This was our view high in the hills at eight in the morning......I don't know the official horse count but it's usually over 400 for this ride....
This is the 'Standard Bearer' as they call him in Selkirk, it's a big anniversary for Selkirk as it's 500 years since the battle of Flodden. The Standard Bearer is enacting the celebration of the only man 'Fletcher' to return to Selkirk after the battle of Flodden, here is a news link about the day....
Apparently Graham gave spectators a bit of entertainment in the first field where the horses get their first gallop...young Beauty got a bit excited and threw in a bit of a buck and Graham turned into an acrobat but didn't loose hold of the reins, he waited till most of the horses had passed before remounting and following on towards the end of the ride....
Of course we didn't know this so were starting to wonder where they were at this vantage point high in the hills at 8am....We did eventualluy find Kyle who had been told that his Dad had fallen but was following on, we were relieved when we eventually saw Beauty in the distance....they were reunited and went on to enjoy the rest of the ride....
In the distance on the horizon the hill is 'The Three Brethren', there are three standing stones high on the top of the hill where the main party sing songs and give speeches before riding on and galloping off over the hills again. It was a beautiful day, last year it was wet and foggy and it can even snow on these rides.....Graham had time to eat the bacon butty that he still had in his pocket on the top of that hill....Kyle had eaten his but still had a chocolate bar to keep him going.
Here they are back in Selkirk galloping up The Toll.....we were back home for lunch....
Oh my....seeing the long line of horses and riders was amazing! Do you know how many horses there were? Thanks for sharing this. You live in a beautiful country.
ReplyDeleteHi Dawn, thanks for visiting....I never heard an official count but usually on this day there are over 400 horses, it's a big ride....
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos! Kyle and Patch seem very happy together and well suited. I hope Bess is healing well, I'm sure Kyle misses her. The country side is so beautiful and the photo of the stream of riders is really amazing. Hope Graham is none the worse for wear after his tumble. I can imagine it was worrisome waiting to see that horse and rider were okay. Thanks for sharing!
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