Alexander the Great never parted with his horse as he thought it brought him luck in every battle. Roman emperor Caligula built a golden and marble stall for his beloved equestrian friend.
In most portrays, Napoleon is depicted on his white horse, which became a kind of “trademark” for the Corsican conqueror, while the close tie between the American Indians and their horses is now a legend.
Romanians had been good friends with horses for a long time before the communist regime inaugurated an age when all valuable horses were either sold for a pittance or underfed to death.
However, for the past few years, horseriding has made a comeback into Romanians’ life, as several riding clubs re-opened in Bucharest.
Clubul de Echitatie Bucuresti (Bucharest Equitation Club), which benefits from the wonderful landscape of Baneasa forest, is one of them.
The club was launched in 1994 when it started its activity within Pipera region and offered the “services” of six horses bought by Dan Filimon, the club’s owner. After three years, the club moved to Baneasa area.
“Passion drove me into this,” Dan Filimon says. “My education had nothing to do with horse breeding, as I am a History and International Political Relations graduate, but I decided to give it a try.”
The club owner says he has the most complex service offer of all the Romanian clubs: hosting, coaching, horse-riding school, horse transportation in the country and abroad.
Aspiring horse-riders are assisted by coaches and teachers certified by the Romanian Equitation Federation and a riding session that lasts 45 minutes costs 200,000 lei.
A 1-hour session in the forest, during which the client is accompanied by an instructor, costs 300,000 lei, while a trip by carriage in the woods costs 200,000 lei. The club offers 20% discount for subscriptions.
“We are trying to maintain the prices at a reasonable level, though our expenses are high. For instance, we pay 1500 dollars per month as a rent for the land,” Dan Filimon says.
The charge for hosting services is 200 dollars per month, but the price is negotiable depending of the number of horses to be hosted. The charge includes complete feeding and care services.
The club has not resorted to advertising campaigns so far, as the owner relies on personal contacts and loyal clients, so 75% of the capacity is already busy.
Dan Filimon also owns a stable in Greece, where he keeps horses for races and for sale. “It is a kind of show-room, where we do not “exhibit” more than 5-6 horses at the same time,” Filimon says.
The club is also involved in horse trade. For instance, a colt has been recently sold for 8,000 dollars. Horse prices in Romania are now in line with international standards, although there were times when a colt could have been bought for 500 dollars, Filimon says.
A school horse may cost between 2,000 and 4,000 dollars, while the noble horses are priced about DM60,000, depending on the age and performances. Each award increases one horse’s value, so the prices may even triple.
Dan Filimon admits that the activity of his club is far from being profitable for the time being. “We bring money from home, and I am the main provider,” he says. On the other hand, the owner is happy to see some improvements, as perspectives are encouraging.