Doma Menorquina
Encyclopedia
Doma menorquina is the traditional style of riding of the island of Menorca. It is closely associated with the Menorquín horse.
Doma menorquina is based on classical dressage
and resembles a combination of Alta Escuela ("High School") and Doma vaquera
disciplines. Usually, stallions 3–4 years old are trained. From the three basic gaits, walk, trot
and gallop
, training progresses to the Spanish walk
, half pass, flying changes and piaffe
and culminates in the bot, or walking courbette
. The remarkable ability of Menorcan horses in the bot is the most notable element of Menorcan riding; the rider sits effortlessly on the rigid back of the sella menorquina, the Menorcan saddle.
Horses and riders are at the centre of local festa celebrations, in a tradition that may go back to the 14th century and incorporate elements of Christian, pagan and Moorish ritual. Some 150 riders participate in the festival of Mare de Déu de Gràcia, the Birth of Mary, in Mahón
(September 8–9) and in that of Sant Joan, Saint John
, in Ciutadella
(23–24 June). Riders pass through the crowds, executing caracole
s and repeatedly performing the bot; the more often it is performed and the greater the distance travelled, the greater the applause of the crowd. Touching the horses is believed to bring good luck. At Ciutadella three types of contest of skill are also held: the ensortilla
, in which the rider armed with a lance attempts to take a small ring suspended from a cord; the rompre ses carotes, a jousting
contest in which one rider attempts to break a hand-painted circular wooden shield held by the other; and the most dangerous, córrer abraçats, "running embraced", in which two horses gallop with their riders arm-in-arm.
The elevade, in which the horse beats the air with the front hooves, is also a part of the ritual of the festa.
Doma menorquina is based on classical dressage
Classical dressage
Classical dressage evolved from cavalry movements and training for the battlefield, and has since developed into the competitive dressage seen today...
and resembles a combination of Alta Escuela ("High School") and Doma vaquera
Doma vaquera
Doma vaquera is the traditional working riding discipline of Spain, from which all the working riding styles of the Americas and many of those of Europe appear to derive....
disciplines. Usually, stallions 3–4 years old are trained. From the three basic gaits, walk, trot
Trot
A trot is a type of symmetrical gait in animals.Trot may also refer to:*Trot , the specifics of trotting in horses*Trot , a genre of Korean pop music*Trot , a character from the Oz books of L...
and gallop
Gallop
Gallop is an asymmetrical gait used at high speeds by quadrupedal organisms such as the gait seen in the horse.Gallop may also refer to:*Conductor gallop, wind-induced low frequency oscillation of overhead transmission lines...
, training progresses to the Spanish walk
Spanish walk
The Spanish walk is a trained movement performed by a horse. While at a walk, as the horse raises each foreleg off the ground, it lifts the leg in an exaggerated upward and forward manner. While the Spanish walk is loosely affiliated with the field of dressage, it is more of a trick or circus...
, half pass, flying changes and piaffe
Piaffe
The piaffe[p] is a dressage movement where the horse is in a highly collected and cadenced trot, in place or nearly in place. The center of gravity of the horse should be more towards the hind end, with the hindquarters slightly lowered and great bending of the joints in the hind legs...
and culminates in the bot, or walking courbette
Airs above the ground
The airs above the ground or school jumps are a series of higher-level classical dressage movements in which the horse leaves the ground. They include the capriole, the courbette, the mezair, the croupade and the levade. None are typically seen in modern competitive dressage...
. The remarkable ability of Menorcan horses in the bot is the most notable element of Menorcan riding; the rider sits effortlessly on the rigid back of the sella menorquina, the Menorcan saddle.
Horses and riders are at the centre of local festa celebrations, in a tradition that may go back to the 14th century and incorporate elements of Christian, pagan and Moorish ritual. Some 150 riders participate in the festival of Mare de Déu de Gràcia, the Birth of Mary, in Mahón
Mahon
Mahón is a municipality and the capital city of the Balearic Island of Minorca , located in the eastern part of the island. Mahon has the second deepest natural harbor in the world: 5 km long and up to 900m. wide...
(September 8–9) and in that of Sant Joan, Saint John
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
, in Ciutadella
Ciutadella
Ciutadella de Menorca or simply Ciutadella is a town and a municipality in the western end of Minorca, one of the Balearic Islands . The name means "citadel". It is one of the two main cities in the island, along with Maó.-History:...
(23–24 June). Riders pass through the crowds, executing caracole
Caracole
The caracole or caracol is a turning manoeuvre on horseback in dressage and, previously, in military tactics.- Dressage caracole :...
s and repeatedly performing the bot; the more often it is performed and the greater the distance travelled, the greater the applause of the crowd. Touching the horses is believed to bring good luck. At Ciutadella three types of contest of skill are also held: the ensortilla
Corrida de sortija
The corrida de sortija is a traditional gaucho sport of the Rio de la Plata area of South America.It was described by Hutchinson in 1868:...
, in which the rider armed with a lance attempts to take a small ring suspended from a cord; the rompre ses carotes, a jousting
Jousting
Jousting is a martial game or hastilude between two knights mounted on horses and using lances, often as part of a tournament.Jousting emerged in the High Middle Ages based on the military use of the lance by heavy cavalry. The first camels tournament was staged in 1066, but jousting itself did not...
contest in which one rider attempts to break a hand-painted circular wooden shield held by the other; and the most dangerous, córrer abraçats, "running embraced", in which two horses gallop with their riders arm-in-arm.
The elevade, in which the horse beats the air with the front hooves, is also a part of the ritual of the festa.