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The Memory about Brave Horsemen is Revived

From the morning the people were in high spirits, some of them went on an excursion about the Stables, others entered the competitions in martial arts taking place immediately in front of the recourse stands: there were competitions on skillful handling of the horse, on archery and air rifle shooting, cutting with a sword and target throwing lances…

There were many people who wished to learn how to slash rods with a sword and to hit a moving target, throw a knife and lash down an object.

The children were enthusiastic in taking part in the holiday. They were very curious about everything, and they rode in a horse-drawn carriage, took part in master-classes on making toy horses of clay and fabric snippets, drew small horses, took part in “outfitting a Cossack for a military campaign” and made sand-art pictures. Now they know how a Cossack is equipped for the military service, how to adorn a horse harness, how to hobble the four-leg friend, how to make a merry toy horse of simple materials.

A part of the racecourse is a makeshift Cossack camp. It welcomes the guests with a merry song performed by the group “Stanichniki” of the Sholokhov Children’s Art Centre. There were displayed many items of the old everyday life.

The holiday-makers bought souvenirs, took photos and videos, and had some meals from the field cuisine.

At 11.00 the public was welcomed by M.V.Korneyev, Deputy Head of the Rostov Region Administration. Then, a Welcoming Address from the Assembly Council of the Peoples of Russia was presented. It was followed by the performance of the artistic and ethnographic composition “Offs to the State Service” (scripted by S.Gribanov, staged by T.Galitsyna). The scene showed an old rite of seeing off a young Don recruit to the military service. It reminded the episodes from the famous epopee novel by M.A.Sholokhov and was supplemented with old Cossack songs performed by the group “Pravoslavny Don” from Stanitsa Bokovskaya.

Fancy riding was an important part of the military service of a Cossack. The horsemen from the Stables of the Museum-Reserve and the invited horsemen showed their various fancy riding skills. Besides, the public enjoyed horse jumping competitions and a Cossack drift. It was impressive and great, and I wouldn’t like to get on the way of the Cossack drift!

Finally, by the tradition, the horsemen in a gallop threw bouquets of lilacs to the public. The members of the holiday, young recruits of the Sholokhov District were greeted by A.M.Sholokhov, Director of the National M.A.Sholokhov Museum-Reserve. He awarded the best performers and contestants.

The ethnographic holiday was over, but finally, the lovers of “metal horses” enjoyed a Moto show additionally organized by the Motocycle Federation of the Rostov Region.

Alexey Kochetov