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The new home of Kölyök and Tesco - Olaszliszka
2014.02.01.

Some months ago we received a request from the Municipality of Olaszliszka saying they would like to have some new horses in their farm. There are hardly any other places in
Hungary which is farther from Rákoscsaba than Olaszliszka, so in the beginning we had some reservations regarding their request. But they were so persistent that in the end we invited them for a visit.

Among the visitors were Attila Kerekes, the mayor of Olaszliszka, the farm manager and some of its employees as well. We showed them around in the Shelter and we were talking a lot about the village, the animals, the people, the news, the prejudices and everything…

We learned that the village has developed a lot in the last few years. They emphasized that a camera surveillance system functions at the farm, which is monitored personally by the
mayor, furthermore through this system we can also have a look into the new life of our protégées.

At the end of the walk we arrived at the paddock where we had a long discussion. Finally they decided to choose Kölyök and Tesco. As Kölyök can be ridden he can be used to ride children and he also can be trained for a cart. And Tesco as a pony can become the favorite of the kids, they can stroke, clean and walk him.

By the end of the visit we were sure that if we find everything all right in Olaszliszka as well, we can entrust our horses to them without any concern.

So we hit the road and after an incredibly early get up and a 3 and a half-hour long train journey we arrived in Olaszliszka. At the station (which is called Olaszliszka-Tolcsva, but is actually in a third village Vámosújfalu) the mayor was waiting for us. We did a short sightseeing in the village and the mayor told us about the new buildings and developments. As animal protectors we noted every dog running across the street but we gave up counting at 5
“stray dogs”… well… it’s occupational hazard.

After the car-tour we arrived at the center of the village and we realized that Mr Kerekes really meant that he would show us everything. So we took a look at the new solid-fuel boilers with which they replaced the very expensive gas heating in public buildings. We also visited the renovated kindergarten and village hall.



Then of course we arrived at the farm, our horses’ to be home. They were in the middle of busy work. But this was true for the whole village, wherever we went we could see busy people working (sweeping, tree cutting, wheel barrowing, raking, concreting…etc.). We were told that there were a lot of public workers in the village.
The village strives for being self-sufficient, in the kitchens they try to use local raw materials.

So they keep more than 100 pigs at the farm. Here the dear reader may ask why I, as an animal protector, think it is a notable thing. Well, because in my opinion the pigs are kept in very good conditions. They are not closed in narrow cages, they can run around in the open air, no one do them any harm. Bea, the farm manager, happily guided us through among the pigs, who came to us when hearing the human voice and we could scratch them.







She showed us the farm’s infirmary where a sick piggy was recovering (he was the smallest and his brothers oppressed him). In other places these weak ones are generally swat because it is not economic to raise them.



Finally we got to the horses’ place. We were kind of shocked because we couldn’t imagine how it would be possible to keep horses here.



But Mr Kerekes encouraged me to look around and suggest ideas how to improve the place to he ideal for the two horses. So I did my best and we went through every little detail and they promised me to keep me updated during the construction.

I have to mention here my biggest concern. Kölyök’s former owner brought him back because he literally tore down the barn. He brought down the walls of the box and shattered the tiles so there was reason to be worried about the new place. But the mayor answered with only a sentence: if he tears it down we will build another, a stronger one, sooner or later we will find a material that he cannot destroy.

After seeing the farm we had an abundant lunch, and then went to the neighboring town, Sárospatak to visit the animal shelter there. In the end with a heavy heart and with a heavy backpack stuffed with local goodies we set off home.

The next day I happily acknowledged that Bea kept her promise and they started to reconstruct the barn and the boxes. By evening they were ready with the greater part of the work and the following day they almost fully completed the construction. In the meantime they started to organize the transportation.







One week after visiting them their horse-transporter rolled into our Animal Shelter. To our great pleasure they didn’t come with empty hands, the transporter was full with straw (with very nice bales). Debi and Diana, the barn dwellers were the most happy about them, of course. They enthusiastically tried to turn over the piles where they were temporarily unloaded After unloading the vehicle was loaded with the horses and then we said good bye.



Tesco walked up to the transporter without any problem, as if he did it every day. Kölyök had to be encouraged a bit but he also (contrary to our expectations) very quickly walked up the trailer.

In the meantime the herd was watching us with enthusiastic cries and big booby heads. Finally we started the 3.5-hour journey.





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The delivery was smooth and it might sound weird but we arrived fairly quickly to Olaszliszka.





The horses were quickly unloaded from the trailer and they were led into their new boxes. Kölyök did not disappoint us, his first move was to try the straw bales packed up as insulation. For his part he accepted the new place. Tesco turned a few leaps in the box, he checked the view, the familiar neighbor and only after this started his meal. The
box door for Tesco was slightly high, but the diligent working hands will repair it.





Our horses seemed to enjoy their new home, so there was nothing left but the paperwork, filling in the temporary adoption contracts, discussing the veterinarian to-dos and saying goodbye to the guys.







We left them with aching heart but we know that they are in a very good place and we can keep track of their life in the future.

The paddock:



The very next day we received news. Both horses slept well, Kölyök left the barn in one peace (I myself wouldn’t have thought the insulation survived the night) and they both got over their first gym class because they are not yet allowed to go to the paddock.









We thank the Municipality of Olaszliszka for giving a chance to our horses for a new life. And you Tesco, Kölyök behave well and honor your new home! We’ll miss you!



This all happened last November. We thought now that 2 months passed, let’s consider this as a trial period, it’s high time to check on our guys. As we were in the vicinity because of another rescue we grabbed the chance to visit our little pony and the bad boy.

We were not disappointed, they are as healthy as a fiddle. Kölyök is pure muscle, and Tesco has not changed a bit: plump and wicked, he’s just like why we love and now they love him. During the day they are together with two buffalos, and they hassle them of course, they wouldn’t be them if they didn’t do it…

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