Every year, the Babyakovo Hippodrome, a small village located in the vicinity of the city of Voronezh, attracts tens of thousands of tourists and fans of equestrian sports. The stud farm and the hippodrome are a little further from the village.
This is a real entertainment complex, which is called "Russian Estate". In addition to the hippodrome, it also includes a riding school, an equestrian club, a restaurant and a recreation center.
Revival of traditions
Today the Babyakovo Hippodrome is a farm that contains about three hundred thoroughbred horses. Less than thirty percent of the animals belong to private individuals. The Babyakovo Hippodrome rents them a stall and provides horse care services. The rest of the horses are the so-called sports animals that take part in races, as well as rolling horses.
Horse rental
Among idle tourists, it is traditionally the rental animals that cause the greatest interest. Having paid a symbolic fee, each guest who arrives at the Babyakovo Hippodrome gets a unique opportunity to chat with these beautiful and graceful animals.
The riding process is controlled by experienced instructors who, if necessary, will present a couple of lessons and will monitor the correct fit, as well as the correct position of the legs. Sometimes even the most experienced riders will take but accidentally forget that the heel needs to be pulled down, but the toe - towards the horse.
All the horses employed at the box office have a rather meek and flexible disposition. It is unlikely that they can be stroked while they are in the stall, but they never refuse to treat them for free.
What do local horses like? Like everyone - fresh and crispy carrots. Stock up on her properly, going to the racetrack.
Babyakovo - Voronezh - a shuttle bus that runs hourly between the village and the regional center. The fare is hardly more than forty rubles.
All in an adult way
And now let's talk about what the stands themselves and the racing circle, which form the main racetrack Babyakovo (Voronezh). Horse racing is carried out according to the schedule, which is published on the official website, a hundred meters from the place of rental horses. The whole area around is paved with paving slabs, and the sports complex itself is a glazed building of capital construction.
From the stands offers a bewitching view of the racing circle overgrown with grass. Climbing to the stands is carried out on concrete stairs. Armchairs, as expected, plastic. They are painted in tricolor. The sports season at the racetrack starts on May 8th. It ends on October 2 with a draw of eminent prizes.
At the height of the sports season, horse races are held once every two weeks. In winter, you can periodically see riders in the art of show jumping and general dressage techniques. Demonstrations are held at specially prepared venues for these purposes.
Additional services
Throughout the year, a restaurant serves the hippodrome's visitors. And in the summer there is an open cafe with a special menu for the smallest. All events that take place at the race track in Babyakovo are designed for a family visit.
The equestrian school operating on the territory of the complex accepts children who are already twelve years old to learn horse riding. As for the kids, they train on a pony. Horseback riding training takes place twice a week on weekdays.
With adult riders, regardless of the level and experience of riding, they are engaged individually. Training takes place both outdoors and indoors.
In the days when the hippodrome is empty, themed photo sessions and even festive celebrations and wedding ceremonies are held there. For those visitors who are still not ready to start independent riding on a horse, "Russian Estate" offers trips on triple or one-horse teams.