The town of Razlog in southwestern Bulgaria hosted a championship for draft horses. This competition, held annually in Razlog since 1993, showcases the strength and endurance of these powerful animals. Contestants are divided into five weight categories, ranging from 500 kg to 900 kg.
Giant horses from all over the country gather for this event. This year, 22 contenders vied for the title of the strongest horse of the year. The competition involved pulling a heavy load over a distance of 30 meters. Winners in each category were awarded medals, delicious prizes, and their owners received honorary cups.
Largo, owned by Georgi Velikov, was crowned the super champion in the heaviest weight category for 2024.
It's worth noting that horses in Bulgaria are not only used for sports. They are also popular in agriculture, often being the only means of cultivating land on steep slopes. Horses are also indispensable for transporting logs from mountain clearings.
Occasionally, horses can even be seen in the city. Recently, a curious mare attempted to enter a shop through its window on the outskirts of Sofia. And in the spring, a whole herd of horses was spotted on a ring road around the Bulgarian capital. The horses peacefully strolled along the highway, but their owner was fined 500 leva (€255.64) for the incident. Fortunately, such occurrences are rare.
