Hungarian folk carriages - Hungarian!

Balazs Pataki, the author of our book, was found by his parents in the village of Vassurány when he was two years old, because he had run away from home to admire the sight of the huge, cold-blooded horses with their ornate rubber harnesses, which could be seen in Szombathely, 12 km away. His fascination with horses has remained unbroken ever since. He has been an active participant in Hungarian equestrian life since 1966. He has been a stallion handler, technician, agricultural engineer, horse breeding supervisor, researcher, breeding organiser, competition judge and university lecturer. He has travelled to different parts of the country (Western Transdanubia, Northern Hungary, Tiszántúl, Central Transdanubia), and studied the different methods of riding and the local peculiarities of the peasant farming of the time. Since 1968, he has been involved in the organisation of the Hortobágy Horse Riding Days, and since 1970 in the organisation of the equestrian programme of the National Agricultural Exhibitions, and in the organisation of many other equestrian events.

In his book, he draws on more than forty years of experience to help those who want to go back to the original source and preserve our equestrian traditions in a dignified way. To this end, he briefly describes the pastoral culture of the Hungarian people, details the folk carriages, the function of the carts, carts, wagons and carts, and the stylistic features of the different regions. It also gives ideas on the use, care and storage of additional equipment and on how to present them at traditional events.