Unique horse event comes to Cardigan (From Western Telegraph)

Unique horse event comes to Cardigan

10:10am Friday 27th April 2012 in News

Stunning stallions are set to storm the streets of Cardigan during the Barley Saturday parade tomorrow, April 28th.

The unique event boasts in-hand classes and a supreme championship competition, before horses and vintage vehicles are paraded through the town.

Bumper crowds are expected to attend the event, which has gone from strength to strength over the years.

Stallion judging will start at the Penralltddu show field at 11am this year, because of the large numbers the event attracts, followed by heavy horse turnout at noon as usual, and the grand parade at around 1.45pm.

Vintage cars will gather at the Pwllhai site before the parade, and vintage tractors and agricultural vehicles will start from Station Road.

Secretary Tudor Harries said the committee was hoping for good weather to ensure the show’s success, but arrangements were going well.

He said: “I enjoy watching the show classes and seeing the horses being judged, but the highlight for me has to be seeing the horses parade through the main streets.

“It’s a unique event.”

Barley Saturday is believed to have started in the mid 19th century and the annual event provided farmers with the chance to hire new staff and inspect prize stallions.

The event is traditionally held to celebrate the arrival of spring and the end of the barley seed sowing season.

It draws people from far and wide, and has inspired many poets such as the late Dic Jones and, more recently, Ceri Wyn Jones and artist Aneurin Jones.