovely refreshing pond to cool off in after a day in the saddle.

Vegetarian or other dietary requirements within reason can be accommodated with advance notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests before booking.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. NB: Be sure to check the COVID status of the country you plan to visit including entry procedures and requirements while travelling. When visiting Hungary, your passport should be valid for at least 3 months from the date you arrive. Passport and Visa requirements can change regularly depending on diplomatic relations. Please request information from the appropriate Consulate in your home country. Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate should you need a visa. In the UK the British Foreign Office gives advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/hungary In the USA: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Hungary.html In Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/hungary

Another useful resource is Sherpa - this summarises any travel and vaccination requirements based on when you are travelling simply by entering your home country followed by your destination country: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions

This programme can be tailored with a minimum 3 night stay between March and October. There are optional excursions to Budapest and the Bábolna National Stud Farm as well as wine tasting. This is a good option for those who wish to do a bit more than ride.

2025: Available between 1 April - 31 October

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Hungary, A brief History – Istvan Lazar, 

Between The Woods and Water – Patrick Leigh Fermor

Stealing From a Deep Place – Brian Hall  

Vagabond – Jeremy James

For an excellent selection of equestrian travel and adventure books visit www.horsetravelbooks.com (part of the Long Rider’s Guild)

A guided sightseeing trip to Budapest, watching a traditional Hungarian horse display. Optional programmes include a visit to the thermal baths, wine tasting with dinner, visiting one of the Hungarian Stud farms, or any excursions on request.

The Kiskunsag National Park is an area of specialised flora and fauna. The juniper woodlands and extended meadows are typical of the region but there are many types of forests (birch, acacia, poplar etc). The abundant vegetation is a haven for numerous roe deer, hares, pheasants, wild hogs, storks, great bustards and the indigenous Hungarian Grey cattle. Oxen and sheep also live extensively in the meadows.

Hungary is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It is mostly flat, with low mountains in the north and north-east and to the north-west of Lake Balaton (Western Hungary). Hungary has some limited natural resources as well as fertile soils and arable land.

Hungary is a democratic republic. It joined the European Union on 1 May 2004. It played an important role in the fall of Communism in 1989 by opening its borders allowing East Germans to enter Western Europe.

Hungary is a heart-stealer; it will lure you back again and again to sample its rich wines, lounge in its thermal spas, gaze at its birdlife and make one more attempt to master its hermetic language. It has all the luxury of western Europe with a Magyar twist.

Its graceful capital Budapest has a lively arts, cafe and music scene, and is host to a range of cultural and sporting festivals. In the countryside you'll find majestic plains, resort-lined lakes, Baroque towns, horse markets and rustic villages.

Hungary is on GMT plus one hour and they use the metric weights and measures system, so kilometres and kilograms instead of miles and pounds. There is approximately 1.6 kilometres in a mile and 2.2 pounds in a kilogram. The international dialling code for Hungary is +36.