"Feria del Caballos - May 2006 - Part 1" Top 5 Page for this destination Jerez de la Frontera Travelogue by alucas

Jerez de la Frontera Travel Guide: 237 reviews and 556 photos

Images from the Feria del Caballos, Jerez 2006

The Feria del Caballos is one of the biggest Ferias in Andalucia, and combines the three major claims to fame of Jerez - namely sherry, horses and flamenco.

The showground is in Parque Gonzalez Hontori on Avenida Alcalde Alvaro Domeque to the north east of the city centre, and is about 2km from the centre. The ground is some 500m long by 400m wide, and for the Feria is laid out in a grid of "streets" lined with over 250 canestas (or stands). The main "streets" form a cross through the middle of the showground, and it is here that the daily parade of horses, riders and carriages takes place, from around 1pm or so until 7:30pm.

The Feria is a major equestrian event in Andalucia, and riders, horses and carriages from a wide area come to compete in the daily competitions held in the adjoining arena. Other events take place around the city, including displays at the world-famous Real Escuela Andaluza de Arte Ecuestre - home of the famous "dancing horses".

Feria del Caballos - May 2006 - Part 1 - Jerez de la Frontera

The parade is not a formal line-up, horses and riders, and the carriages seem to stop and start at will, to grab a quick drink, or to pick up or drop down passengers. The riders and drivers are all immaculately dressed, as are most of the passengers. Many of the ladies wear flamenco dresses, but there are great variations in style, with new trends and fashions on show as well the traditional style dresses.

The canestas are actually bars, most serving food of some form as well. And they do a roaring trade - it can be very difficult to get a seat to rest your feet, and as the day wears on, can be almost impossible. The bars stay open very late, and the party continues - in fact the special bus service runs until 6 in the morning on the last two nights.

This set of pictures shows some of the various categories of carriages taking part in the parade. They are classified according to the number and arrangement of horses pulling the carriage. This can be anything from a single horse to as many as 6 horses. I don't remember seeing three horses to a carriage, two or four were the most common arrangements, but there were several with five horses, and at least one with six - not the easiest arrangement to drive round the central roundabout !

All of the carriages and horses were immaculately turned out, and the different dress styles of the drivers were a guide to which town the carriage had come from. This particular one is from Ronda.

(Thanks to Carmen for patiently explaining the differences to us - I wish I had written it down at the time !)

This lady looked remarkably like Maggie Thatcher !

Page Updated Jun 8, 2006
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Comfortable, central hotel
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Comments (44)

unaS Jun 3, 2009 at 9:12 AM Report Abuse

Interesting and helpful tips. Have copied and saved many. Thanks!
lomi Apr 14, 2009 at 9:07 AM Report Abuse

Loved your pages. And the pics! We live in Lanzarote but like visiting mainland Spain. Am looking to go in June, pity the hotel your recommended is full! Anywhere else you'd recommend?
maestrousmc Apr 26, 2008 at 5:03 PM Report Abuse

Thanks for sharing. I'm swinging through Jerez en route to Conil. Looks like I need to devote more time to this unique destination.
DAO Jan 5, 2008 at 6:30 AM Report Abuse

Just looked at my comment on your Ubeda page. I sent that postcard from Addis Ababa on 30 November!
blint Dec 10, 2007 at 4:33 PM Report Abuse

I think my Jerez page will never be as good as yours as I live so near but rarely go or never take my camera! Nor do I do any of the best tourist activities due to my local status!!! ;)
hotsauce28 Dec 7, 2007 at 12:05 PM Report Abuse

=DDD
toonsarah Oct 31, 2007 at 8:35 AM Report Abuse

Excellent page - very thorough and with plenty of local colour :)
Maurizioago Oct 22, 2007 at 12:35 PM Report Abuse

Very good page. I think I'll do a daytrip to Jerez from Sevilla. Ciao!
RafaelTheSecond Oct 20, 2007 at 5:12 AM Report Abuse

Never to forget that JEREZ is land of LOLA FLORES, she was the FLAMENCO in person!:)
Dabs Feb 5, 2007 at 7:43 PM Report Abuse

The Feria looks like fabulous fun and I can never have enough Spanish food, looks like there is more of Spain for me to explore :-)