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 SS of st helens on 03/11/2019

Riding Lessons
There is now 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).

Reading List
We're avid readers here at Unicorn Trails and have selected several books connected to this ride. If you're interested in reading more about the area before you travel, or want to get into the cultural background, here are some suggestions that may inspire you. Click on the links for more information.

There are no shortage of books on Hungary and it’s political past such as Hungary, A Brief History – Istran Lazar, however on a lighter note:

Between the Woods and the Water – Patrick Leigh Fermor,

Stealing from a Deep Place – Brian Hall

Vagabond – Jeremy James.

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 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. Riding timing: 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 of €10. Additional lessons can be booked on site for an extra charge (€20 for 1-to-1, €15 for small group).

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 198 lb/90 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.There is a swimming 'pond' available for guests to use - this is not a 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 can be accommodated with advanced notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. If Visa’s are required the requirements can change from year to year 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 on request.

General information:

Visa are not required for U.K. or other European nationals. In the UK the British Foreign Office gives travel advice on travel insurance, passport and visas, health and vaccinations, legal issues and emergency issues. They can be reached on 0207 008 0232/0233 or at www.fco.gov.uk.

The British Embassy in Budapest is at Harmincad Utca 6, Budapest 1051. Tel: +(36) (1) 266 2888. Email: info@britemb.hu.

The Hungarian Embassy in the U.K is at 35 Eaton Place, London SW1X 8BY. Telephone: (020) 7201 3440. Email: office@huemblon.org.uk.

The best times to ride in Hungary are May, June, September and October. July and August can be hot and winter time a little chilly. The terrain is always good for riding as the sand absorbs water immediately, and the temperatures in November are nice during the day (8-15 degrees). If it is very cold you can choose the beautiful thermal bath instead of riding which is 18 km away from the accommodation.

For up to date information on specific health concerns please contact the Medical Advisors For Travellers Abroad. Their website can be found at www.masta.org

Sunscreen is advisable in the summer months as there is little shade on the plains. Insect repellent is also advised.

Voltage is the same as in the UK and most appliances such as battery chargers for videos, hair dryers etc. can be plugged in with appropriate adapters. These are available for purchase at most airports and travel shops.

Mobile phones reception and electricity is available at the accommodation. Internet access is possible using wireless mobile devices. Please bring appropriate 2 pin European adaptors.

Due to the variable nature of the climate it is best to be prepared for all events.
Riding pants - jeans or breeches
Lightweight Rainwear (recommended for March/April and Sept/Oct)
Riding boots, paddock boots or long boots
Lipbalm with sunscreen
Half chaps (optional)
Riding gloves
Sunblock
Riding hat with brim
Sunglasses
Hard hat (recommended)
T-shirts and shorts
Mobile phone
Sandals or flip flops
Camera with strap/pouch
Long sleeved shirts
Binoculars (recommended)
Heavy sweater or sweatshirt
Warm Jacket
Informal wear for evenings
Bumbag for camera and sunscreeen
Swimsuit
Water bottle that can be attached to saddle

Towels are included at the accommodation

This programme is available as a 6 night, 4 night and 3 night itinerary throughout the year. 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.

2022: Dates available on request between March and October
2022 Intensive Short Break: 7 Apr; 19 May; 23 Jun; 5 Oct (experienced riders only)

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There are no shortage of books on Hungary and it’s political past such as Hungary, A brief History – Istvan Lazar, however on a lighter note ‘Between The Woods and Water’ – Patrick Leigh Fermor, ‘Stealing From a Deep Place’ – Brian Hall and straight from the horse’s mouth ‘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 thre 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.