MATRAMINDSZENT is a small village in Hungary and the birthplace of an extraordinary man called Martin Kiss (pronounced Kisch), otherwise known as Django.

Born in 1960 as the son of an electrician, tradition would dictate that he should follow in his father's footsteps and, sure enough, for a while at least, that is exactly what he did.

Django had an ordinary education going through elementary and secondary school, ending up at college where he studied as an electrical technician.

Hungary had the National Service system, where every young man is expected by law to enter the army for two years and, at just 21 years old, Django's call-up came.

His Army life led to the Special Forces, which would end up moulding Django's future here in England.

Django couldn't settle in Hungary and knew that somewhere there was another life for him, 'a better life'. In 1985 he made the choice to leave his birthplace for the UK as a political refugee, landing in London where life was very tough for this non-English-speaking young man, a far call from the 'better life' he expected.

He managed to land a job working at a restaurant washing dishes.

It was a terrible job which he hated and the only upside was that it gave him the chance to learn English.

Django was constantly teased and bullied by so many people for his accent and the fact that he was a dish-washing 'foreigner'.

And, as anyone who has been bullied can appreciate, one day he simply had enough and snapped, ending up in a fight. His early army days paid off - he won.

In the crowd which had gathered to watch the outcome of the fist fight was a man who approached Django and offered him work as a doorman at a night club, which in turn led to him being a bodyguard.

This new line of work took him to the Far and Middle East looking after dignitaries on their travels, and more importantly lined his pocket with much-needed cash.

In 1993, Django and the money he had earned left London for Derbyshire, where he set up a business recycling waste.

He worked hard until 1997, when his increasingly itchy feet and the need to move on took a hold on his life once again.

This time, however, he did what many would simply say was an act of sheer madness. He went to a horse sale and bought a two-year-old piebald pony called Gypsy for just £452. Django had decided to ride around the UK with his faithful dog, Lucky!

Riding around England, even for a well-established rider, would be incredibly tough, but for a man who had never sat astride a horse in his life, surely it would be impossible?

"I watched western movies, bought a western saddle and saddled up Gypsy," said Django.

"I mounted her up and promptly hit the ground, she bucked me off! Gypsy ran off and after some time I caught her and mounted again. She bucked once more and off I came," he laughed.

As I sat there listening to this story it was like a scene from the wonderful movie City Slickers had unfolded in front of me. It was hilarious and I was totally captivated.

Eventually, Gypsy got the message that the rider was to stay on board and off the three of them went.

"Gypsy and I had a love-hate relationship at the start," giggled Django. "But riding her was so natural to me, it really was like I had ridden horses all my life, I was perfectly at home, at peace with myself with only my horse and dog for company, I loved the emptiness.

"We would ride for miles not knowing where we would stop for the night. I would find a pitch, set up camp and cook the rabbits and pheasants that Lucky brought to me over a campfire. Sometimes farmers would let me use their barns for shelter, which in this country was welcome with all the rain!"

This lonesome cowboy made his way up through England heading for Scotland and, en route through Yorkshire, he took a wrong turning and passed through a place called Thwaite.

It is here in this beautiful remote village that he has settled, at least for now!

He met a girl called Helen there, decided to take a break from riding and stayed for one week with her.

After the week, he continued his travels to Peebles in Scotland and on his return he discovered that Helen was pregnant.

"I never meant to settle in one place, it just happened. I was happy travelling on my own, but suddenly I had a responsibility and I had to stand by that, anything else would have been wrong," Django explained seriously.

So he returned to Thwaite, where Helen gave birth to a beautiful son he also named Django, who is now five years old.

He bought 12 acres of land with an old barn on it, which he later converted into a home for his son and Helen.

His relationship with Helen was not to be, but the need for his son to have his father around at all times was so strong it led to a rather unusual set-up.

Django now lives in a caravan on the property with his son and Helen living on the doorstep in the converted barn, each of them now with their own lives.

Horses never strayed far from his heart and Django continued to travel around, sometimes for a month or two at a time.

He rode great distances for charity and on one occasion he made £2,850 for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

He took a much-needed holiday in Canada for one week at a ranch in the Rockies, loved it so much he took a job there and stayed on for a further six weeks trekking in the mountains.

"I could have easily stayed there, but my son was more important so I came back.

"One day I will return to Canada and buy my own ranch, but not just yet.

"Life over there with my son, the horses and the perfect, equally horse-mad woman would make it, yes, perfect," smiled Django.

More horses were bought to accompany Gypsy at his wonderful place nestled in the hillside, and Django is now in the process of setting up a western riding centre called Swaledale Ponies, based at Angram near Thwaite.

"I have had some problems with the planners, but I am so determined to get this sorted and get on with my life.

"I have the most incredible ponies and countryside that I want to share with others right at my fingertips, they simply have to listen to reason", he sighed. "I will keep trying".

Django also takes horses in for training and breaking-in, both for riding and driving.

"I had a horse that hated the water sent to me, so I rode him three miles down the river towards Richmond. Now he loves it, end of problem!" he laughed.

This beautiful attitude, combined with this incredible, natural equestrian talent, makes him the North's first and very own Hungarian horse whisperer and, seeing him with horses at first hand, I can assure you that they certainly do listen to him.

He is so quiet around them, with no harsh voice or sudden movement.

When he rides he becomes one with his horse and when he looks in their eyes he sees into their soul, and they love him back for that deep understanding.

This unique, quiet, hard-working man is still in the process of getting all his ducks in a row, and when he does I know deep in my heart that they will all glide perfectly together down his own river of life, with the most important things beside and supporting him the whole way

Published: 06/05/2005