After working as an economist for ten years, Kristel Richard returned to her first love - horses. Kristel has travelled the world to photograph the most beautiful horses and most spectacular equestrian events, and is always ready to spend days in the saddle to share the life of a gaucho, Camargue gardien or Khampa warrior. Kristel's work has been published in the world's major horse magazines and she is currently working on the fiery Kathiawari horses and their proud riders, in India.



Let Kristel take you on a tour of the world's great horse festivals....



Start in Italy with the Sartiglia in Oristano, Sardinia. This begins with the 'Vestizione', an elaborate ceremony in which 'Su Componidori' (the head of the race) is dressed in full regalia. Mounted on his impatient horse, 'Su Componidori' opens the festival in which masked 'knights' in splendid costumes gallop towards a tin star suspended in the air. These daring riders will try to catch it with the tip of their sword. The day ends with stuntmen creating unbelievable human pyramids on the back of their running steeds. Travel south to Morocco to the Fantasia or Game of Gunpowder. Wearing highly decorated costumes, 15 riders charge along at full speed and in a straight line. They will all stop 200 metres later to fire into the sky their old gunpowder guns. The performance is inspired by the turbulent Berber history of the region. Fly East to the Maghi Mela, in Mokstar, India. The Maghi Mela is the most important fair for the Sikhs. Colourfully dressed visitors gather from all over Punjab to join the festival. Merchants display their wares for sale, the Nihangs present amazing horse displays, and local jockeys fight hard during races to win the highly coveted prizes. Head north to experience the horse festivals of Tibet and Mongolia where Khampa warriors demonstrate their superb horsemanship and in Ulan Bator a re-enactment of the mounted armies of Genghis Khan is held. Cross the Sea of Japan to Tokyo for Yabusame. Proud Samurais, mounted on a horse galloping at full speed, have to shoot three arrows at three successive wooden targets in less than 300m. The Yabusame is not limited to the art of fighting, but also relies on spiritual beliefs, with Zen and Shintoism playing a huge role in the rider's mental and physical balance. Finish in Uruguay with the Fiesta Della Patria Gaucha. Every March, about 3,000 gauchos converge on Tacuarembo, in Northern Uruguay. During the Fiesta, the cowboys take part in fierce competitions, from herding 'la tropilla' to staying on a wild horse during the 'jineteadas'.

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