The horse is one of the species most aesthetically beautiful animals and the noblest time there. Good-natured creatures who have been our faithful companions throughout centuries of history. But nevertheless, and although it is hard to believe, there are still some horses that have resisted to live with humans, avoiding be tamed, and they are known as “wild horses”. But keep in mind that what we know today as wild horses are, in all cases, horses descended from domesticated horses and therefore even if they live in liberty are not pure wild horses.

Unfortunately, pure wild horses, that is to say, those who have never kept in touch with the man, nor their ancestors nor, no longer exist. But we must mention that at the time there was it the. Specifically, They were two pure breeds of wild horses : Przewalski's horse and the horse Tarpan.

Pure wild horse, Tarpan breed, extinct ya.

The Przewalski horse lived in the central areas of Asia, and named after Colonel Nikolai Przewalski Russian, who discovered and put them in the eyes of the world, something which unfortunately led to his disappearance.

For its part, Tarpan horse peopled parts of West Asia and Central Europe until overhunting it extinct in 1887. It was a horse of a small size and resembles, in many aspects, the pony we know today, only slightly larger.

So, if there are no longer pure wild horses, at least where you can see wild horses today ? (although not of those purebreds)… Fortunately, concern for preserving nature and everything around him is growing in developed countries. This has meant that many spaces being created to protect certain animals that are endangered. One of them are the wild horses.

In Spain, already created several spaces where wild horses are welcome and happen to have a fundamental role. We are talking about places like Salgüero de Juarros (Burgos). But no longer fenced private farms, so that the horses do not escape, and where they are cared for and fed, that is to say, a kind of zoo but more extension, so strictly speaking they are not really wild horses… Nor can call wild horses to horses, but they live free, they have owner, as is the case with horses in some regions of northern Spain and the region of Provence (as the Camargue horse).

Free horses against Pirin National Park (Bulgaria).

However many natural parks are considering include wild horses among its star tenants. This is the case of the Rhodope Mountains in Bulgaria, an exemplary case of recovery of wildlife, which it is the best answer to the question of where to see wild horses . In this mountainous region south border of Bulgaria and Greece currently they live in freedom Konik horses (Wild horse), which is considered one of the closest descendants pure wild horse Tarpan (Wild horse), Konik horses keep the primitive features of the Tarpan horses are best to recover the race because they have a coat like dorsal stripe and dark gray characteristic of Tarpan.

The reintroduction of Konik horses in Bulgaria is derived from a recovery project of wild horses that were similar to the race of pure wild horse Tarpan, This project began in 1.936 in Poland. The total number of horses of this type in the world is currently around 4.000, half of them live in the Netherlands. Other reintroductions were made in Latvia, England, France, Belgium and Germany. In 2011 in Eastern Rhodope mountains were brought 12 Konik horses of Polish origin from the Netherlands, and two years later a new group was introduced.

Wild Horses race Konik

Nowadays, only a few years later, there is more of 70 Konik horses living freely in nature due to habitat almost virgin state of these Rhodope Mountains, specifically they found near the village of “Boynik”. Unlike introductions we have mentioned before in other countries, Bulgaria these horses are fully adapted to their wildlife: survive the warm, dry summer, experience cold and heavy snow in winter, They feed without human assistance, survive the attacks of wolves, etc. Many countries are already interested in following the steps taken by Bulgaria.

But these Rhodope mountains not only shelter to these wild horses but to many endemic flora and fauna, In fact Bulgaria is a preferred destination in Europe for lovers Nature photography state pure and wild.

Landscape Rhodope mountains foggy

Finally mention that outside the territory of Europe, There are few countries that also count on wild horses from their native fauna, it is the case of Mongolia.

If you are interested in unspoiled nature and wildlife, You can contact us to plan your trip to Bulgaria, We are specialists in active travel for Bulgaria…