Check this out! Turns out that I came by my love of horses through a genetic heritage of crazy Spaniards. Since the 16th century, Galicia has been holding a festival called "Rapa Das Bestas," which means Shearing of the Beasts! Throughout the summer, 100s of wild horses are rounded up in Galicia and over a period of 3 days in the first weekend in July, they are trimmed and groomed in different villages in my own home of Galiza! I can hardly believe it! In these photos, you see the roundups in Sabucedo, which is only 40 km from Santiago de Compostela, and in Mougas!The true experts are called "Agarradores!" Perhaps in a previous life, I was an agarradore? Or maybe my true love was one? Who knows. All I know is that they still have wild horses in Galicia and crazy people still think it's a good idea to run among them like the bulls in Pamplona. Wait a minute? Isn't Pamplona in Spain? I guess my crazy sweet Spaniards just believe in getting up close and personal with wild ones!!! Gotta love that in a people!!! You can see more wonderful spooky photos of this event at the following links:
http://bridlepath.wordpress.com/2007/06/13/wild-horse-roundup-in-spain/
or
http://www.patrickdonald.com/gallery.php?subcat=horses&subsubcat=horsesspain&pg=1
or
http://www.hiddentrails.com/europe/spain/wild-coast.htm
or
http://www.eastnews.com.pl/news/biuletyn.php?idPozycji=9909
or
http://broadbandsports.com/node/9821
or
http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=56497&in_page_id=2
