"The Camargue horse is the traditional mount of the gardian. It is used for livestock management, particularly of Camargue cattle, and also in competitive Camargue equitation, in traditional activities such as the abrivado...Their calm temperament, agility, intelligence and stamina has resulted in these horses being used for equestrian games, dressage, and long distance riding..."
So says Wikipedia.
I'm not an equestrian; I'm allergic to horses, cats and various other forms of dust-blowing, pollen-laden life, such as Bori.... no, strike that. But I like them (maybe not the last).
However when I first saw the abrivado in my home town of Uzes, I was taken by the apparent extent of the cultural attachment the gardians have to their animals and way of life. Colourful, skillful, a bit dangerous, no doubt controversial, it is an annual ritual across the towns and villages in the South of France around the Camargue.
Not only the fastest, not only the one who got the bull home untouched by the chasing locals but prizes for the best-dressed, best liveried!
Of course, there are those who court the danger and the controversy. Like, f'rinstance, him:
