The Annual Competition and Exhibition of Driving Carriages in Ronda is set to be a spectacular affair. The event is divided into two stages. At 10:00 a.m. the carriages will assemble on calle Virgen de la Paz where they will be judged. This is a unique opportunity for the public to enjoy the carriages, harnesses, horses, coachmen and footmen up close. The jury will take into account the quality of construction, maintenance, accessories, horses, placement and dress of the carriages.

At midday the carriages will enter the bullring preceded by a welcome carousel by riders from the riding school at the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda (Royal School of Cavalry in Ronda – RMR). The carriages will enter the bullring one-by-one to perform their exercises. The jury will take into account the skill displayed by both drivers and horses when executing the various exercises required for competition.

The event will conclude with a final carousel by all the carriages taking part and the announcement of the decision of the jury.

The XXXV celebration of this event will feature the highlights from competitions in Seville and Jerez, all unique carriages that have been restored especially for use at ferias, competitions and festive events throughout Andalusia. Thanks to these kinds of events certain skills and trades have been salvaged from oblivion including the construction of carriages, blacksmiths, lamplighters, upholsterers, saddlers, coachmen, thus creating a significant number of jobs. On this occasion, the Portuguese Fundación Alter Real will be taking part.

The horses are 90% Pure Spanish Horse or PRE (Pura Raza Española) whose technical skills and training in the competitive equestrian sport known as dressage (Doma Clásica) is one of the main objectives of the riding school at the RMR, alongside the professional education of future riders and riding instructors.

Tickets are now available at the bullring box office in Ronda for € 2 a ticket.

The 2011 poster

“Spanische Post bei Toledo”, an etching by Alexander Wagner, taken from the book “Spanien: in Schilderungen” by Theodor Simons (Berlin, Gebrüder Paetel, 1881), has been chosen to feature on the official poster for the XXXV Annual Competition and Exhibition of Driving Carriages in Ronda this year. The etching has been chosen from the travel literature archives stored in the library at the RMR.

Once again the RMR has produced a children’s version of the poster. The drawing competition was launched in February 2011. Open to children throughout Ronda, the winner this year is Iván Moreno Sánchez a student from 5º de primaria at CEIP Guzmán El Bueno school in Gaucín. Presided by Don Rafael Atienza (the Marquis of Salvatierra and President of the RMR), the jury selected the winning illustration thanks to its similitude to the Ronda bullring as it exists today.

The winning illustration will be shown under the same conditions as the official poster. The winner will take part in the carousel alongside their guardian during the 2011 Competition and Exhibition of Driving Carriages. They will also be awarded a diploma, drawing materials and a guided tour of the Driving Carriage Museum and the city of Seville alongside their entire class.

There were also ten special mentions for entries by:
· Blanca Medina Lara (Colegio Fernando de los Ríos, Ronda)
· Juan José Ecilla Morales (Colegio Fernando de los Ríos, Ronda)
· Álvaro T. Caballero (Colegio La Inmaculada y San José de la Montaña, Ronda)
· Andrea Alonso Díaz (Colegio La Inmaculada y San José de la Montaña, Ronda)
· Lía Higuera Mariño (CEIP Guzmán El Bueno, Gaucín)
· María Isabel Perujo Orozco (CEIP Miguel de Cervantes, Ronda)
· Rafael Carrasco Domínguez (Colegio Juan de la Rosa, Ronda)
· María Sánchez Morales (CEIP Miguel de Cervantes, Ronda)
· Andrea Sánchez Andrades (CEIP Guzmán El Bueno, Gaucín)
· Diego José Cardona Guerrero (CEIP Juan Carrillo, Ronda)

The competition, one of the most established equestrian events in the region, aims to disseminate the use of Spanish horses and remind visitors to Ronda of this fundamental aspect to Andalusian culture.

Event organized by:
Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda (Royal School of Cavalry in Ronda
Excmo. Ayuntamiento de Ronda

Directed by:
Real Club de Enganches de Andalucía

List of participants in 2011 in PDF format

2011 poster: Spanische Post bei Toledo. Etching by Alexander Wagner from the book “Spanien: in Schilderungen de Theodor Simons”, published in Berlin by Gebrüder Paetel in 1881. From the travel literature archives stored in the library at the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda.

Winning illustration for the children’s version in 2011: Iván Moreno Sánchez. CEIP Guzmán El Bueno School, 5º de primaria, Gaucín.