ASTANA – Summer weekends are perfect for spending time with family and savouring great outdoor activities like horseback riding. Contact with the horse has a calming effect and serves as an antidote to chronic stress. Local sports centres with their facilities and infrastructures offer pleasurable riding for all visitors.
Photo credit: ak-bulak.kz
The Tulpar Sport Club has outdoor and indoor arenas and provides riding classes for adults and children. Classical riding and show jumping courses are 40,000 tenge (US$118) per month and free for children from age 10. The instructors are candidates for the country’s and international class master of sports.
Horseback riding costs 3,000 tenge (US$9) for an hour. The facility also has an enclosure for training and schooling sport horses, a cosy restaurant and paintball park.
The club is located at 18 Yenlik Kebek Street. The contact number is +7 7172 300140.
Located in the suburbs, Altyn Tulpar Equestrian Centre provides private and group riding lessons for adults and children from age 12. A monthly programme costs approximately 40,000 tenge (US$118).
A one-hour ride is 3,000 tenge (US$9). A winter carriage or sleigh ride costs 15,000 tenge (US$44) for an hour, 7,000 tenge (US$21) for a half hour. There are also ponies for children.
Photo credit: fazan.kz
“We have a fenced area covered with sand and a closed arena of 113 metres in length and 20 metres in width with heat. Our sport horses are good. But the most essential thing is our developed infrastructure. There is a children’s playground, restaurant and swimming pool for children and adults,” said centre head Berik Orazaliyev.
The club also organises shows such as the traditional kyz kuu national game, jumping and fancy riding. The programme costs 35,000 tenge (US$104).
“We hosted the national competitions on equestrian sport and overcoming obstacles with participants from Astana, Almaty and Shymkent organised by the Kazakhstan Equestrian Federation on July 15, 16 and 17. It indicated that we are able to arrange sports events and activities at the global level,” he said.
The centre is located in Michurino Village. The contact number is +7 701 707 0771.
Kulager, an amazing place for a family vacation, is just a 15-minute drive from the city. In addition to horseback riding, there are three houses with a Finnish sauna and a small house with an infrared sauna, a pool table, children’s playground and paintball area. Visitors also may enjoy time in a traditional Kazakh yurt.
An hour ride costs 3,000 tenge (US$9), pony rides for children are 500 tenge (US$1.50) and carriage rides are 3,000 tenge (US$9). Riding lessons with 12 classes in a month are offered for 40,000 tenge (US$118).
The centre is located in Internatsionalnyoe Village, 84 Zhagashai Street. The contact numbers are +7 7172 628873 and + 7 707 987 9876.
Zolotoi Fazan (Golden Pheasant) is one of the largest recreation centres near the capital and a unique all-season destination for its residents. The complex includes a small hotel, cottage houses, cozy log cabins on a lake and traditional yurts and a restaurant featuring European and Asian cuisines.
There are also stables with beautiful Arabian horses imported from Russia, a mini zoo and a pony named Pai. An hour ride under the guidance of professional instructors is 7,000 tenge (US$21).
The centre is located in Koyandy Village. The contact numbers are +7 777 533 2947 and +7 777 077 7050 or visit www.fazan.kz.
