On the second Sunday of every month, a market takes place in Dabas, which is about 35km south of Budapest. Some friends took us to it this month and we were amazed at its size and the variety of products on sale. They ranged from garden plants, clothes and tools to furniture and livestock (sheep, pigs, cows and fowl).
However, most fascinating, were the horses that were on sale. They ranged from the most miserable looking, unkempt workhorses to beautifully groomed riding and carriage horses. Men were leading them around while others examined them, deals were struck, and horses were led away and more arrived. In addition, there were stalls selling everything that you could possibly want to harness your horse or care for it in every way.

This was not the only market or fair we have been to where horses have been bought and sold, which only goes to prove how important the horse still is in everyday life in Hungary.
Horses are still used to plough areas such as vineyards, where to take tractors would be impractical, by owners of smallholdings and by farmers who prefer them.
We know people who make a good living out of breeding working and riding horses. They are not cheap to purchase, therefore they must be reliable, strong and healthy.
Horses are also widely used for recreational purposes. Horse & cart driving is very popular sport at local, rural festivals and it is very exciting (if not a little scary) to watch as experts drive teams of horses at break-neck speeds around a course for a trophy or a ribbon.
Horse and carriage driving is another sport which is very popular and carried out by people of all ages – from youngsters as soon as they are able to handle the horses to the elderly. Competitions take place exclusively for carriage driving throughout
Hungary and teams are bought in from many other countries to compete.
Competitions are also organised during the mornings at local festivals so by the time the grand parade takes place in the afternoon the horses & carriages are bedecked with trophies and ribbons they have won so that everyone can cheer the champions.
Another sport that is very popular here in Hungary is horse riding and there are many centres set up for people to go to learn either ride or enjoy a ride in the countryside.
Great varieties of holidays are offered in Hungary for horse riding, carriage driving or visiting horse shows. The one thing not to be missed by any horse lover is the shows put on by the Hungarian cowboys (csikós) and you will find them on the Puszta (the Hungarian plain). They very famous and are known across Europe for their skilled horsemanship.

Following are a variety of links where you can read all about the horse activities in Hungary.
http://www.equi.hu/eng/ -go to this site and look in “catalogue” for descriptions of horse events

http://www.gotohungary.com/history/equestrian.shtml - an explanation of the traditional aspect of horsemanship in Hungary and where you can go to see experts riding and giving shows and where you can go to ride yourself.

http://w3.datanet.hu/~bugac/english/farmhouses.htm - stay in a traditional Hungarian farmhouse, ride horses and learn to drive a 2 or 4 horse carriage.

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/shagya/ - this site is about the rare Hungarian Shagya-Arabian breed of horse

http://www.budapesthotels.com/castles/Mezohegyes.asp - this site is about a famous horse farm at Mezohegyes. You can stay in a hotel on the farm in either summer or winter and enjoy all aspect of horsemanship.

http://www.cmefortravel.co.uk/hungary_horseriding.html - horse riding holidays for intermediate and experienced riders. Here, again, you stay on a farm in the middle of the great plain (the Puszta) and go for daily rides, see horse shows and enjoy Hungarian hospitality.

http://www.mediaguide.hu/petnehazy/horseshowEN.html - Petneházy Horse Centre and Hussar Inn. A place to visit where you can enjoy traditional cuisine, see horse shows or go riding. A must if you want to see traditional Hungary at its best. It is situated at Nagykovácsi on the outskirts of Budapest and is easy to reach by car or train (directions are given on the site).

http://www.hungarianhorse.com/laszlo.htm - if you are interested in stories about Hungarians and horses then this story taken from the Hungarian Horse Association archives, written by Wanda Cooksley, will interest you.

http://www.archimedia.hu/content.php?content=145;set_lang=eng – about the history of horses & horse sports in Hungary.