Local services
The most awaited festival of the year, the Hortobágy Horse Equestrian will be held for the 56th time. From the 12th to the 14th of July, exciting equestrian and family events await everyone in the land of the herdsmen. The aim of the event is to promote Hortobágy’s equestrian culture and heritage.
There are also special programmes for children, including folk games and puppet theatre performances. And if that’s not enough, there are more than 60 handicrafts and typical Hortobágy dishes to choose from.
Programmes
Arena
Friday, 12 July
1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Horse carriage race
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Hortobágy Life Picture
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Horse show
4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Stud drive
Saturday, 13 July
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Horse carriage race
1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Hortobágy Life Picture
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Presentation of Bábolna and Szilvásvárad stud farms
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Stallion championship
4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Horse show
5:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Greyhound race
5:30 p.m.-18:30 p.m. Simultaneous Carriage race
18:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Presentation of Mezőhegyes and Mátai stud farms
7:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Stud drive
8:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Fire Horse Show
Sunday, 14 July
11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Greyhound race
12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Stallion championship
1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Hortobágy Life Picture
2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Horse show
4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. “Horsepower” carriage driving competition
6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Flat gallop
7:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Stud drive
Gallop Track
Sunday, 14 July
10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Hortobágy Gallop Race preliminary races
4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Hortobágy Gallop Race Final
Show jumping ring
Friday, 12 July
8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 80-100 Show Jumping Competition
1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. 110-130 Show Jumping Competition
Saturday, 13 July
8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 80-100 Show Jumping Competition
2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. 110-130 Show Jumping Competition
Sunday,14 July
08:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 80-100 Show Jumping Competition
1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. 110-130 Show Jumping Competition
Children’s riding village
Saturday, 13 July
12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Garagulya Stilt Comedy Company – Dezső Bitang’s “noises”
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Debrecen Hajdú Dance Ensemble – Folk dance demonstration and dance house
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Garagulya Stilt Comedy Company – Comedy at the fair
4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Gábor Boka – János Vitéz
Sunday, 14 July
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Kuckó Artists’ House
12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. László Gulyás travelling comedian
1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Debrecen Folk Ensemble – Folk dance demonstration and dance house
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Bab Company – Scenes from a marriage
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. “Langaléta Garabonciások” (Tall wizards with devilish crafts) – Comedy at the fair
4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. “Csicsogó színház – Kökény Matyi” (Chirping Theatre – story of Kökény Matyi, Hungarian tale figure)
All-day programmes
– Soaring folk games
– Straw castle
– Ferkó Kádár’s Photo Theatre
– Bab company plays
The organisers reserve the right to change the programme!
Useful information
Tickets can be purchased in advance online via the organiser’s website. There are several types of tickets available: daily tickets, season tickets, a version of these with a bus ticket and supporter tickets.
Free admission for children under 6 years of age.
How to get there
The centre of the event is the Mátai Stud (Ménes), which is located in Hortobágy, 3.5 km from the Nine Hole Bridge (9 Lyukú híd). Those arriving by car can reach the village from road 33. The village can also be reached by train, but it is a 40-minute walk from the station.
For those without a car, a special bus service from Debrecen directly to the event is a great option, with tickets available in advance. (Scheduled departure at 11:00 a.m., from Debrecen, Segner Square, and return to Debrecen at 9:00 p.m. from Mátai Stud.)
Date:12-14 July
Location: Mátai Stud
Source: szallas.hu