The surprising connection between horses and Hungarian history

The bond between humans and animals has been a long-standing one, dating over 15,000 years, as per Bayer. While you might be thinking of dogs or cats, in this instance, we’re talking about horses. They have held a special place in our society for millennia, and this is especially true for Hungary. So, if you’re curious to learn more about this incredible connection, make sure to keep reading. 

A Brief History of Horses in Hungary

Prior to modern innovations, horses assisted humans with agriculture work, travel, and even during wartime for millennia. And it is a documented fact that the Magyars, or Hungarians, conquered the Carpathian Basin in the 9th century on horseback. This simple fact already hints at the importance of horses for the nation, turning them into somewhat of brothers-in-arms. They were so valued that, at one point in the 11th century, the King of Hungary banned their export. 

Later on, to replenish the number of horses lost due to the monarchy’s war and ensure their high-quality stock, the Imperial and Royal Stud-Farm Institute of Mezohegyes was founded by Joseph II in 1784. This is considered to be the second-oldest major stud farm in Hungary, with the first one being the Mata Stud of Hortobagy, dating back to 1671. Both of these are still operating today, in fact, there are currently four major stud-farms that have been open for centuries.

Unfortunately, after WWII, horse breeding hit an ultimate low and endangered many native horse breeds, such as the Gidran. This led to the industry pivoting to breeding a new variety of species, the sport horse. After 1989, private studs and breeding associations were formed to preserve and improve national breeds, along with the breeding program for Hungarian sport horses.