The 56th Hortobágy Equestrian Days is held from 12 to 14 July 2024. In the past decades, the event has become the region’s most important and internationally renowned event, whose main aim is to promote the past and present of the pastoral culture of the Hortobágy region, the work of the Mátai Stud Farm and its collection of horses, which is still in use today.
The relationship between Debrecen and Hortobágy dates back to ancient times. The Hortobágy stud farm was founded by the free royal city of Debrecen, which is one of the oldest stud farms in Hungary with a history of more than 300 years. The first mention of Debrecen’s stud farm is found in an archival record from the 17th century. For centuries, until 1948, the Hortobágy grassland belonged to Debrecen, and the thousands of animals grazed on the Hortobágy provided the basis for the prosperity of the people of Debrecen for a long time.
In the renaissance of traditions and traditional crafts, the Hortobágy Equestrian Days represents the experience of time travel, connection, reacquaintance with an earlier knowledge and forgotten skills for the 21st century man.
As in the previous year, Gábor Gundel Takács will host the event on Saturday and Sunday.
The central theme of the 56th Hortobágy Equestrian Days will be the Stud Fest – a celebration of Hungarian horse breeding, which will be organized for the first time as part of the Horse Days to create a tradition. In addition to the Máta Stud in Hortobágy, three other state stud farms – the State Stud Farm in Szilvásvárad, the National Stud Farm and Tangazdaság Zrt. in Mezőhegyes and the National Stud Farm in Bábolna – will present themselves in the central Arena with a half-hour show, parade of show and sporting horses and breeding animals. The Stud Festival will be open to the public on all three days in the Stud Yard next to the four-season arena. On Saturday, the Hortobágy stud farm will present a music and dance show with the Csokonai National Theater in Debrecen. After the performance, the audience can watch the now traditional stallion drive and the spectacular fire and horse stunt show. On Sunday, there will be plenty of spectacular attractions, including a daytime show of Puszta Five and Puszta Ten, and an equestrian stunt show, and a show by the Emergency Police in the afternoon.
The Children’s Village will again this year offer thousands of square meters of space for children to enjoy folk games, a huge straw castle and activities by the Babtársulat. Thanks to Ferkó Kádár’s Photo Theater, children can become time travelers for a picture, while the Hortobágy National Park Directorate’s craft workshop will offer small souvenirs.
The stage of the Children’s Village will be taken by the Garagulya Stilt Comedy Company, the Debrecen Hajdú Dance Ensemble, the Debrecen Folk Ensemble, Gábor Boka, the Kuckó Art Theater, the Langaléta Garabonciások, László Gulyás, a traveling musician and the Csicsogó Theater, bringing us the atmosphere of the old fairground comedians, traveling actors and musicians.
With one of the largest horse herds in the country, Máta Stud is one of the leading horse breeding centers in Hungary. It is an everlasting experience to see part of this huge stud farm in the sunset or the foals among the riding the stallions. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 12 noon until late at night, visitors can enjoy an eye-catching and often astonishing equestrian program and demonstrations. There will be a show jumping competition, a national championship for horse riders, a combined driving competition, a 3v3 driving stallion competition and a simultaneous driving competition. The horse shows always impress the visitors, demonstrating the inexpressible harmony that can exist between animal and man, horse and rider. The Hortobágy Parade awaits visitors on Sunday: the winners of the regional qualifying races will compete in the big National Parade in the autumn.
This year, it will be even easier than before for those arriving from Debrecen to get to the event: thanks to the cooperation with DKV, a special shuttle service will transport passengers from Segner tér in Debrecen to the Equestrian Days on Saturday, in line with the event’s program.
At the event, visitors can also taste traditional shepherd’s dishes, while at the handicraft fair they can choose from a selection of handmade local products.
For details of the program and to buy tickets, visit the Hortobágy Equestrian Days’ website: http://hortobagyilovasnapok.hu
