Kupres Farm

Horses & Riding

Tack

The tack is a mixture - some horses are ridden in English saddles and some in western saddles, but there are one or two endurance saddles too. They choose the saddles which best fit the horse, but if you have a strong preference please tell them.

Most horses are ridden in simple snaffle bridles or occasionally bitless.

Horses

A mix of Bosnian/Arab/Appaloosa crosses, some pure Bosnian horses, some pure Arabs and some other crossbreeds. Only one or two are bigger than 15.2hh (they average around 15 - 15.2hh or so).

Riding

There are 2 itineraries:

• Kupres Plateau Week Stay is a based ride
• Introduction to Trail Riding is a based ride

Ages

12+ for riders out in the countryside.

Health

None specific.

Weight

90kg / 198 lbs / 14 stone 2 lbs

Food & Accommodation

Food

Food here is in the traditional style and homemade. Breakfast consists of items like bread, cheese, ham, jams and honey with juice and tea/coffee. You eat this in the accommodation cabin before you head to the stables or out to ski. Tea, milk and sugar are generally provided and they will buy you anything that you need. Lunch is a variety of pies, stews, goulashes and similar, always served with bread and sometimes with salad or vegetables. There are also local dishes like meat wrapped in cabbage leaves. Dinner is usually something grilled like fresh fish, chicken or sausages. The hosts are happy to find out what the guests like to eat and prepare something suitable but please bear in mind that this destination is fairly heavy on bread, meat and potatoes.

Occasionally picnics are taken for lunch (usually meat and bread of course but veggies can be catered for). You will find that the meals are freshly prepared with locally sourced ingredients - you certainly won't go hungry here! They also make their own cheese and guests can sometimes get involved in crayfishing and mushroom picking during their rides (in warmer months). These goodies are then cooked up for your next meal.

A drink with each meal is included but other drinks can be paid for locally (you can pay in Euros). As a rough guide, a beer (0.33l) or juice is usually about 1€, a bottle of wine can vary from 2€ - 20€ depending on the quality. If there is something in particular that you prefer to drink then just let us know and Mate or Marko can get some in for you. You help yourself to drinks in the bar area and keep a tally and pay at the end of your trip, it's very casual and easygoing. You can try some local schnapps and other home-brews!

Accommodation

Accommodation is in one of two cabins (small houses on the farm) which have one double bedroom, one bedroom with two beds, a gallery area with single sofa bed and a double sofa bed in living area. There is also a mini kitchen area (fridge, sink and hob), toilet and shower.

Please note that other guests may also stay in the cabin at the same time as you, unless you specify that you wish to be alone (something which may incur an extra cost). The two bedrooms are separated but in the case that there are other guests at the same time, you would be required to share use of the shower room and communal areas.

Next door to these cosy cabins, which have a log burner and TV, is another cabin which is the social area. This has a big coal cooking area, a bar and lots of seating. Here you eat your meals and socialise in the evenings - Mate and Marko will often go home before you go to bed and you can shut up the bar whenever you are done. PLEASE NOTE: you will find that the locals and other guests smoke inside the bar area. There is a big extractor fan over the coal cooking area so it's not too bad, but you must be comfortable with this to enjoy the trip!

Outside there is a covered seating area with fireplace/cooking area and some chairs and a hammock.

Cabins have free internet for the guests.

Itineraries

Kupres Plateau Week Stay Standard accommodation.

Introduction to Trail Riding Basic accommodation.

Other Activities

Your hosts have e-bikes available and can also organise cycling, hiking, skiing (winter only), swimming and a visit to try and find the wild horses. These activities are undertaken at your own responsibility and may incur extra costs (paid locally)!

Travel

***Please do not book flights arriving late in the day without consulting us first!***

Group transfers are included from either Split airport (150km, approx 2- 2.5 hrs) or the airport in Sarajevo (140km, approx 2.5 hrs).

NOTE: Transfers are grouped so you should be prepared to wait for the arrival of other guests. It is at least 2 hours each way from any airport to Kupres and the team make these transfers themselves, so each transfer is over a 4 hour round trip for them to drive personally. If you prefer not to wait then you can come by bus to Kupres or hire a car and we can help you.

Testimonials

Marian C., Oct. 1, 2024

It was an amazing adventure with lovely people and horses and stunning environment. Favourite memory? Getting to know the horses through riding and helping with the foals.
The accommodation was comfortable and all my food issues were really well catered for. They were always willing to go above and beyond.

Frank B., Oct. 18, 2023

12 different wonderful rides on 10 different horses. Beautiful landscape for riding. The equipment (english and western) excellent, there are horses for different riding skills, from easy to canter up to challinging to ride. I had a house for my own, the food was homemade and delicious. Nicolas and Petra (my favorite) are good and nice guides.

Bo & Marika, Oct. 17, 2023

Great as usual! The beauty of the place and the friendly atmosphere with our friends at the farm and, of course the riding.

