I love horses! Always did…and now, when my daughter has been riding for over a year, I’m trying to find out as much information about riding horses in Poland as I can.

For centuries, Poland has been a bridge between the East and West. Set in the heart of Europe, Poland is a multifaceted country where the capital and medieval towns are now busy with modern city workers and where horse-drawn carts negotiate country lanes, untouched by progress. Poland remains reasonably cheap and safe, with hospitable people who welcome visitors. Over the past decade, it has developed into a modern, vibrant and progressive state, yet at the same time it maintains its traditional culture. It is a fascinating destination and now is a good time to go, visit and definitely ride a horse.

Poland with its wonderful beaches, fantastic countryside and lakes is perfect for most outdoor activities. Leisure in Poland is growing as fast as the tourism and horse riding in this unspoilt countryside is a real pleasure for horse lovers.

Horse breeding has an extremely long history in Poland. Polish horses are famous throughout the world. They breed full-blooded English horses, purebred Arab horses and Anglo-Arab breeds Maopolska (southern Poland), Wielkopolska (western Poland) and Slaska (Silesia)]. Tarpans (wild descendants of original steppe horses) and Huculy (a breed kept by East Carpathian mountaineers) are also bred.

Horseback tourism is a popular form of recreation with many tour operators offering a day-long or longer duration excursions along designed horse riding trails. The longest and most beautiful ones will take visitors across the mountain scenery of the Beskid Mountains and Kraków-Częstochowa Jura (600 and 250 km respectively). It may be conveniently combined with architectural sightseeing, since many horse riding clubs have premises located on the historic estates and in the country mansions, like the 400 year-old Odrowąż Palace in Chlewiska, Maria Walewska’s 18th century palace in Walewice or the palace in Kurozwęki.

Poland also has horse riding centres specialising in rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. Many of them are members of the Polish Society of Hippotherapy in Warsaw (100 Nowoursynowska St, Tel. +48 22 593 19 00).

Horse riders can travel across all parts of Poland. Almost every year, new horse routes are marked out, both in the mountains and in lowland. The longest horse route in Europe, covering 1800 km, runs through the centre of Poland. Horse lovers will also enjoy rides along the sandy shore of the Baltic Sea at sunset ((would love to do it!!!) ) or mountain rides in the Beskid Mountains.

I also just found out that there is a great place close to my parents house in Poland, where my daughters (and us too, as a whole family) can ride horses! (Take a look here (Dwór Osmolice). Can’t wait to visit this place next time we are in Poland!