I spent my entire childhood in a rural area of Bucovina, and this particular thing had many benefits for me. Among them there was the chance to always be around horses growing up, even though I never owned one.
I didn’t know and didn’t care about the correct saddle position, about how to better control the horse or how to be a proper rider. All I knew was from books or the few TV shows we had (like Zorro), but most of my knowledge was taught by my experienced friends.
Therefore it’s easy to see why I wanted to see the most beautiful horses of Bucovina when I first started this blog. Now I am able to show them to you, too, if you’re interested enough to continue reading.
I discovered Bucovina’s horses (Caii Bucovinei in Romanian) first on Facebook and then I admired them in real life at the Festival of Winter Customs and Traditions in Vatra Dornei. At the end of this winter Ciprian and I visited them and met with Gabriel Morosan, a man we found very likable as soon as we met him and heard him talk about horses and about Bucovina.
He never stops talking about his passion and you will get interested in horses even if you don’t care at all about them. I remember this to be my first impression upon meeting him.
We met with him in Dorna Arini, at about 7 kilometers from Vatra Dornei, in a place where he has two of his beautiful horses.
Who is Gabriel Morosan?
Naturally, before knowing the horses we had to get to know the rider, so we asked him to give us a few details about him and his life.
I am a zoo technical engineer, born in Vatra Dornei. I studied Veterinary Medicine in Cluj-Napoca and I specialized in horses. I completed one year of my Master’s degree in Cluj-Napoca and in the second year I got an internship program in USA. I remember that one of the requirements I needed to complete in order to get into the program was asking me to write about myself, about my knowledge and my experience working with horses. Practical experience was a very important thing, since I had to know how to behave around horses and how to make them listen to me. If you only know things in theory but not how to put them in practice you don’t count. I worked there for 1 year and I learned a lot of useful things.
I immediately notice that he does not brag about his knowledge and abilities at all, but I can bet on anything that this guy is one of the best Romanian specialists in his field. As you hear him talk about his horses and as you see him taking care of them, you too will become sure of it.
So what was next after America?
Norway. With recommendations from USA I went to Norway for a horse training job. They would brought us wild horses and we were supposed to tame them. Afterwards, the senior trainer would take them and bring us others.
About Bucovina’s Horses
How did you connect your passion about horses with Bucovina?
This is where my two passions met. I grew up in Bucovina, so I love this region since I was a young boy. When I was six years old I used to dance and sing traditional songs. That was the age when I first got up on a stage. I was used to representing Bucovina and Dorna County in Romania and abroad. I traveled through Europe performing traditional dances from Bucovina and learned how to better represent my homeland. As I lived in America and Norway I kept recommending Bucovina to everybody and there were people coming here because if it. Of course, they were thrilled about it.
And what about horses?
I loved horses ever since I was a child. When I was 10-12 years old I had my first horse. I complained about it until my grandmother secretly bought me one, so my parents wouldn’t know. My uncle was the one taking care of him, but the horse made a lot of trouble and we had to sell him, eventually. Since then, though, my love for horses started to grow, which directed me to my studies where I met a lot of horse owners and thus I entered this world.
How did Bucovina’s Horses appear?
While I was in Norway I started thinking about doing the thing I love in my homeland. Why do it someplace else if I could do it at home, right? Abroad you do it for money, here I do it because I want to and love to.
We can only agree.
So I came back a year and a half ago, I bought horses, carriages and I started partnerships with different people that helped me along the way. I also have friends helping me in different ways, because this passion is contagious. If I think you have the slightest inclination towards horses I can grow that love in you very fast and very strong. So I have friends who bought horses for themselves and now we’re doing business together.
You only have stallions. Why?
I always enjoyed adrenaline. Female horses do not expose the same energy as stallions, and I like to work with more restless horses. This is why I prefer stallions.
Who exactly are Bucovina’s Horses?
You can meet them if you continue reading.
Tony and Peter
They are two elegant and beautiful horses of Frisian breed. They’re breed is also known as Dutch Black Pearl, and you can see in the images why. It was these two we visited when we met with Gabriel, so we have a lot of pictures of them. Tony is 6 and Peter 11 years old.
