217,000 euros for embroidery training to bolster the tradition of Wine Horse decoration in Caravaca

The magnificent embroidered shawls which decorate the horses contribute to the Caballos del Vino being an UNESCO event of Intangible Cultural Heritage

There are now under 2 months before the annual Fiestas de la Cruz in Caravaca, where the undoubted stars of the show are the participants (both human and equine) in the Running of the Wine Horses, but as preparations step up for the celebrations at the beginning of May the Town Hall has announced a support package for the unsung heroines behind one of the key elements of the spectacle, which has been declared an event of Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

The most spectacular sight is the young men and their horses hurtling up the castle hill in an attempt to win the coveted race for the fiestas groups to which they belong, but this is just one aspect of the equine displays held, another being the accoutrements and decorative shawls with which the horses are dressed beforehand. This are the result of hundreds, even thousands of hours of work on the part of female members of the groups, who volunteer their time throughout the year to create the most elaborate and intricate designs possible.

In order to help preserve this tradition, the Town Hall has announced a package of 217,000 euros put together by the national and regional employment services which will finance the training of ten more people and enable them to enjoy paid employment for nine months, following guidelines and suggestions made by the council and the Asociación Antonio López Ruiz ‘Ñin’. The speciality of the new embroiderers is to be silk and gold thread embroidery, one of the crafts which has helped shape the cultural identity of Caravaca over the centuries.

In recent years other embroidery courses have been held under the aegis of the Casa-Museo de los Caballos del Vino (which is well worth a visit), with very positive results, according to Mayor José Francisco García. He pointed out that in the past the tradition has often been handed down from generation to generation within families. However, with lower birth rates and higher levels of employment among women there could conceivably be a risk of it dying out.

For more local events, news and visiting information contact the local tourist office (telephone 968 702424) or go to the home page of Caravaca Today.