We booked this trip as the sleigh ride looked like a wonderful winter wonderland sleigh ride through the National park So we arrived with our driver booked through Krakow direct,we were greeted by a lovely polish couple with thier beautiful polish costumes and warm welcomes,we then enjoyed the music and dancing along with Polish food and warm tea which was all very yummy and entertaining,although the portaloo (toilet) is absolutely disgusting with no hand washing facilities and quite an eye opener,it was horrid with so many other paying tourists needing the use of this toilet 🤮 Then it was time to go on the sleigh ride, well you were squashed into a very tight sleigh with another couple we had never met before,which made it totally unpleasant your knees and lower limbs had no room and my husband and I had to place our outer legs/feet on the outside of the sleigh making it very uncomfortable,I then had the driver grunting and groaning trying to grab our legs and place them in position on the sleigh rung,he then jumped on the sleigh more a less sitting on my back squashing me even further into the seat The sleighs have very long shafts (poles) against the horses necks,making it really difficult for the horse to turn in a circle needing to turn that very heavy weight around in a tight circle of 4 adults + a stocky heavy driver, We then halted and awaited other sleighs to catch us up,the horses were puffing and blowing heavily,they had no sweat rugs placed on them which would help them cool down from that heavy pulling and heat. I couldn’t get off the sleigh quick enough after enduring this awful squashed in so called scenic route,I believe these horse sleigh rides to be cruel with these horses needing of rest water and feed after a ride,they have no break and are continuesly pulling very heavy weights of not just the sleighs but very heavy people of 4 + the heavy driver,who shows no empathy or kindness to thier horses what so ever. I’m speaking up for these horses as they have no voices or apparently feelings If this was our country in the UK they would have to have a vet continuesly vetting these horses for exhaustion and need of rest water and feed. Our own daughter is a carriage driver so we are very aware of regulations and compassion for our animals Something they lack badly for the care of their horses…
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We truly appreciate all comments, especially when they relate to animal welfare, which is something we take very seriously. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the traditional music, food, and hospitality provided by the local hosts. However, we are sorry that certain aspects of the experience did not meet your expectations. Regarding the sleigh ride and the horses, we would like to clarify that the horses used for this activity are regularly monitored and cared for by their owners, who are licensed local highlanders with long family traditions in horse handling. The animals are accustomed to this type of work in winter conditions, and their working hours are regulated. They are provided with rest periods, water, food, and proper veterinary supervision in accordance with local regulations. The route is relatively short and specifically designed to avoid overexertion of the horses. What may appear as heavy breathing is often normal for horses working in cold winter air, especially after movement. We understand that seating in traditional wooden sleighs can feel tight, as they are built in an authentic regional style and shared between participants. We apologize if this caused discomfort during your ride. Your comments regarding the toilet facilities have been noted, and we will pass this feedback on to the local organizers to review possible improvements. We respect your perspective and thank you for sharing it. At the same time, we would like to assure future guests that animal welfare and safety are priorities for both us and our local partners.
