HORSE-TREKKING ALONG HUNGARY'S GREEN CORRIDOR
>
> Inner Somogy, in the Hungarian region by the same name, is
an area
>that stretches from Lake Balaton in the North to the River Drava, on
the
>Croatian Border, to the South. It is extremely rich in watercourses,
ponds,
>forests and consequently, wildlife. Some of the rarest animal
species in
>Europe such as the Otter, the Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca), the
Black
>Stork (Ciconia nigra) or the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaetus
albicilla) are
>found here in appreciable numbers.
>
> The Somogy Provincial Association for Nature Conservation
><www.stvsz.hu> owns and manages protected land along this "Ecological
>Corridor" and organizes 6 day tours on horse back that offer 4 to 8
>experienced riders the possibility of riding 220km through this
unspoiled
>territory. 2 extra participants who prefer not to ride can also join
the
>group by travelling on a horse-drawn cart that follows the riders.
The cart
>also carries fodder for the horses and drink for the riders as well
as
>giving them an opportunity to rest.
>
> The horses are half-blood of KISBÉR. It is a Hungarian race,
>mid-size, resistant and of a good nature. The terrain conditions in
the
>Somogy region are ideal for horse riding. Flat or slightly hilly.
The soil
>is mostly sandy and dry for most of the year.
> What makes this tour really remarkable is that the group
rides for up
>to 6 days, straight north to South, in unspoilt and little inhabited
areas.
>The organisers are nature experts. The Somogy Provincial Association
for
>Nature Conservation (SPANC) is an internationally successful non-
profit
>nature protection organization (See: <www.solutions-
site.org/cat1_sol107>)
>and is running the tour to share with horse and nature-lovers the
beauty of
>the region where it operates.
>
> All the night stops during the tour are made on the shores
of lakes
>in centers owned by SPANC, where the riders can swim, angle, or just
relax.
>Meals are based on Hungarian Cuisine. A Land rover brings the
luggage along
>to every stop in time for the arrival of the participants. There is
an
>English, German (or French) and Hungarian-speaking guide that
accompanies
>the group. There are also two helpers, one of who drives the cart,
and the
>other who takes care of the horses.
>
>2002 Dates: Saturday, July 6 - Saturday July 13.
>If you put together a group of at least 5 riders we will organise
the tour
>on the date that suits you.
>Prices per day of riding all included (Meals, lodging, etc.,):
>100 EURO per person with horse. (Total for the 6 days: 600 EURO)
>60 EURO if you if you travel in the carriage. Half price for
children.
>All profits from your payments will be used to support the Somogy
Provincial
>Association of Nature Conservation.
>
>For more info:
>Katalin Almásy
>Tel: +36/30/294-5140, e-mail: spanc@...
>
>
>
>
>_______
>http://www.equinfo.org/tourisme/