Horse tourism
Equestrian tourism becomes more and more popular around the world. It is much more interesting than traveling in a locked up car or carrying a heavy back pack on your shoulders. Equestrian sport positively effects your health and is useful for people of all ages. It is a wonderful to take a rest from the hectic city life and enjoy the beauty of nature. Surely, it is necessary to have certain riding skills (at least to sit in a saddle), but they can be easily acquired by people of all ages.
Equestrian tourism in Rostov region will give you unforgettable experience, here you have a unique opportunity to ride across the Don steppes to your heart content.
The Gold of the Don land.
From the riders' point of view, there are two reasons to take an equestrian “tour” across the Don land. The first one is the horses. If you see the red herd of the Don or Budennov's breed, grazing in the steppes, you will never forget this amazing sight. The red hair is glittering as gold in the sun, beautifully contrasting to the green grass and the blue ribbons of the springs. These horses were used mainly for the Don Cossacks' military service. But they still are remarkable in such qualities as stamina, stableness and reliability.
Upon request, you can visit the local stud farms, for instance the Kirovsky or Zimovnikovsky, watch the famous stallions, young foals, listen to the stories of the experienced specialists about the breed history, horse keeping and rearing.
Steppe all around you.
The second reason to take an equestrian “tour” is the possibility to ride across the Don steppes to your heart content. You can rent a horse in one of the private stables and ride for several hours (or the whole day) in the fields.
The steppe is a special place. You can go slowly along the edge of the field, full of golden wheat or barley, or ride as fast as you can along the narrow path, left by some heavy truck or tractor, trot quietly through the blooming meadows, covered up to the horizon by tulips, wild peonies, and in the summer by unique amazing feather grass. You may want to take a rest by a lone tree, growing in a steppe, or ride looking for a small lake or river, to swim in the clear blue water. You can go swimming together with your horse, or watch the horses swimming on farms of Tatiana Nagornaya, located in Rostov-on-Don and village Dolzhanka, by the Azov sea. Though, it should be mentioned, only a skilled rider can swim on a horse, the one, who is not afraid to fall out of saddle, while galloping, and control his emotions in case of emergency. The unskilled riders should better train in the fenced field by a stable in advance. These services are provided by private stables, such as P.N. Chuiko’s stable in Petrovka, P.M. Scherbakov’s farm, nearby the town of Belaya Kalitva, G.V. Kolesnikov’s stable in Novo-Martynovka.
Cossack coloring.
Do not forget, that the Don is the land of the Cossacks. So, taking a ride on the Don Cossack horses, you will learn a lot about the Cossack way of life. Besides, after the ride, you can go hunting or fishing, taste the real Don fish soup and other traditional Cossack dishes.
Comfort traveling.
Nowadays, there are many private stables, providing all the tourist services in Rostov region. Here you can rent a horse and the accoutrements, get accommodation in a small cozy cottage, go to a sauna, dine in a cafe, etc. There are all the necessary conditions for accepting the guests. Though, for a true horseman, the comfort is of no importance. The things that matter are a good horse, comfortable saddle and the endless steppe. All these you can find on the Don land!
Nowadays, practically every town and village of Rostov region has riding clubs and schools, actively cooperating with tour agencies.
The list of horse clubs
Tour route
“Across the places of Don Cossack valor”
Horse excursion
“Across the Zimovnoe tract”
Horse excursion
“Along Grigory Melekhov's Path”
Horse excursion
“Golden Hills”
Horse excursion
“Ride, my horse, ride…”
Horse excursion