2013
286
First recorded estimate
One of the largest free-roaming horse populations in Europe wanders the slopes of Cincar, about fifteen minutes from Motel Vujeva.
No fences or tickets, just fifteen minutes from the motel
These horses were not always wild. Their ancestors were working horses used by local families for ploughing and transport in the villages of Potocani, Zagorichani and Begovaca. In the 1950s and 1960s, when tractors arrived, the horses were no longer needed. Instead of selling or slaughtering them, people simply let them loose in the mountains.
The horses adapted. They survived harsh winters, learned to find food under the snow and formed their own herds. For almost 50 years they have lived without human intervention, without fences and without feeders. Today the population includes Posavina horses, Arabian horses and Bosnian mountain horses.
The herd renews itself every year. They have 145 km² of pasture available on the slopes of Cincar.
2013
286
First recorded estimate
2019
418
+ 65 foals in one year
2026
700-800
Current estimate
The horses stay on the Kruzi plateau and the slopes of Cincar. The terrain is hilly, unpaved and unsigned. Going there on your own is not recommended because the routes are not marked and you need an off-road vehicle.
The best season is May and June, when the meadows are green and the foals are young and playful. The season usually lasts from March to December. In winter the horses move to lower ground and access is often blocked by snow.
Mountain weather is unpredictable and there are no shops on the plateau. Prepare as if you were going on a serious mountain excursion.
Necessary even in summer. Wind on Cincar can be surprisingly strong.
The terrain is rocky karst, not a flat meadow. Regular trainers are not enough.
The horses do not approach people. Binoculars are the best way to watch them.
There are no shops on the plateau. Plan for half a day to a full day outdoors.
Motel Vujeva is about fifteen minutes from the access roads towards Cincar. Warm rooms, free parking, a garage for motorcycles and a homemade breakfast
Everything guests most often ask about visiting the wild horses of Livno and fitting the trip into a stay in Livno.
Technically yes, but it is not recommended. The routes are unmarked, you need an off-road vehicle and there are still mined areas from the 1990s war in some zones near the top of Cincar. Local guides know the safe routes and where the herds usually move.
May and June are the best months. The meadows are green, the foals are young and playful and the days are long. Summer is also good, although the access road can be hot. Autumn colours are spectacular but the weather is unpredictable. In winter the horses move to lower areas and access is often blocked by snow.
They do not approach people and usually ignore you or slowly move away. Keep your distance, do not feed them and do not try to touch them. They are wild and deserve respect.
Motel Vujeva near Livno offers comfortable rooms with free parking and a locked garage for motorcycles, only about fifteen minutes from the access roads to the Kruzi plateau. A warm room and homemade food after a day outdoors make a difference.
Exact numbers are hard to confirm because the herds move freely across a wide area, but the estimate is between 700 and 800 horses. In 2013 there were 286 recorded, and the population has grown since then.
Today's population descends from working horses that villagers released in the 1950s and 1960s when tractors arrived. You can find Posavina horses, Arabian horses and Bosnian mountain horses - all mixed together through generations of free life.