Hundreds of horses take to Edinburgh streets for Riding of the Marches
AROUND 280 horses and riders took over the streets of Edinburgh, continuing an ancient tradition.
Nearly 300 horses made their way down the street of Edinburgh in the old tradition
Crowds of onlookers lined the streets of the capital for the Riding of the Marches, particularly the final stage on the Royal Mile.
The historic event, which dates back to the 16th century, sees riders make a seven-hour journey from the Braid Hills towards the city, ending at the Mercat Cross on the Royal Mile.
The Edinburgh tradition dates back as far as the 16th century
Now an annual event, it returned to Edinburgh in 2009 after a gap of more than 60 years.
It sees the appointed Edinburgh Captain and Lass lead hundreds of horses up the Royal Mile where they return the city flag to the Lord Provost.
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In the older days, the tradition was a way of checking the cities borders
The Riding of the Marches was first recorded in the capital in 1579 and was held on a regular basis until 1718, where the purpose was to inspect the boundary markers of Edinburgh.
The riding tradition, known as "common riding" in the Borders, is believed to date as far back as the 12th century, when Scottish towns were granted a charter, effectively creating the birth of the town.