The Count Mikes Stud Farm

Count Mikes Stud

Learn how to ride or join a horseback tour on the Estate. The Count Mikes Stud Farm awaits its visitors to enhance body and mind with a replenishing ride.
The horse stud existed since the late 17th century since Mihály MIKES.
As a curiosity the Empress Elisabeth of Russia brought 28 Transylvanian horses in 1758 in order to create a stud in St. Petersburg.
During WW I. in 1917 the horses were moved for protection towards today's Austrian border. Count Ármin MIKES had his horses racing in Vienna in 1918 with the family colours yellow and red.
In 2018 English thoroughbred and Szekler mares where bought and are being crossbred with Arabs to re-establish the former renowned breed.

 Cross Country Riding Tours

1.   To Aratás plateau and back

Itinerary: Estate - Aratás plateau– Gelence (village) – Estate
Length: 4-5h
Maximum no. of participants: 4 persons, weight limit 85 Kg
Difficulty: advanced (good handle of horse)
Meal plan: picnic basket
Optionals: cultural visit at the 13th century Saint Emeric church at Gelence
Recommended equipment: raincoat, long trousers, boots. Protective gear is provided for you by Stud Farm.

Description:

You will be travelling on the back of Vidám, Fickó, Laci or Sári following the side-ridge road towards the top of the Estate’s forest. On your ride in the conservation area – a beautiful deciduous forest – you will pass the Wolfe hole and our oldest bear watch area. You have all the chances to spot deer on your way into the wild. Almost at the top there is our fascinating Hanging Terrace from where you have superb view on the Carpathians (even as far as the Fogaras Mountains). Finally, you’ll arrive to the highest point of your trip, the Aratás plateau (1100m alt.), from where you will be heading North. Eastwards, all the ridges of the Curve of the Mountains will be seen. This used to be the boundary of Europe for about 1000 years and the end of Christian world. To the west you can take a glimpse of Gelence to where you will be heading. Gelence is the home of the world-famous Saint Emeric church with all the murals from the middle age.
Pursuing the line of the forest you will get back to the Estate.

 2.   On the trails of the 19th century Mikes Stud

Itinerary: Estate - Aratás plateau– Jakabhavas – Kovászna – Hankó valley – Estate
Length: 7-8h
Maximum no. of participants: 4 persons, weight limit 85 Kg
Difficulty: advanced (good handle of horse)
Meal plan: picnic basket
Recommended equipment: raincoat, long trousers, boots. Protective gear is provided for you by Stud Farm.

Description:

The 4 Szekler horses, Vidám, Fickó, Laci or Sári are the reproduction of the old bloodline bread by count Ármin Mikes in the old times. Back then, the Summer pastures of the Stud was Jakabhavas (alpine area of the Carpathian Curve) where lush grass, clean water and terrain to train was at hand to breed strong and agile equine.
 On your rout you will be heading towards the crest passing the bear hide and the Hanging Terrace of the Estate. Once at 1100m alt. you will turn South-East into the wilderness to reach Jakabhavas. On the way the whole geographical basin will open in front of you. In the old times the logged timber has been moved into the valley by narrow gauge railway. The last tracks are still to be seen. When replenished by nature, the trail slopes down to Kovászna (one of the most well-known spa places of Romania based on Co2 exhalations and fizzy mineral water) from where you shortly get back to Zabola.