Mahmudiye: Horse Breeding and Local History

Mahmudiye combines a founding story dating back to the late 19th century with a rich history of horse breeding. The elongated town center and archaeological traces in the surrounding area also shape its character. If you are looking for a hotel in Mahmudiye, these different points of interest can help you decide whether the town suits your interests.

Local History and Settlement Pattern

Between 1880 and 1885, Mahmudiye was founded as Atikçerkez-Mahallesi through the settlement of 30 to 40 Circassians from the Caucasus. The settlers’ origins and the clearly defined time period give this founding a specific historical profile.

The estate in Mahmudiye was reorganized as Çiftlikat-ı Hümayun for horse breeding for the army and is considered the Ottoman Empire’s first modern stud farm. Alongside the settlement history, institutional horse breeding for the army is therefore a distinct historical focus of Mahmudiye.

The preserved central building continues to operate as Anadolu Tarım İşletmesi under the General Directorate of Agricultural Enterprises (TİGEM). This connects the stud farm’s history with a present-day agricultural institution.

In the area around Mahmudiye, remains of höyüks and tumuli, as well as finds from construction excavations, point to an older settlement history. They add evidence of earlier settlement to the town’s dated founding. Two distinct time horizons are therefore in view: the founding of Mahmudiye in the 1880s and the archaeological traces in the surrounding area.

The town center extends as a ribbon-like settlement for 3.5 kilometers along Konya Street. This elongated form is a useful point of reference for orientation: the center should be understood not as a single point, but as an extended stretch of settlement.

Horse Breeding and Equestrian Activities

Horse breeding is also part of Mahmudiye’s institutional profile. The Türkiye Jokey Kulübü Mahmudiye Pansiyon Harası breeds purebred Arabian horses and offers horse boarding services. Purebred Arabian horses are sold annually at the Anadolu Tarım İşletmesi grounds. These are distinct functions: breeding and boarding at the stud farm, and sales at the agricultural enterprise.

The Hippotherapy Application and Research Center (MAHUM) of Mahmudiye Atçılık Meslek Yüksekokulu also works with horses. The center’s plans include treatments on horseback or on the ground, as well as spending time with horses. Planned treatments and interactions with horses thus add further aspects to the breeding profile.

A report dated May 23, 2024, describes an event organized by the Hippotherapy Application and Research Center: children from Class 1/A at Avk. Mail Büyükerman İlkokulu met the horses and took part in a riding event in the indoor riding arena. This is a specific example of an activity held for a school class.

Getting to Mahmudiye

Buses depart almost every hour from both Eskişehir İlçeler Terminali and Mahmudiye Terminal. Check the timetable for your specific travel date to plan your journey.

The historic settlement, archaeological traces in the surrounding area, and equestrian institutions offer different perspectives on Mahmudiye. When planning your stay, you can weigh these points of interest according to your interests and consult each hotel’s information to make your choice.

Discover more destinations: Sivrihisar, Eskişehir, Mihalgazi, Kümbet, Çalkaya, İsmetpaşa Köyü, Karapazar, Karagözler

Go to the main travel guide: Eskişehir.