250 horses ascend the Royal Mile

250 horses  traversed the Royal Mile, Edinburgh,  in an event, which has become a national spectacle.

Edinburgh Riding of the Marches dates back to 1579, when able-bodied men rode the town boundaries on horseback, delivering the news to the city that the marches were clear. Edinburgh Captain Stuart Nicoll and Edinburgh Lass Karrie McGill  lead 250 riders from across Scotland in a re-enactment of this ancient tradition.

Stuart  carried the famed ‘Blue Blanket’ Banner at the head of the cavalcade, re-enacting the return of Captain Randolph Murray to Edinburgh after the Battle of Flodden in 1513. This year see’s the 500th anniversary of this tragic Scottish defeat. The Blue Blanket  lead a one minutes silence, presided over by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, and commentated on by world famous voice of the military tattoo, Alasdair Hutton OBE.

The ride took in a morning chase – traversing the south side of the city boundary, commencing at Drum Feeds, Todd hills www.drumfeeds.com  the main sponsor for the event.