WARNING: This post contains 53 photos !!

Once a year, the small town of Cany-Barville hosts an annual horse & buggy race. Spread out over the weekend, people flock from all over the country to the castle of Cany.



The normally peaceful castle is turned upside down to accommodate 1,000's of people.




During the weekend, which in this case was perfect, not too hot, not too cold, saw a large influx of people and cars:



Horse and buggies could be seen everywhere. Single horse, two horses and 4 horses (there used to be even 8 horses). You had to watch out where you where going:



Many of the riders were dressed appropriately, ie, in style.



Saturday was the day of the marathon. This race is held over the grounds of the castle, including going through the river. Sunday, the day we actually visited, was the day when the contestants had to show their maneuverability skills. In front of the castle was the testing grounds with a jury tent:



In a separate area, they had a lunch/picnic area where you could buy food:



Meat was cooked barbecue style behind the tents:



The children were not forgotten. They had their bouncy castles and other play things:



Do you think this threesome are related ??



Even many of the spectators were dressed in style, and having great fun!



At the other side of the castle were the makeshift stables;



Most people were grooming their horses to make them look pretty:



Many were part of professional teams, arriving in big trucks;



It was quite impressive to see the paddocks:



Some slept in the trucks, some had pitched their tents in shade:



A horse hunt bugle band had assembled to play a few tunes:



They played with full gusto:



Or they were singing:



The horses and buggies were lining up to participate in the test



Not knowing much about horses, it was impressive to see them control them through a very narrow track:



Even the military participated



Part of the days' program was an exhibition by the Paris Motorcycle Police Demonstration Team. Their motorcycles where parked, ready to go:



Motorcycle, horse and castle:



There were not only male drivers, a lot of females too:



All of them saluted the jury by removing their hats:



And then went off to drive around the track as fast and accurate as the could:



Hats off !



Four horses was the toughest to control:



In the mean time the boys (and one girl) in blue changed into their exhibition gear and were waiting patiently:



There were about 15 of them:



In the mean time the horse event was drawing to a close:



The last one was dressed in an old military style:



Then it was the time for the Police to start setting up:



They started by riding away in a V formation:



Then the assembled next to the buglers;



Followed by high speed precision riding



They then showed how they were able to ride their old BMW motorcycles in almost any position:



Sitting, standing, it made no difference:



They even linked up in groups of four to ride around in a circle:



Precision riding



All together:



Then, with a single motorcycle riding around, four of them jumped up:



And formed this figure (good way of using one bike if you don't have the money for four):



Another way of riding two-up!



This is starting to look a bit "sexual"...



Or this way:



Don't try this at home:



Another way of getting several people on one motorcycle:



Final figure:



All-in-all a nice day at the races..... This event is every year towards the end of July.