Jo Chipchase reviews the practise of running your horse below a rope, and grabbing ribbons with a stick… otherwise known as the beloved ‘Carrera de Cintas de Caballos’, happening at a fiesta near you!
AT FERIAS and romerias around rural Andalucia, you will see something on the programme called ‘Carrera de Cintas de Caballos’. Although potentially confusing to the uninitiated, this means a horse event involving catching pretty ribbons. No, you won’t see it in ‘Inglaterra’, which is more fixated on gymkhanas and the Grand National.
To explain simply, the ‘Carrera de Cintas de Caballos’ is an equestrian event involving hand-to-eye coordination. Before it starts, a cord is stretched between two posts. Attached to the cord are small rings (wood, plastic, metal) clipped to ribbons. Riders take turns to pass under the cord and spear a ribbon using a short spike (such as a ‘pinchito’ stick or piece of cane). If the ring comes free and the ribbon is liberated, you have won the ‘cinta’. However, if you dislodge the ring and the ribbon falls to the floor, you have lost. Many riders miss the rings entirely!
Most ‘Carreras de Cintas de Caballo’ events have prizes. These might be 10e per ‘cinta’, or – if you’re lucky – a ‘jamon serrano’ or even a new saddle at large ferias with bigger budgets.
The annual San Juan in Lanjarón ‘cintas’ event has no prizes but benefits from an on-site bar, making it a several-hour social for local equestrians and their friends.
Some accomplished riders go from feria to feria, winning prizes. The bigger the prizes, the more accomplished the riders are likely to be in attendance!
Órgiva ‘cintas’ on Friday 26 September, 2025
All photos (c) J. Chip.
Where does the ‘Carrera de Cintas de Caballos’ originate?
The origin of the ‘cintas’ race is up for debate. The format echoes old cavalry drills where riders practiced threading a lance through a suspended ring. Andalucía maybe kept the skill element and turned it into a fiesta competition. The author has seen a horseback jousting contest following the traditional ‘cintas’ race, so maybe there’s some validity to this explanation.
Most people, when asked, look a bit confused! Even the organisers.
Does it matter? Just turn up and have fun!
So, what is the exact format?
At any ‘cintas’ race, the horses gather at one end of the arena. They then gallop under the rope, one at a time (usually), while the rider attempts to spear a ring with their chosen stick. Depending on who is organising he event, adherence to the “rules” is taken seriously – or the event is more ‘for a laugh’.
For example, horses are not supposed to slow down directly under the cord or stop while the rider casually removes the ‘cinta’. Questions about “valid” catches of the ‘cinta’ are routine. Riders do try it on: encouraging their horse to trot/walk, stop directly under the rope, or sneakily use their hands instead of the stick. “That’s not fair!” people screech from the side-lines. Maybe that was the reporter!
Again, some events are more formal than others. If a 300e saddle is up for grabs, the rules are more likely to be enforced.
Who rides?
The ‘Carrera de Cintas de Caballo’ has traditionally been a male domain, but now more women bring their horses along nowadays. The event is also popular with local teenagers, some of whom are marvellous horsepersons for their age, showing prodigious skill and control.
The riders wear everything from traditional ‘traje corto‘ of the Andalus ‘jinete’ to frilly shirts, flowers pinned to horses’ bridles, funky shirts, etc. Some local teens take their chance in jeans and trainers. The mood is relaxed, but competitive!
In Órgiva, the proportion of women at the ‘Carrera de Cintas de Caballo’ is growing annually. The local horsewomen are keen to be represented and join with any after-activities, such as visiting a local bar to eat ‘raciones’ and drink cava!
Spectator advice
- Keep away from the horses during the event (usually, the spectator area is separate). Never walk directly behind a horse’s hind legs.
- Take your own water or cold beer unless you’re sure there’s a bar.
- Take a sun hat.
- Timings are slightly linear. f the poster says 1pm, it could be 2pm. Equally, 4pm could turn into “after the heat dies”. The reporter once saw an event start early (it was wrong on the progamme) and missed half of it. Prepare to be flexible!
