The blessing of the horses in Guadalupe, Spain

A smasher Castilian Equus caballus prances into the Square alongside his passenger The approving of the horses inward Guadalupe, Spain — A smasher Castilian Equus caballus prances into the Town Square of Guadalupe alongside his rider. © Jo Kimmins

by Jo Kimmins

In Oct I was lucky plenty to witness the approving of the horses inward the town of Guadalupe inward Extremadura, Spain.

Riders from all over Kingdom of Spain ride for 5 or half dozen days to plough over the pocket-size colina piece of job yesteryear town to pay homage to the Virgin of Guadalupe as well as convey their horses blessed yesteryear the local priest.

They laid upward off inward groups or sodalities. The groups tin dismiss endure equally pocket-size equally ii or iii or equally large equally xv to 20. As the groups nearly Guadalupe their numbers corking equally to a greater extent than groups bring together the road from all directions. Many horses send ii or fifty-fifty iii people alongside the 2nd soul sitting on a pillion pad attached to the dorsum of the saddle as well as pocket-size children squashed inward behind the pommel. By the afternoon of the approving to a greater extent than than G horses as well as riders assemble together at the bottom of the town.

During the solar daytime the town besides fills upward alongside spectators. The hard-core fans larn inward early on to larn the best seats inward front end of the Cathedral. Inside is the famous statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, believed to convey been carved yesteryear Luke the Evangelist, as well as is ane of iii Black Madonnas inward Spain

There is no shade inward the centre of town. Temperatures are inward the high 20s. People shelter nether umbrellas as well as fans flutter equally they campaign to croak along cool. When the parade starts each grouping comes separately into the foursquare led yesteryear ii riders. One carries their item banner as well as the other a bunch of flowers for the church. They are a consummate mixture of fossil oil province folk, refined rejoneiro types as well as metropolis slickers. The ane affair they convey inward mutual is their relaxed ease on a horse.

Anyone could endure forgiven for momentarily falling inward dearest alongside the dashing as well as dignified figures of men as well as women inward their traditional riding suits, elaborate chaps as well as sombreros on their beautiful Andalucian horses.

In the middle of the foursquare inward front end of the cathedral is a circular outflow where the horses sink their muzzles as well as gulp earlier beingness blessed yesteryear the priest. Some groups sing songs, others give speeches as well as and then they all shout out “Viva la Virgin de Guadalupe!” (Long alive the Virgin of Guadalupe) as well as the crowd responds alongside an enthusiastic “Viva la Virgin!” (Long alive the Virgin!)

At times it is pandemonium equally horses misbehave or lads demo off yesteryear making their horses bring upward or produce the Castilian walk across the square. Emotions run high. Friends hug, express joy as well as fifty-fifty vociferation equally they are overcome yesteryear the atmosphere as well as what they convey achieved.

For to a greater extent than than ii hours the horses parade yesteryear the cathedral, getting blessed yesteryear the priest as well as cheered yesteryear the crowd. Once they convey gone through the foursquare they ride dorsum downward through the town to the former prepare station where they untack as well as hose downward the horses, as well as around fifty-fifty hose downward themselves.

The horses are loaded into opened upward lorries as well as trailers for a much quicker furnish home.

Images below © Jo Kimmins