The Szekler spirit

If you have ever experienced a sunset in Szeklerland, when the sun hides its last rays behind the mountains and the silence is so deep that even your soul is stilled by it, you know that there is something more here than just landscape and orientation. A moment like this is enough to realize why our ancestors chose this place as their home. Why they stuck with it, why they handed over the land, their customs and their horses to us. This is not just the land we cultivate, but the spirit we carry with us.

We, Szeklers, are not just ordinary people. We are eternal protectors of history and traditions. When you stroke a horse, when you step on the ground with your feet, when you enter the wonderful Szekler forests, you experience not only nature – but a history that connects the past and the future. My family has lived here for generations. Our ancestors, who fought for land, horses and honor among the beautiful mountains, each raised their children in the spirit of Szekler virtue. They did not say much, but their actions spoke for them. And so do we. Our actions are our most sincere words.

But what lies behind Szekler life? Why can't we let go of the land, why do we cling to this simple, hard, but beautiful life?

The answer may be simple, but it is hidden deep in our hearts. The land we work on is not only our livelihood, but also a connection that others may never understand. Every plow, every step through the trees, every horse we work with – each one gives a small part of our soul. Horses are not just helpers, they are partners. They are the heirs of the warriors of old, and our love for them is deeper than anything else. Our relationship is based on respect, compassion, and mutual appreciation. There is nothing violent, nothing loud. Just the quiet respect that can be felt every day as we work in the fields or hike in the mountains.

A horse should not only be worked, but also respected. We know that for both parties, the value of each moment means everything. There is no better feeling than when you sense history while walking next to a strong, loyal horse. Because here, in Szeklerland, the horse is not just an animal, but a living, breathing witness to the great tradition that defines us, the Szeklers.

Mountains and nature give us something we can't explain, something money can't buy. The forests, the streams, the trees and the valleys exude a pure energy that you can't find anywhere else in the world. And experiencing all this while roaming on horseback is a feeling that will forever be etched in your soul.

For a Szekler, the land is not just a possession – it is our spirit, our heritage, which we will preserve no matter what. Horses help us stay connected to our traditions, our family, and the land that our ancestors protected. And although the world is changing rapidly, here in the mountains we try to live with the same respect and love as our grandfathers did.

The Szekler life is not for everyone. It is a hard, enduring life that comes from the heart and requires us to be real people – not in a world of lights and glitter, but in the silence of forests, mountains and villages. Once you enter this world, something changes inside you. You understand why we hold on to tradition so strongly, why we respect animals so much, and why we are so protective of the land we cultivate.

Here, in Szeklerland, the most important things lie not in words, but in deeds. And if you understand this, if you feel the power of the land, the horse and traditions, then you too will become part of a heritage that has survived the centuries – and will remain with us forever.