Horses by the Lake!
26th Zamárdi Amateur Pair Carriage Driving Competition
If you’re looking for something truly unique during your Balaton holiday, this is an experience you won’t want to miss. On 6th September 2025, Zamárdi’s public beach transforms into a vibrant arena for the 26th Amateur Pair Carriage Driving Competition – a free event filled with energy, tradition, and horse-powered spectacle.
The photos you see here were taken at last year’s event, capturing moments of drama and grace: thundering hooves, sharp turns, and spectators standing just metres from the action. This year promises even more.
What is “pair carriage driving”?
It’s a traditional equestrian discipline where drivers control a pair of horses pulling a light carriage through a course of tight turns, cones, and timed sections. While professional versions (called combined driving) include dressage and cross-country sections, the amateur competitions are usually focused on precision, agility, and speed – still highly technical and impressive to watch.
At Zamárdi, the day typically includes two rounds of obstacle driving and a fun, faster-paced “hunting-style” drive at the end. Exact details may vary from year to year.
Why should you go?
Whether you’re a horse enthusiast or a curious visitor, the competition is fast-paced, exciting, and surprisingly accessible. You don’t need to know the rules to enjoy the drama of a well-handled turn or a photo-finish dash between cones.
- It’s completely free – no ticket, no fuss, just turn up!
- You’re right next to the action – watch from just a few metres away.
- It’s family-friendly and unique – something you truly won’t see every day.
- Great atmosphere – a countryside-style event with a local twist, right by the Balaton.
This isn’t your usual late-summer beach day – it’s one filled with tradition, adrenaline, and the sight of beautiful horses doing what they were trained for.
Where is this area?
On the corner of Margó Ede promenade and Kiss Ernő street.
How to get there?
15 minutes’ walk from the Apartment towards Szántód, just a couple of minutes by car. Pay for parking!
How much is it?
Free entry
