In addition to showcasing a variety of exotic wildlife, our Zoo also offers visitors the chance to encounter horses. Beyond simply presenting them, we take pride in our deep equestrian traditions, with notable achievements in enhancing the bond between humans and horses, as well as in conserving a Carpathian horse breed.
Horses have always been part of our Zoo. Initially, this was primarily practical: before motorized vehicles became widespread, transportation—including within the Zoo—relied on horse-drawn carts. These carts were used for delivering feed to animal enclosures and for other tasks beyond the Zoo’s boundaries that would now require trucks.
In the mid-20th century, for external transport, we used a mix of trucks and horse-drawn carts depending on the distance and load. However, after 1959, when horse-drawn carts were banned in Budapest’s inner districts, this practice became unsustainable. Within the Zoo, however, horse-drawn vehicles continued to be used until the 2000s. Visitors may even occasionally spot a horse-drawn cart today, such as during a recent event where Santa Claus delivered gifts to the Zoo’s residents by cart.
Beyond their practical uses, horses hold significant educational value at our Zoo. This extends to all domestic animals we present. In the past, animals like horses, cattle, pigs, and poultry were integral to daily life, as most people lived off agriculture and land transportation depended on horseback or animal-drawn vehicles.
Today, lifestyles have changed dramatically. Most people now live in cities, and while many keep pets, encounters with farm animals are rare. As a result, many people, especially children, are more familiar with exotic wildlife than with domestic animals like turkeys or water buffalo. In some cases, even distinguishing between a goat and a sheep can be challenging.
Modern zoos have increasingly prioritized introducing visitors to domestic and farm animals alongside exotic species. This trend has a long history at our Zoo. Former director Adolf Lendl, ahead of his time in the 1910s, advocated for this approach. This is why we now house a variety of farm animals, from Hungarian Grey Cattle and Mangalica pigs to pygmy pigs, goats, sheep, and poultry. In 2024, we further expanded this collection by introducing Grey Cattle and water buffalo in the open-air paddocks of the Biodome, marking their return to public display after decades.
Horses remain a key part of this initiative. Presenting them has always been important, and for much of the Zoo’s history, visitors could enjoy horseback riding or carriage rides.
The connection between horses and the Zoo also lives on in the legacy of Gyula Hölzel, our legendary photographer. On busy days, a pony cart was available for visitors to take memorable photos. This service was immensely popular, and many families’ photo albums still include images of pony carts from those times. Even in the 1990s, children could pose on ponies for photographs—long before digital photography became widespread.
Over the years, visitors to the Zoo have encountered various horse breeds. Today, we primarily focus on Hucul horses, a Carpathian breed, though our equine residents also include a Falabella pony.
Horses remain a symbol of the rich traditions and history of our Zoo, reflecting both our practical past and our commitment to education and conservation.
Hucul horses hold a special place in our hearts, particularly because their survival in Hungary today is largely thanks to the Budapest Zoo and our former director, Csaba Anghi. Like many other domestic animals, horses have been selectively bred over time to create numerous distinct breeds. However, some breeds lose their significance, receive less attention, and eventually face the threat of extinction. This issue isn’t exclusive to wild species—some domestic breeds are endangered as well. Preserving them is often important not only for cultural heritage but also for practical and economic reasons. Our Zoo has played a pivotal role in rescuing several traditional Hungarian or long-established domestic breeds, from Grey Cattle to the Transylvanian Hound, and the Hucul horse is among them.
The Hucul horse originated along the Carpathian Mountains and is considered a shared heritage by Hungarians, Poles, Slovaks, Ukrainians, and Romanians. This is understandable, as these nations have lived as neighbors in this region for centuries. The name “Hucul” itself refers to a subgroup of Rusyn people. Originally, the breed was used as a pack and riding horse in mountainous areas. In the past, it even served military purposes, particularly in logistical tasks for mountain troops, with entire herds bred for this role.
However, the advent of motorization threatened the survival of the Hucul horse. The scattered population in Hungary was gathered and registered in a stud book at the initiative of Csaba Anghi. Later, when the Zoo could no longer accommodate the herd, it was transferred to the Aggtelek National Park, where it continues to thrive.
Our Zoo has extensive traditions in presenting and fostering the bond between humans and horses. Initially, this work aimed to enhance the quality of human-horse collaboration while ensuring the animals’ welfare—a concept not articulated in those terms at the time. This goal was central to the establishment of the Zoo’s Riding and Driving School in 1935, led by retired cavalry lieutenant colonel Zdenkó Horváth.
The school quickly gained popularity, bolstered by its participation in the National Agricultural Exhibition the following year, where its five-horse pony team performed. The coachman was 12-year-old Walter Waldmann, a student of the school.
Although the school closed during World War II, our equestrian traditions evolved to meet new challenges. As motorization reduced the need for horses in transportation and military use, their role shifted toward sports, recreation, and leisure. This transition required adapting past knowledge to new forms of human-horse interaction.
In 1975, under the initiative and leadership of Dr. Ágnes Szidnainé Csete, the Zoo established the Experimental Children’s Riding School. The program served pedagogical, educational, and research purposes. Children interested in horses and equestrian sports could learn to ride and care for horses. Research goals included studying conditions for leisure riding, such as determining the most suitable pony or small horse breeds, including the Hucul, Tengelic pony, and Shetland pony. The findings were widely published and even formed the basis of a doctoral thesis.
The school left a lasting impact on its students, many of whom pursued careers in equestrian sports or horse breeding. Today, riding schools are widespread across the country, but during their early development, many drew inspiration from the Zoo’s program.
In the 1990s, the Zoo’s equestrian team, led by the legendary Béla Lénárd (pioneer of the “Puszta Five” driving technique), performed regular demonstrations for visitors.
Additionally, our Zoo has a history of inclusive equestrian programs. For over 25 years, we’ve organized sessions where visually impaired children could interact with calm, gentle horses as part of what we called “sensitive zoopedagogy.” These efforts continue today, reflecting our commitment to exploring and nurturing the multifaceted relationship between humans and horses.
From conservation to education, the legacy of the Hucul horse and our equestrian traditions remain integral to the mission of the Budapest Zoo.
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