Portraits from the Blessing of the Horses

Each year as part of the Festival of St. Michael in San Miguel de Allende, the parish priest offers a blessing of the horses and a mass to honor the vaqueros that ride them.

Vaquero taking a rest during the blessing of the horses in front of La Parrochia de San Miguel.

The horses and their riders poured into town from the outlying areas, some of them riding for days to get to the blessing. Riders grouped behind banners announcing the various communities to which they belonged.

Vaquero with his horse.

Well-behaved horses, all in a row.

Listening to the mass.

The only dude on a burro.

Green-eyed beauty

Vaqueros and vaqueras

Blessing the beasts. The horses definitely didn't appreciate the blessing and most riders had to work to keep them calm.