Heves megyei aprónyomtatványok 14/A

By the end of the XIXth century the high standards of Hungarian horse-breeding had won world-wide appreciation and some 40,000 horses were being exported annually. Before the Second World War there were over 800,000 horses in Hungary of which 60 percent perished during the war.

After W.W.II. as large-scale farming developed, the horse-stock diminished considerably. It is now around 110 000 a number that has been practically contant in the last two years. Two thirds of the existing stock are still employed in agriculture and only a smaller, high quality stock is used and bred for sport.

The approximative figures for today are that 1,000 horses and 1,200 jockeys — including drivers — who participate in Hungary in dressage, show-jumping, three day eventing, and carriage-driving competitions. Only two sportsmen are qualified as international: the carriage-drivers György Bárdos and László Juhász.

There are 106 equestrian clubs throughout the country of which 45 are concerned with carriage-driving. Sport and leisure for everyone are met by some 80 riding schools and pony-clubs where cca 1,000 horses are kept. More and more people in suburbs keep their own saddle horses or maintain hackney stables. The number ot private riding halls is growing.

The most traditional Hungarian tourist agency, IBUSZ was first in Europe to include riding among its tourist facilities twenty years ago. The horse-shows of Bugac, Apajpuszta and Hortobágy, and various riding tours are well known abroad. A newly established tourist agency, PEGAZUS Tours offers several-day riding tours in four different Hungarian regions. Other holidays are offered combined with riding, courses in four-in-hand driving and also Gypsy-like caravan tours.

The Hungarian Equestrian Federation organizes in September 1984 the Vienna—Budapest international distance riding competition for the second time.

In addition, the Budapest Gallop and the Trotting Race Courses are very popular and frequented nearly all over the year.

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