Árpád’s Blood Riding School

Árpád Vére Lovasiskola, 2100 Gödöllõ, Szárítópuszta
Budapest
Budapest
36-20-973-0474

http://www.horseridingshow.hu

Type: Horseback Riding

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Set amidst trees and forest in the Gödöllõ nature preserve. Visitors are greeted by twisted-horned racka sheep, curly-haired pigs, and horses, ranging freely over the grounds, as well as several small ranch buildings, stables, and yurts. From absolute beginners to pros, aside from crosscountry horseback riding, various instructional programs can take you through jumping, hunting horseback, stunts (for the properly experienced), and competitive jumping. Weekly horse shows feature some of the top riders of the nation, and entire groups of Hungarian horsemen staging battles out of the pages of Magyar history. Knights hold their lances aloft and Magyars shoot their short-range bows from horseback, dressed in authentic clothing and gear from the first Magyar settlements, all of it handmade using the ancient techniques. This is real! After the wild shows, when arrows whiz through the air from their galloping steeds, and charging hosts of warriors let loose their battle cries, there are falconry shows from horseback, and demonstrations of historical arts. Evening finds the campfires lit. Everyone settles down for night-time cookouts in authentic Hungarian bokacs style, home-made sausages and the genuine goulash, fire dancing, and stories of ancient lore. During the day you learn to groom and care for your horse, shoot bow and arrow, and make ancient Hungarian instruments, tools, and clothing, or perhaps your own bow and arrow. It has been said that this place is a living history lesson from the age of the Magyar settlements. This is not a tour. It is an adventure, requiring that you stay in the yurt campground for a period. Yurts were the traditional Hungarian tent habitations – slightly modified here for modern sensibilities. In a separate building there are, showers, and WC although they are bare-bone, and designed to maintain the rough, country atmosphere. Cooking is out of the camp kitchen. The camps are often booked solid with young people. However, during certain periods they book families and groups. This requires advance planning, and reservations. The camp has included visitors from as far away as Japan. Janos and his family have helped to train stuntmen who have worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Harrison Ford, and a number of other Hollywood stars, played in movies, and held exhibitions at Disneyland. He has been in business since the 1980s. They have also trained students in horseback archery since the 1990s. Janos holds the Guinness world record for shooting six arrows from 18 feet accurately in 11 seconds, using the ancient Magyar bows – all on horseback while riding at a gallop! It had to be done within a gallop length of 60 yards. The targets were thrown randomly in the air by participants. They were 9¾ inches in diameter.