When I was deciding where to move our horses, I knew one thing – if my daughter Leia was going to start competing, we needed much more professional facilities than we had had so far. And because we were also planning to get a third horse specifically for her and her first competitions, it made sense to have all the horses under one roof and in conditions that matched our needs.
After several recommendations and a visit to these particular stables, which I left feeling “this is the place,” we chose the Carcassonne Equestrian Stable in Nové Hvězdlice near Vyškov. In this article, I will describe how the move went, what the stable offers, what little details surprised me, and why I believe it was the right decision.
Why we decided to change stables
The main reason was clearly Leia. I can see (and I am not the only one) that she has enormous potential, and I would really like to give her the opportunity to develop her equestrian dream to the fullest. But for that, you need two things – high-quality training facilities and reliable care for the horses.
Our existing boarding stable certainly had its charm, and we really liked it there, but the conditions were not entirely suitable for systematic training. In particular, we lacked an indoor arena for year-round training, a covered round pen, and generally more professional facilities where we could work regardless of the weather.
On top of that, we were planning to get a third horse for our daughter, so the logic of having “everything under one roof” was becoming increasingly clear.
About Carcassonne Stable (and a brief look at the history of Hvězdlice)
Carcassonne Stable is located in the market town of Hvězdlice, specifically in its Nové Hvězdlice district, approximately 11 km southeast of Vyškov and 32 km east of Brno. For us, living “almost in Brno,” it is about a 30-minute drive from home.
Since we are talking about the location, I cannot resist a brief historical digression – this village has a richer past than it might seem at first glance. The first written mention of Staré Hvězdlice dates back to 1282, while Nové Hvězdlice was first mentioned in 1353, when it was already a small town with a fortress. The dominant landmark of the municipality is a Baroque château dating from 1712, built according to a design by the Italian architect Giovanni Pietro Tencalla as a summer residence for the Augustinians of St. Thomas in Brno. Today, it houses a retirement home.
The Carcassonne Stable project itself is considerably younger – extensive reconstruction and construction of the modern equestrian complex began in 2022 and was completed in 2025. The complex was designed to meet the standards of today’s top sports stables abroad and, above all, to offer horses maximum comfort.
In a nutshell, the stable offers:
-
boarding for approximately 20+ horses in modern, airy stalls,
-
approximately 4 hectares of divided grassy paddocks,
-
two indoor arenas (one large main arena and one smaller one),
-
a covered round pen,
-
an outdoor arena with a high-quality sand surface,
-
sand paddocks for year-round turnout,
-
a wash stall, solarium, salt cave, and blanket drying room,
-
a professionally organized feed room with individualized feeding for each horse.
And probably the most important thing – the stable is peaceful. Even though there are more than 20 horses in total, they belong to only a few owners, so you are never crowded by anyone. No crowds, no confusion, no shouting. A huge plus for both me and the horses.
Moving the horses – a quick game of musical chairs
Carcassonne Equestrian Stable has quite a long waiting list, but we were lucky that two dressage horses happened to be leaving, so spaces became available. Everything was arranged quickly, so we practically had to organize the move from one day to the next, as there was not much time to decide.
For the transport, I once again used the services of Sára Pánková, who provides professional horse transport. I have had nothing but the best experience with her – years ago, she literally saved our pony Bizonka when she had colic. At the time, she was the only person willing to drop everything and come immediately. Thanks to her, we got Bizonka to Vetuni in Brno, where they saved her. Everyone else had already given up on her by then. I can therefore wholeheartedly recommend Sára.
She arrived on Saturday morning, and we loaded the horses without any problems. Frosty (an American Quarter Horse) walked in completely calmly. Bizonka, our little Shetland pony, unfortunately seemed to decide halfway through loading that she did not actually want to do this – she turned around in the trailer and calmly walked back out. So there was a little more drama with her, but in the end, she too was persuaded.
