Each year, Caravaca de la Cruz holds the equestrian ritual of Los Caballos del Vino (Wine Horses) from 1-3 May, as part of the fiestas in honor of the Sant sima y Vera Cruz. The event is a series of events in which the horse is the protagonist. Following the parades, a race against the clock takes place up the hill to the castle, with the horses running with four handlers, leading up to the fortress, where prize money and embroidered cloaks are awarded. Caravaca de la Cruz, also known as Caravaca, is a town in southeastern Spain in the region of Murcia, the capital of the northwest region of the same name.
Santuario de la Vera Cruz (Sanctuary of the True Cross) is a monastery in Caravaca that features several convents and a fine parish church. Each year on May third, a festival is held in honor of a miraculous cross believed to have healing powers. This Christian town is famous not only for its Christian relic but also for the festival that honors it between 1 and 5 May. This festival was declared of International Tourist Interest by UNESCO in 2004. Processions and parades of Christians and Moors are especially significant, and the celebration of Horses of Wine is also highly relevant. It is now aspired to be a part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. As early as the 8th century, Arabs and Berbers invaded the Spanish peninsula, causing a conflict with the local residents that lasted nearly 800 years, resulting in the control of the peninsula by a coalition of Christian kingdoms.
In Caravaca, on 2 May, the horses paraded through the streets with their brilliant robes, which were embroidered with silk and gold. Embroidery techniques are learned in workshops and embroidery families, as well as knowledge and techniques relating to caring for, breeding, harnessing, and handling horses. Opening wide the gates of the festival are dedicated to the Blessed. This was a display of fantasy and symbolism. As a festival, the origins of which blend together history and legend, the festival is given strength, value, beauty, and senses.
It's said that people and horses have a mutually respectful relationship that is passed down through generations. Wine-growing and horse-breeding are integral to the economy, history, and culture of the area, and this festival showcases values such as comradeship and unity, with everyone feeling part of a socially united group.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/wine-horses-00860) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaca_de_la_Cruz)