After eight years we finally manage one of the Horse Parades in Sicily !

The locals love horses and they love showing off… That’s a lot of what Sicily is all about, and frankly, it is fun ! I have wished to take part in one of these Horse Parades ever since we arrived here over eight years ago now. I have thought Pippa and I could take our two white horse and would look smart marching down the crowded streets of one of the little local towns. But year after year something stops us from succeeding in getting there. Most years either one of us is off the island or more often we have guests which means we can’t take the time off. There was one year, around 3 years ago, that we were actually both here and available. We cleaned our steeds and saddled up and set off. Only the heavens opened up (never in July!!!) and it poured… The event was cancelled, we got soaked to the bone and Pippa and I caught humongous colds…

This year, we finally succeeded. As the saying goes, “Never give up”… It was a great day, the horses behaved magnificently, and we went home with 2 small trophies – although I have to admit I don’t think we actually won anything. Just a memento for taking part. The point is I got my wish and Pippa’s Paddock has been represented in one of the Horse Parades in Sicily….

Ambrogio (the whiter steed) did some fo his prancing and dancing. He is an ex parade horse but it has been a long time since his old days and neither Pippa nor I quite know what to do. Still, he was good and made sure everyone knew who he was. Enola Grey is the more skittish of the two but behaved well and was a fine horse to be displayed.

Here is a small selection of pictures.