Incidentally, the journey was interesting for both horses. Sára has a camera in the vehicle, and after she arrived, when I asked whether the horses had been all right, she told me that Frosty had practically not let Bizonka near the hay. Bizonka naturally does not like such things very much, so it was probably a less pleasant experience for her, but the entire journey took about 40 minutes, so she handled it just fine.
The first day in their new home
When we arrived at the stable, the staff were perfectly prepared for us. Everything was ready, stress-free, and completely professional.
I wanted the girls to be next to each other – partly because they were used to it, and partly because it made sense for them to have at least some reassurance in a new environment. We led Bizonka into her stall, and the moment she saw the hay, nothing else mattered to her. For Bizonka, hay and food in general are always the clear priority.
Frosty seemed a little nervous to me from the start, but I thought – new environment, more horses, that is perfectly understandable. There are about 20 stalls in this barn, plus more horses in the adjacent barn, so it is a completely different herd and number of horses from what she was used to. At the previous stable, she had only three other horses for company.
We then let the girls out together in the paddock for a while, and everything looked fine there. Frosty seemed relaxed, Bizonka was her typical self, so I stayed for another hour or two, unpacked our things, put them in the tack room, and after a few hours calmly drove home.
And then came the evening phone call from the stable owner.
“Frosty is acting up, she kicked out and broke through a panel in her stall.”
That was quite a surprise. It turned out that the nervousness that had seemingly faded during the day erupted in full force that evening. After a brief discussion, we decided to move the girls to the adjacent barn, where there are currently only two other horses. At that moment, the drama was over – Frosty calmed down immediately and has been relatively fine ever since.
She was probably simply bothered by having so many horses in the stalls around her all at once. We will give her a few days to acclimatize and then perhaps try moving her back so she can get used to a larger herd as well. This summer, we will be attending a summer riding camp and training clinic, and we are planning to take Frosty, among others, so it is important that she can adjust to new surroundings.
The next day, we dealt with shoeing – and that went off without a single hitch.
Facilities that make riders happy
When I talk about the facilities, they really are of a very high standard, and you notice it immediately.
The feed room is one of the best examples of the stable’s professionalism. Each horse has its own schedule on the noticeboard, detailing exactly what each one receives and in what quantity. Everything is always prepared for the morning and evening in labeled buckets, so there is no possibility of anyone receiving the wrong feed. Whatever is written down for each horse is followed absolutely 100%. Compared with the past, this is a gigantic difference – but more on that in a moment.
Other things worth mentioning:
Blanket drying room. This is a huge relief for me. Until now, I had to drive everything across Brno to Equiservis to have it washed and dried. Here, all I have to do is write in the shared WhatsApp group that I have a blanket to be washed, put it in the basket – and once it has been washed, it is waiting for me on a shelf in the stable’s drying room. Having this kind of service available on-site is a huge plus in my view.
The clubhouse is really nice – a pleasant setting, a wooden ceiling, and space to sit with the others for a while. Definitely not some makeshift storage room, as is unfortunately the case at most stables.
The tack room is clean and spacious, and each owner has their own area. Saddles, blankets, helmets – everything has its place.
Restroom facilities, changing rooms, lockers – everything looks exactly as it should. Presentable and modern.
WhatsApp communication. This is a small detail, but it is wonderful. The stable has a shared group where people post when the horses go out, when they return to the paddock, and when they have a special program; owners can also post current requests and so on. Communication runs smoothly, and it is enormously helpful in keeping you as well informed as possible about your horse even when you are not there.
The stable also has its own meadow, where the girls go together. They had not been out grazing yet this year, so at first we only let them out for a short while in the morning, and then they go into the sand paddock in the afternoon. You always have to make sure they do not upset their stomachs or develop colic. I will also clip Bizonka in the near future – as an older lady, she needs it three times a year, and summer is approaching.
A varied mix: dressage, show jumping, and western riding
As far as the composition of the stable is concerned, most of the horses are dressage horses, which reflects the general trend at similar facilities. You will find plenty of classic English riding here, a small amount of show jumping (judging by the jumps and equipment in the arena), and then a pair of western horses – now joined by Frosty and me.
