“A Rapa Das Bestas” is a traditional festival that every year is in several places of Galicia (Spain) . It is an old tradition which has been celebrated at least since the 18th Century. It seems it was for a symbolic initation for the transition from childhood to adulthood. The most important is at Sabucedo (Pontevedra province)

At 7 am, it is time to start going up into the mountain. Most people go walking but there are some horse- riders. They look for the wild horses which graze there. Their aim is to catch as many horses as possible and lead them in herds to an enclosed area, where the foals are branded by their owners. The following day, a lot of people take part in leading the horses to Sabucedo village, where the “curro” is.

This is a round closed place or pen where the "A Rapa Das Bestas" is celebrated. The “aloitadores” are the ones in charge of cutting the mane and tail of the equines. They do not use any help to catch the animals, just their bodies. Once the herds are in the curro, the foals are taken off by the younger "aloitadores" to protect them from any harm. It is then when the show starts.

The A Rapa Das Bestas photo album