The mountains from the saddle

Six minutes from the residence, in Szczyrk itself, Stajnia Eliksir is a family stable that has taught riding since 1994. Every first lesson starts with meeting the horse: learning to groom it and saddle it before getting on, and learning how horses behave. Groups are small, the horses patient, and for their sake the instructor decides which horse suits each rider. In the holidays the stable runs camps, summer and winter.

• Rides out of 1.5 to 2 hours, in a group or alone with the instructor.
• Lessons of one hour for children, teenagers and adults, in small groups.
• Summer and winter riding camps, weekends in the saddle for children; the instructor decides which horse suits each rider.

We book your ride for you and send you the total.

On the edge of Bielsko-Biała, Stadnina Kasztanka keeps ten horses, among them Gina, Gipsy, Mamba, Rambo and Zeus. Beginners start on the lunge in the arena, which is lit for evening rides. Riders with some experience go out with an instructor: on short rides to the Błonia meadows or the Lasek Cygański wood, or on rides of several hours up to Szyndzielnia, Klimczok, Stefanka or Dębowiec, the hills above the city: a way to see the country around Bielsko-Biała from the saddle. Lessons run on weekday afternoons until dusk and from ten in the morning at weekends. In summer the stable runs week-long riding courses for children. It is about twenty minutes from the residence by car.

• Rides out with an instructor, from one hour, for riders with some experience: to the Błonia meadows or Lasek Cygański, or several hours up to Szyndzielnia, Klimczok, Stefanka or Dębowiec.
• Individual and group lessons, a lit arena for evening riding.
• Lessons on weekdays from 14:00 until dusk, weekends and holidays from 10:00.

We book your ride for you and send you the total.

A family ranch in the heart of the Beskid Mały. Pick one, two or three days in the saddle through the mountains and forests; the ranch sees to the rest, meals and nights included.

Ranczo Kozubnik is a family ranch in Porąbka, in the heart of the Beskid Mały, far from city noise among forests, meadows and mountain views. Its rides go out through the mountains and the woods, and you choose only the length. One day means four or five hours in the saddle with a grazing stop, and a grill on the trail or back at the stable. Two or three days mean meals and nights at the ranch, in a wooden chalet. Qualified instructors teach every level, from a first lesson on the lunge to jumping and dressage. For those who would rather not ride, a coachman drives a carriage for up to five through the valley.

• Trail rides through the mountains and forests of the Beskid Mały: one day (about 4–5 hours with a grazing stop and a grill), two days or three days, with meals and nights included.
• Lessons for children, teenagers and adults, from a first lesson for beginners to jumping and dressage.
• A wooden chalet to stay in.

We book your ride for you and send you the total.

Hucul horses bred in Korbielów since 1989, at the foot of Pilsko. A full day in the saddle, or several days along the high meadows and the border ridge, with nights in mountain huts.

In Korbielów, at the foot of Pilsko, the Połonina stud has bred Hucul horses since 1989: thirteen were born, raised and trained here, all licensed as trail horses. Their names read like a meadow: Zygzak, Mięta, Malwina, Zefir, Montana, Margaretka, Magnolia. The Hucul is the Carpathians’ own horse, hardy and gentle, made for mountain trails. Every ride goes out with an instructor, and the first one starts in the paddock. Then the mountains: an hour or two, a full day, or the rides of the stud’s own route book, up to Hala Miziowa and Rysianka, along the border ridge to Wielka Racza, across to the Slovak side of Pilsko, with nights in mountain huts and the horses grazing until morning.

• Rides in the Beskid Żywiecki: by the hour, a full day, or several days.
• Route book: Hala Miziowa, Rysianka and Hala Lipowska; the border ridge to Wielka Racza; Pilsko from the Slovak side; Babia Góra; nights in mountain huts, guesthouses or a tent camp; one plan runs 13 days.
• Lessons for children and adults, the first ride always in the paddock, a riding helmet always; riding badges.
• The instructor decides which horse suits each rider.

We book your ride for you and send you the total.

One of the largest herds of Hucul horses in Poland, in a stream valley above Brenna. Rides of three to six hours up to Błatnia, Klimczok and Szyndzielnia, or over several days.

In the valley of the Jatny stream above Brenna, on the slope of the hill, the Hucuł centre keeps what it calls one of the largest herds of Hucul horses in Poland, with Silesian and Arab horses beside them. From the stable yard the routes climb straight into the Beskid Śląski: three hours to Błatnia and back, three and a half to Równica, five and a half to the Trzy Kopce Wiślańskie, six over Klimczok and Szyndzielnia. Rides last a day, two days or several, and beginners start with lessons. When the snow comes, the carriages give way to sleighs. The centre has rooms for ninety guests, should one day in the saddle not be enough.

• Rides of one day, two days or several; lessons; walks on horseback in the country.
• Routes from the stable: Błatnia (3 h), Równica (3.5 h), Błatnia and Jaworze (5 h), Trzy Kopce Wiślańskie (5.5 h), Biały Krzyż (6 h), Klimczok and Szyndzielnia (6 h).
• Carriage rides; sleigh rides in winter; rooms for 90 guests.

We book your ride for you and send you the total.