05/26/2024
I received several messages asking what i actually did the last week, so i decided to share my adventure! I went on two common border horse rides in Hawick (as well as a few other things)
some history and context:
“A common riding is an equestrian tradition mainly in the Scottish Borders in Scotland.[1] Male and female riders ride out of the town and along its borders to commemorate the practice from 13th and 15th centuries where there were frequent raids on the Anglo-Scottish border known as the Border Reivers and also to commemorate the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Flodden.[1] Today, the common ridings, rideouts, or riding of the marches continue to be annual events celebrated in the summer in the Borders of Scotland. Each town may have many rideouts over their festival week, usually having one on festival day. Some towns re-enact historic 'common ridings' – although many others have well-established 'festival rides' that are cemented within their town's history.”
“ In Hawick, (pronounced Ho-oink) they celebrate the capture of an English Flag in 1514 by the youth of Hawick at a place called Hornshole and The Cornet’s Lass ‘busses’ the Flag by tying ribbons of blue and gold to the head of the staff of the flag. In Annan, there is the ‘Hole in the Hedge’ ceremony. It is claimed that in days gone by, a boy was pushed through the smithy’s window to look out for approaching marauders. Each year, a different local boy is chosen to be ‘skelped’ through the hedge to mark both the site and the tradition.”
