The horsemen of Sartiglia
It is the horsemen that is the main element of the Sartiglia.
Every year, the parade of many facits of this culture expressed by the horsemen’s riding skills adds to the magnificence and beauty of the Sartiglia: the horses richly adorned by bows and rosettes in an elegant array of colours, are mounted by riders wearing costumes of Sardinian and Spanish folklore in never ending imagination.
In recent years, the event has been comprised of the outstanding 120 riders on horseback. On both days, these 40 pariglie (each consisting of three riders) make part of the festival of Oristano's Sartiglia, included in the ‘pariglie’ are the two Componidori with their Segundu and Terzu as one of the pariglie.
In the past only a few tens of riders used to take part to the Sartiglia in the early decades of the 20th century.Then in contrast, since the 1950s, the number of participants increased as popularity of the event grew until a hundred pariglie were entered as early as in the 1980.
Until a few decades ago, the event of Oristano used to accept various riders coming from other municipalities, but in recent years, as the event took its present form, the access has been mostly reserved to riders from Oristano. With popularity of equestrian sports among the youngsters it had to be limited, for they long for being included in the event. This keeps the Sardinian tradition alive.
All riders are part of a guild, the ‘Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica "Cavalieri Sa Sartiglia” ’, founded in 1980 and it coordinates roughly 200 members. Every year, this association is responsible for the selection of 120 horsemen admitted to participate to the event.
The riders train for the Sartiglia the whole year. Each pariglie comprises the riders who get to know their horses and other riders well increasing their ability inperforming the skills necessary for the Sartiglia. They spend a long period in their athletic training and need to know the limitations of their horses and other riders.
The Oristano riders' preparation and bravery has achieved the highest levels of bravery, horsemanship and coordination. Performances represent the utmost expression of the harmony, passion and training level of ‘pariglie’ – each, in fact, being composed of six elements, three horses plus three riders.
These riding skills along via Mazzini is the result of the trio’s harmonization, at an extraordinary gallop on the track in front of a huge crowd, that singles out the moment when each rider’s skill and luck are at issue.
Those who are fortunate enough to be selected by Su Componidori to ride at the star will personally feel the experience of an unforgettable emotion for the moment, but this feeling is even more special when they have accomplished it successfully: spearing the coveted star.
