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Last Update: 06 Aug 2010

  Riding Holidays | Republic of Serbia

Serbia has a long tradition of horse breeding and training, especially for classical riding and more recently for racing and eventing. The country has many equestrian centres and stud farms and visitors will find a range of horse breeds, particularly Lipizzaners, Thoroughbreds and Arabs as well as warmbloods and local pony types.

The most notable location for horses is Zobnatica far in the north of the country. The town has over 200 years of horse breeding tradition and is a fantastic place to stay. Both adults and children of all riding abilities can enjoy a horse riding lesson or ride in a hackney carriage, see horse races at Zobnatica’s hippodrome, peruse the unique museum of horse breeding and smithies or visit during the second week in September for the fantastic Zobnatica equestrian games.

Intermediate and experienced riders can have an equestrian adventure in the central Serbian mountains exploring forests and mountain massifs, riverine valleys and rural villages. It is like taking a step back in time away from the hubbub of city life. Here communities are simple and traditional. You will see 14th Century churches and monasteries and sample locally grown produce. For this week long horse trail riders need to be happy at canter out in the open and fit for up to seven hours riding per day. You will ride Balkan mountain horses, small but hardy and surefooted in the steep terrain.

Equestrian vacations are also available for less experienced riders and beginners near to Subotica on the border with Hungary. Learn to ride on a beginners’ course or join a forest trek and have a tour of a Lipizzaner stud farm. Another Thoroughbred horse farm in the Velika Morava river valley offers horse riding and horse drawn wagon rides, plus tours of the Stud and traditional horse displays. Karadjordjevo Horse Farm, near Backa Palanka is a National Stud and well known in Europe for its breeding of the Lipizzaner horse.

Serbia is one of the top new European destinations for travellers and while many tourists stay at centres such as the capital Belgrade and ski resorts at Kopaonik, the rural areas are still quiet and relatively unexplored by international visitors. The countryside has a wealth of beauty to explore. Did you know that seventeen Roman Emperors were born in what is now present day Serbia? Old Roman monuments and palaces can be seen scattered throughout the landscape. The country is also home to the longest stretch of the river Danube. The people are friendly and open to visitors, many speak English and you will meet a warm and hospitable environment wherever you go.