Horseplay

Every year, horse races are held at one of the neighbouring cortijos called Lobrasan. (When I say 'neighbouring', I can see it from my house but it takes about half an hour to drive there!)

Set in the range of hills between the Contraviesa and the Sierra Nevada, Lobrasan is reached via a reasonable track from the village of Lobras. I found myself at times though being glad that I glad the jeep to deal with the road surface although felt somewhat ashamed when I later saw a visiting Fiat 500 parked up at the cortijo. Not sure I would have braved it...

An area had been set aside for a large tent housing the drink and food bar and the racecourse was a quarter mile track which headed off from the tent area down a field which then returned so the finish post was up where everyone was standing.

First of all a fancy dress cum 'best turned out horse' competition took place. It was quite wonderful to see the care that had been taken to prepare both rider and mount for this.

When it came to the main event, the competitiveness of the riders and the eagerness of the horses was unbridled with some fierce competition going on. A betting stall was set up and, not knowing any of the riders except one of the main organisers Nicky, I bet on her to win all her 3 races. She won 2 and lost the third to a short head so I didn't do too badly.

One of the races was rather eventful. Part way through the race, one rider was unseated leaving a clear run for the winner. However, shortly afterwards a loose horse came screaming through the car park. Thinking this was the loose horse from the unseating, a few of us set off to calm the horse and take it in hand. It was only then that the winner of the race appeared, somewhat shaken, looking for her horse. Having got the bit between its teeth (so to speak) she had had trouble stopping her horse and had to take evasive action when it was about to rub her up against a tree, i.e. fall off! Unfortunately it was on to concrete so she was no doubt slightly purple in parts the following morning.

The weather was untypical for the time of year with some sunshine, strong winds and the odd spit of rain. The large tent that had been put up to house the bar (and give some shelter) was straining at its guy ropes (one later snapped) and those that had dressed up and were wearing hats were having some control difficulties.

Further events were planned for the following day (including dog racing) but, due to grass-cutting commitments, I was to give that a miss.