A Horse-Themed New Year in Jeju: Meet Retired Racers and Riding Shows
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
A journalist born in the Year of the Horse visits Jeju to celebrate the upcoming red horse year by seeing, feeling, and enjoying horses across the island. Jeju is famed for horses: visitors can see retired racehorses like East Jet, Morpheus, and Thundersal at Seongsidol Ranch, part of a program that gives distinguished retired racers a peaceful retirement. The MaPark (The馬Park) offers dynamic outdoor equestrian performances featuring riders doing tricks, archery, and acrobatics on horseback, with winter comforts like blankets and heated seats. For riding, Samdasu Riding Farm provides wide grasslands with views of Hallasan for a guided horseback experience. The island’s equine heritage is explained at the Kim Man-il Memorial (헌마공신 김만일기념관), honoring a historic breeder who supplied thousands of horses to the nation. Scenic trails like Gapmajang-gil and Jjolbeun Gapmajang-gil (’jolbeun’ = short in Jeju dialect) lead to peaks such as Ttarabi Oreum, a sunrise spot, while Iho Tewoo Beach’s red and white pony-shaped lighthouses are a popular photo stop and sunset viewpoint. Visitors can also buy horse-themed souvenirs at Batdi Market and cap a horse-focused trip with a sunset at Iho Tewoo. The piece blends cultural history, hands-on riding, performances, and local spots for a horse-centric Jeju getaway.
