Igor Gonzalo Sanz

Lonely Planet (ES) Author and Photographer

Galicia shaves its beasts

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Each year, wild horses that liv...ummer since the 1 8th century.

1 of 16 © 2024 Igor Gonzalo Sanz

Each year, wild horses that live in freedom in the mountains of Galicia are directed to the village.Â The centennial tradition is celebrated in Galicia every summer since the 18th century.

The neighbors of the nearby dis...ild horses with their strength.

2 of 16 © 2024 Igor Gonzalo Sanz

The neighbors of the nearby districts approach with enthusiasm to see how the bravest young men challenge their wild horses with their strength.

Hundreds of horses (sometimes a... nervous and claim their space.

3 of 16 © 2024 Igor Gonzalo Sanz

Hundreds of horses (sometimes almost a thousand) are concentrated in a 'Corro' (closed square). The animals are nervous and claim their space.

Children learn this tradition i...e haircut to theÂ adult horses.

4 of 16 © 2024 Igor Gonzalo Sanz

Children learn this tradition in the first step of it. They are responsible for separating the youngest horses from their mothers before theÂ beginning ofÂ the haircut to theÂ adult horses.

Adults wait their turn from the...ve the situation under control.

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Adults wait their turn from the barrier, pending that adolescents have the situation under control.

Starts the 'Rapa' and...erd to cut their hair (Crines).

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Starts the 'Rapa' and, one by one, the horses are located among the herd to cut their hair (Crines).

Those in charge of the 'Ra...ly his strength and experience.

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Those in charge of the 'Rapa' do not use tools or ropes to keep the animal immobilized. Only his strength and experience.

A third man holds the horse fro... hold the animal from the neck.

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A third man holds the horse from the tail while the other two men hold the animal from the neck.

The horses resist. It is a ... of man and that of the animal.

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The horses resist. It is a 'hand-to-hand' between the strength of man and that of the animal.

Finally, the horse gives up and...ng remains in a temporary calm.

10 of 16 © 2024 Igor Gonzalo Sanz

Finally, the horse gives up and everything remains in a temporary calm.

The 'Rapa das bestas'...d participate in the tradition.

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The 'Rapa das bestas' is not something of men. Also the bravest women throw themselves into the square and participate in the tradition.

While the horse is immobilized,...s to cut the horse's mane.

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While the horse is immobilized, a skilled man uses the only tool of the whole festival: huge scissors to cut the horse's mane.

While one man cuts the hair of ...immobilized to avoid accidents.

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While one man cuts the hair of the young horses, the other two keep the animal immobilized to avoid accidents.

Sometimes, the horse resumes th...n throws himself on the animal.

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Sometimes, the horse resumes the battle, gets up and tries to escape. Then everything starts and a new man throws himself on the animal.

The man submits the animal agai...ch of their free and wild life.

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The man submits the animal again, they mark the youngest ones and, once the 'Rapa' is done, they leave the horses free. Again, the animals will return to the mountain, in search of their free and wild life.

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Thumbnail of Each year, wild horses that live_summer since the 1 8th century.

Thumbnail of The neighbors of the nearby dist_wild horses with their strength.

Thumbnail of Hundreds of horses (sometimes al_e nervous and claim their space.

Thumbnail of Children learn this tradition in_he haircut to theÂ adult horses.

Thumbnail of Adults wait their turn from the _ave the situation under control.

Thumbnail of Starts the 'Rapa' and,_herd to cut their hair (Crines).

Thumbnail of Those in charge of the 'Rap_nly his strength and experience.

Thumbnail of A third man holds the horse from_n hold the animal from the neck.

Thumbnail of The horses resist. It is a '_h of man and that of the animal.

Thumbnail of Finally, the horse gives up and _ing remains in a temporary calm.

Thumbnail of The 'Rapa das bestas' _nd participate in the tradition.

Thumbnail of While the horse is immobilized, _rs to cut the horse's mane.

Thumbnail of While one man cuts the hair of t_ immobilized to avoid accidents.

Thumbnail of Sometimes, the horse resumes the_an throws himself on the animal.

Thumbnail of The man submits the animal again_rch of their free and wild life.

Public Project

Galicia shaves its beasts

Copyright Igor Gonzalo Sanz 2024

Date of Work Jul 2012 - Ongoing

Updated Dec 2017

Location Galicia, Spain

Topics Animal, Animals, Black and white, Community, Customes, Documentary, Festivity, Galicia, Horse, Nature, Photography, Photojournalism, Rapa das bestas, Spain, Tradition, Travel, Wild, Wild horses, Wildlife

'Galicia shaves its beasts' is a photo report about the annual 'Rapa das bestas' that takes place annually in Galicia (NW of Spain). Hundreds of wild horses that live free in the Galician mountains throughout the year are directed, once a year, to the village. There, in a circle prepared to celebrate this centuries-old tradition, the young people of the town, with no help other than their own hands, select the horses one by one and cut their horsehair. After the annual cut, the animals return to the mountain and continue their lives in freedom.

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