Festival Calvacado do Cavalo Pantaneiro

Ney crossing the river

The local fazendas hosted a huge fiesta yesterday, an annual event for the last 14 years. One of the highlights of this event each year is a massive horseback ride with over 200 horses, mules, and even donkeys, where all the locals ride from one fazenda to another, crossing the Pixaim River during the ride. People were laughing, cat calling, taking selfies, and some were falling off their horses into the water (how much did the many hours of drinking into the wee hours of the morning contribute to this?), resulting in much ribaldry. There was some splendid horseflesh there! This is our local boat driver, Ney, who just before I took this photo fell off his horse into the river when the horse balked at the deep water, to the great amusement and teasing of all of his friends. I showed him my photos and this is the photo he wanted a copy of to remember his ride.

17/11/14 http://www.allenfotowild.com

Pixaim RiverFazenda Santa TerezaPantanalBrazilhorseridercrossing river