Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the Tatras
Kone vo Východnej (“Horses in Východná”) is a small family horse farm on the meadows above the village of Východná in upper Liptov, with a sweeping view of the High Tatras and the unmistakable peak of Kriváň. The owners, Emi and Michal, have lived with horses since 2015 and settled in Východná in 2019. They offer calm rides at a walk — no galloping and no hurry — so even complete beginners who have never sat in a saddle, and children, can manage.
The farm works almost 50 hectares of land below the Tatras: part is used as pasture and the rest is mown for winter hay — this year 80 tonnes, or 320 bales. There are 22 horses in two separate herds. They live outdoors all year in a herd, with pastures, shelters, a patch of woodland and a spacious hall where they can hide from bad weather. The owners say this is why riders meet calm horses whose characters they know well. The farm’s oldest horse is 27. Besides the rides there is plenty of daily work — feeding, looking after the paddocks, mending fences and making hay — and the owners do it all as a couple.
What to do
- Group ride. 3 to 6 riders, at a walk only, across the meadows around Východná with views of the Tatras. You can book a single place and other guests will join you; the ride goes ahead with at least three riders. The whole group is photographed during the ride.
- VIP ride. A private ride just for you (1–2 people) or for a family of 3–4, with a personal approach and a separate photo stop; professional photos or a short video cost extra.
- Length. Rides last 1, 1.5 or 2 hours; in July and August only one-hour morning rides are offered.
- For schools and couples. The farm hosts school trips (meeting the horses, grooming, pony rides) and wedding photo shoots with horses.
Practical information
Getting there. Drive through the village of Východná and continue along the asphalt road past the end-of-village sign to the farm. The owners warn that some satnavs send you the wrong way, so they recommend going through the village. Free parking is by the farm. Arrive 10 minutes before your slot: that is when the gate opens and riders are prepared.
Booking. All rides are by advance booking only, through the online system on the farm’s website. If the weather turns, call them to agree on another date.
Prices (as of October 2026): one hour in a group €33 per person on weekdays (€30 with the Liptov Region Card), €35 at weekends; 1.5 hours €50 / €60; 2 hours €66 / €75. VIP for 1–2 people: one hour €100 on weekdays and €120 at weekends; 1.5 hours €150 / €170; 2 hours €200 / €240. A bag of horse feed costs €3 or €5.
Important: the maximum rider weight is 95 kg. Wear comfortable trousers and closed shoes. The High Tatras are close by, so a ride combines easily with a day in the mountains or a visit to the neighbouring farm.
Nearby
- Farma Východná — an organic dairy farm with tours and cheese.
- Štrbské Pleso — the best-known mountain lake of the Slovak Tatras.
- Museum of the Liptov Village in Pribylina below Kriváň.
- Važecká Cave.
Official website: konevovychodnej.sk
Photos: konevovychodnej.sk.
Getting there from Ukraine
Border crossings
- Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké — road, 24/7
- Malyi Bereznyi – Ubľa — road, 24/7 For cars and buses; pedestrians not confirmed by the Ukrainian border service, lorries up to 3.5 t.
- Mali Selmentsi – Veľké Slemence (pedestrian) — pedestrian, 09:00–21:00 Kyiv time Pedestrians and cyclists only; inconvenient for the Tatras without onward transport.
- Chop – Čierna nad Tisou (rail) — rail, 24/7
By car
Uzhhorod – Poprad ≈195 km, ≈2 h 55 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké checkpoint → I/19 via Sobrance and Michalovce → Košice → D1 motorway via Prešov → Poprad (Liptovský Mikuláš is ≈56 km further on the D1, total ≈249 km). Košice – Poprad ≈112 km. The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk). Note: from Lviv the fastest way to Poprad is through Poland — Krakovets – A4 – Kraków – Zakopane – Łysa Polana ≈468 km (≈5 h 50 min); via Uzhok and Malyi Bereznyi ≈419 km but slower (≈6 h 40 min). Zakopane – Poprad ≈69 km, Zakopane – Liptovský Mikuláš ≈80 km.
Checked 23.10.2026; border crossing hours and timetables change — check before you travel.
Location on the map
Comments
Trails nearby
All trails
ModerateOne-dayMarkedŠtrbské Pleso, Solisko Sanatorium Junction in Krivánsky GullyElevation profile1 137–2 122 m14.7 kmascent 207 m≈ 4 h walking5.3 km from Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the Tatras
HardMulti-dayMarkedTatranská magistrála (Tatra Highway): Podbanské Veľké Biele plesoElevation profile929–2 043 m50.1 kmascent 1 603 m5.4 km from Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the Tatras
EasyOne-dayMarkedHrdovo BystráElevation profile849–2 232 m9.1 km≈ 2.5 h walking5.5 km from Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasNearby attractions
Eco farmsFarma Východná — organic farm below the Tatras3.3 km from Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasFarma Východná is the highest-lying organic farm in Liptov, at 930 m in the village of Východná right below the Tatras.
NatureVažecká Cave5.4 km from Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasVažecká Cave (Važecká jaskyňa) is one of the best-known caves in northern Slovakia, even though it is among the shortest show caves.
WaterfallKmeťov Waterfall in Kôprová Valley10 km from Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasKmeťov waterfall (Kmeťov vodopád) is a powerful two-step waterfall in the Kôprová dolina valley in the western High Tatras.Craft nearby
All craft places
Cheese dairies & pasturesShepherds' Huts on Polana Chochołowska19 km from Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasPolana Chochołowska is the largest glade in the Polish Tatras and one of the largest in the whole range.
Water parks & thermal poolsTERMAL raj thermal bath, Liptovský Ján19 km from Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasLiptovský Ján: thermal water at the entrance to Jánska dolina Liptovský Ján is an old village in southern Liptov, about 10 km from Liptovský Mikuláš, at the entrance...
Koliby & Hutsul cuisineKoliba Strachanovka, Jánska valley19 km from Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasKoliba Strachanovka (Jánska koliba) is a large wooden koliba at the entrance to the Jánska valley in the village of Liptovský Ján, which locals consider one of the...
Cheese dairies & pasturesShepherd's Hut in the Kościeliska Valley20 km from Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasJózef Słodyczka's bacówka (shepherd's hut) on the Wyżnia Kira Miętusia glade is probably the most easily reached shepherds' hut in the Polish Tatras.
Cheese dairies & pasturesFurtek's Shepherd's Huts, Kuźnice and Kalatówki21 km from Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasAbove Kuźnice — the southern edge of Zakopane where most hikes into the Western and High Tatras begin — the flocks are tended by baca Andrzej Staszel, nicknamed "Furtek".
Koliby & Hutsul cuisineBąkowo Zohylina Wyźnio Highland Tavern22 km from Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasBąkowo Zohylina Wyźnio is a regional highland tavern in Zakopane housed in a wooden "szałas" (shepherd-hut-style building) with a view of the Tatras.