This is Tony.
And this is Peter. I know, they do look alike.
Elvis and Tornado
Elvis (to the left) is representing the Gypsy Vanner breed and is 13 years old. His friend, Tornado, is a Polish Cold Blood and he’s 4 years old.
Tarzan and Joker
They are brothers and a mix between Percheron and Pinto breeds. Tarzan is 3 and Joker 4 years old.
These two were breed by myself in Cluj-Napoca. Their mother was small and brown, while their father was big and black. And I wanted to see if I could get babies as big as their father. I got lucky and there were two stallions, one year apart.
Tony and Victor
Of course, it’s not the same Tony as the one above. This one is 3 years old and represents the Percheron breed. Victor is one of ours, from Bucovina, and he’s 7.
Are there any other thoroughbred horses in Dorna County?
There are, but very few of them. Maybe one here and there. There are some people that like horses and have bought one for themselves, like maybe you buy a Jeep if you like that car. But it’s not a profession for them, as it is for me.
Bucovina’s Horses and local people
What kind of local events do you attend?
We are employed very often for weddings and various traditional events, such as the Festival of Winter Customs and Traditions from Vatra Dornei.
Are there many weddings where your presence is requested?
At the same time last year we already had booked six weddings and then other offers showed up as well. This year we only have two. Of course, there are other types of events we attend. For instance, maybe you heard of the new song of Alexandru Bradatan (Romanian folk music singer). In his official video you can see Tony and Peter.
This is the video he speaks about.
Bucovina’s Horses and tourists
What can tourists do with Bucovina’s Horses?
They can take carriage or sleigh walks, they can ride or engage in many other activities. We don’t say no to anyone, even if you’re a professional rider or you’ve never sat on a saddle before. For inexperienced tourists we choose a calm horse and start from the beginning, but with tourists that already have some experience around horses we go on riding trails. These riding trails can last for two hours or a full day, depending on their desire and stamina.
What riding trails do you choose most often?
My other horses are in Cosna, so the most used riding trails are on Suhard Mountains. I grew up on these mountains, so I know them very well. Also, it’s easy to travel there by horse.
How long does a riding trail on Suhard Mountain lasts?
If you’re tired, we get back. They last as long as you want. You only need to tell me beforehand, so I would make preparations. We can go until the first sheepfold, eat and get back. Or we can keep going.
He starts laughing.
Many tourists tell me they want to spend an entire day on horseback and they get tired after a couple hours, asking me how long until we’re done. With them I go to the first sheepfold, we eat, rest, admire the landscapes and get back. You guys know what beautiful landscapes we have around here, so they enjoy the ride no matter what.
I know that you also had celebrities around here.
Yes, that’s true. We had here Scarlatescu from Master Chef, for instance. I showed him the carriages and talked about the sheepfolds and the food there.
Did he enjoyed it?
How could he not? You can see for yourselves that I talk a lot and it’s impossible not to like me. When I have tourists here I tell them stories about Bucovina and they leave very happy.
He’s right. We liked him a lot and we’re sure anyone would feel the same way.
The last winter we had a visit from Razvan Burleanu, the chief of Romanian Football Federation. He spent the New Year’s Eve in Bucovina and visited us with his friends in order to ride. He also was delighted.
Does the age of the tourists matter?
No. We had here 2 years olds that we took them riding. Of course, they rode with their parents, but they fulfilled their dream. I cannot restrict access based on age, because if someone wants to have this experience they must have it. I know how much I wanted to ride when I was a kid, so I try not to deny it to anyone, no matter the age.
My recommendation: visit Bucovina’s Horses.
If you enjoy horses, if you want to admire the beautiful mountain landscapes of the Land of Dorna from horseback and if you have a few hours to spare, Bucovina’s Horses and Gabriel Morosan will definitely know how to entertain you, no matter the season.
You can find Gabriel using the following contacts:
Phone: (004) 0743690799
Email: caiibucovinei@gmail.com
Contact him with a few hours before the visit, so he can prepare the horses and wait for you. After you’re done riding come back here and tell us how your experience was. If you already visited Bucovina’s Horses, what are you waiting for? Mount the comments section!