The other owners and riders I have had the opportunity to meet are very serious people. I admit that I am the only man among them, but that is a common reality in the equestrian world. I am pleasantly surprised by their approach – they take equestrian sport truly professionally and at the highest level here, yet they are also very friendly and open people.
And one amusing story on the side – when we introduced the horse Tobias to Bizonka, he was completely beside himself. The horse next door (I will not name names) became so worked up that he was tossing his head above the stall. I have a few photos, and they are good for a laugh. When they led him out to the paddock today, he danced from side to side, so his owners and the stable staff certainly never get bored with him. If he stays next to our horses, I am sure there will be no shortage of entertainment.
One small detail to finish: dogs and Bronko
The only thing I see not so much as a negative, but as a difference compared with our old facilities, is the policy for dogs. At the previous stable, our dog could run around off leash as much as he wanted. Here, it is more restricted – dogs are allowed in the complex, but they may not run around without a leash.
For us, that means adjusting our habits a little, mainly because we have our puppy Bronko, who is still small and naturally requires attention. I will take him to the stable on a leash and then let him off leash mainly when we go out on trail rides. I fully understand why this rule is in place – the stable has professional clients, and peace and quiet are essential for the horses and for ensuring that everyone can train as they need to.
What comes next: trainer, physiotherapist, and equine nutritionist
One thing caught me slightly off guard after we arrived – several people independently told me that Frosty could carry a little more weight. Even my friend in America, whom I sent a photo, independently wrote something similar. She said that Frosty would benefit from a little more feed and more muscle.
I see her almost every day, so this had not occurred to me at all. But when several people who have worked around horses for years say it, it has to be taken seriously.
Unfortunately, it also brought back one unpleasant memory. Two days before leaving, I witnessed two thirteen-year-old girls at the old stable who had absolutely no idea which bucket of feed belonged to which horse during the evening feeding. They argued with each other about which was muesli, which was mash, and which were vitamins. Honestly, that was an unpleasant surprise, and to some extent it is also my fault for not checking this sooner. I hope that Frosty’s feeding itself was all right, but objectively, I cannot be completely sure now.
At Carcassonne Stable, this risk simply does not exist. Everything is labeled, everything is measured, and everything has its specific recipient.
And because they provide excellent support for these things here as well, I will take advantage of the situation and guide Frosty’s care in the right direction:
-
I have booked a physiotherapist (who visits the stable regularly),
-
I have arranged a trainer for Frosty and me, who will teach me how to train Frosty properly and build her muscles,
-
and thirdly, I am arranging an equine nutritionist, who will assess the girls and suggest any necessary adjustments to their feed rations.
The goal is definitely not to turn Frosty into a “sausage.” The goal is for her to have the right muscles, feel comfortable, and perform well. Bizonka, on the other hand, is a typical easy-keeper – she has rather the opposite problem and is a little more substantial by nature and because of her eternal, nonstop hunger. I will therefore take advice from experts who understand it better than I do, and we will make any necessary changes accordingly.
In conclusion, what is there to add?
To sum it up – I see moving the horses to Carcassonne Stable as clearly the right decision. I believe the girls will be happy there, the facilities are above standard, the service is professional, and the people around them truly know their craft. I believe that after a few days, the girls will fully settle into their surroundings and enjoy themselves there.
For me, it is also a major step forward in terms of training, care, and the peace and quiet needed for regular work. And perhaps most importantly for me – Leia will have the conditions here that will allow her to develop her equestrian potential to the fullest.
The only “warning” I received from a friend was amusing: “Be careful they don’t talk you into buying a dressage horse instead of a western horse.” Given that this is an environment with a strong dressage focus, apparently that could easily happen. Well – if Leia eventually decided to ride dressage instead of western, I probably would not mind. The main thing is that she enjoys it and enjoys her equestrian journey.
The journey and time will show us which path we take. But the beginning has been truly successful.
PS: I created a short Instagram story that perfectly captures our move :)