Nathan M., Oct. 17, 2023

We really enjoyed the holiday, the riding was at a good pace, lots of long canters over perfect ground. Hosts were so friendly and really looked after us. Good mixture of terrain with rides across the grassland and into the mountains where we saw bear footprints! The trip to see the wild horses was well worth it too.

Jenny S., Aug. 10, 2023

Fantastic in every way. we were so well looked after, I can't think of anything (to improve).

Sally R,, Oct. 19, 2022

Magical, fabulous, wild and free! All the long, fast canters and gallops - of which there were many! Especially the ones on Astrid, such a lovely horse. The wood burner in the cabin was lovely and cosy on an evening.

Amanda S., Sept. 28, 2022

Cantering along with the 5 baby foals of around 3 months old has to be the most stand-out experience I have had on horseback. I can't fault Bosnia as a riding destination or the team at Kupres. Nothing is too much trouble for Mate and Marko. Nada's food as ever was fantastic, the accommodations are quaint and comfortable and Kupres offers some of the best riding of anywhere.

Ilena C., June 7, 2021

A very different experience mainly as the weather was so bad but we were warned and prepared! Lots of good long rides on capable horses. Amazing scenery! I rode a number of horses and found them all to be perfectly suitable and enjoyable. Lots of lovely food and wine, gratefully received.

Kate A, Feb. 13, 2020

Absolutely amazing! I was grinning from ear to ear all week. Fantastic horses, hosts and scenery!!! Can completely understand why so many people return!

Glenys, Nov. 6, 2019

It was my birthday while we were away and they couldn't have done more to make it a special day, even riding in a blizzard!

Victoria, Sept. 25, 2019

Fantastic! This holiday was amazing - beautiful location, fabulous exciting riding. The people who owned & ran the farm were so friendly, welcoming & helpful. The food was excellent and Accommodation lovely.

Maria P., Nov. 2, 2017

An amazing trip and very memorable experience! The riding was great, very fast paced whilst testing your riding ability, which I loved! The scenery was beautiful and just seemed to never end. Cabins were so cute and had more than what we expected. Food was always nice and fresh. Very happy with Šila (horse) who I had during the mornings but I did like taking others out in the afternoons, especially baby Morocco. (Favourite memory?) I have 3 memorable moments: 1) the mountain trail - so much fun and breathtaking views 2) catering the whole way home from the bottom of the mountain - endurance experience 3) Falling off in a swamp - classic!

Kat M, Sept. 6, 2017

My new favourite destination. Exceptional riding and hospitality. Stunning views, delicious food and great gallops - the list goes on. Favourite memory was super fast gallops with Hector, sitting in the window with a beer and watching the beautiful sunset - laughing lots. The food was delicious and varied - particularly good vegetarian options. Accommodation was rustic and comfortable. I loved the views and the woodburning stove. Horses clearly well loved and cared for. Tack was adequate - some saddles more comfortable than others. Mate and Marco's were superb - great company, good fun and always seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Sonya D., Sept. 23, 2016

Brilliant. The people are wonderful and really make you feel welcome. Horses are fabulous (so well behaved, ready and willing) and the riding is exceptional. (Favourite memory?) Riding through the forest, long canters, the food!! Too many to mention. Tack is old, but understand that things are hard to come by there.

Charlotte W., Aug. 23, 2016

A retreat! It is so lovely to spend the mornings and evenings riding wonderful horses at speed through fantastically beautiful countryside and spend the rest of the time enjoying incredible food and hospitality, or just being in peaceful and beautiful surroundings. (Favourite memory?) Galloping across the top of the long mountain that sits behind the town - like having a big green runway all to myself. The visit to the wild horses was also a really fantastic experience. The last canter home with Sunčana riding Dora and trying to get out of the rain - so fun! |every meal was wonderful - freshly cooked and often using home produced ingredients. Plenty of vegetables as well as lots of meat - healthy and hearty.

Ross M., May 18, 2016

A fantastic experience. I was treated like family, the Kupres Farm team were all so welcoming, helpful and great fun too. Could not speak more highly of the time I had. Not just exhilarating horse riding through the snow and mountains, but also great skiing (gear included, and Mate is a great instructor!). I got to meet so many great people - family and friends, who all helped me feel at home despite travelling by myself in winter!

Sarah P., May 17, 2016

It was an incredible week, I felt utterly content the entire time. The horses were wonderful and the people so friendly and welcoming. I laughed constantly and wore a permanent smile.

Sue W., Dec. 8, 2015

Beautiful country, wonderful people, excellent company, stunning views - amazing holiday! Accommodation is first class and the food was amazing (and loads of it!) Beer was very good too! (My horse) Sheila was lovely - well behaved and lovely tempered. (Your guides?) Absolute nutcases and lovely fellas. Young Marco took me out and what a lovely lad, so polite and friendly! (Favourite memory?) Probably the trip up the mountain to see the "free" wild horses and be able to walk amongst them.

Debbie G., Dec. 8, 2015

Great company. Great riding. Great fun!