In Middelburg, a town in Zeeland, The Netherlands, the annual 'Gig (two-wheeled horse-drawn open carriage) Ride Event' took place on July 10, 2025. This was an excellent opportunity for me to take 'some' pictures, the more that the good weather was helpful. My intention wasn't only to provide you with new photographs from my 'Gig Foofies' series, but also to show you some other ones that might give you an impression of the event.

So, I'll try to explain what this image shows: in the past, Belgian draft horses were used by farmers in Zeeland to work their land (for example, to plow). When the work was done, some farmers in Zeeland practiced a sport with these horses. This sport is called in Dutch 'ringrijden' (tilting at the ring riding). 'Ringrijden' means that a farmer sat on his relatively large horse without a saddle or stirrups. While the horse galloped at full speed, the farmer had to catch a ring with a lance. The ring was placed in a holder and suspended in the air by a rope between two poles. The farmer who manages to capture the most rings in a certain number of rounds wins. This sport has become 'big fun' both for the horses, the participating farmers, and the spectators.

Later, farmers' wives or partners also began to participate in this sport. The only difference is that the women don't ride on horseback, but, accompanied by their husband or partner, in a 'gig' decorated with flowers. The gig can be pulled by a draft horse or a 'regular' horse. The woman (instead of the farmer) now has to capture the ring with the lance, while the farmer has 'control' of the gig, moving at full speed, and the galloping horse.

Nowadays, ringrijden (on horseback or with the aid of a gig) is primarily a folkloric sport, primarily intended to show tourists in Zeeland some traditions from the past. The participants wear their traditional clothes now only on such occasions.

PS:This Image might give you an idea of 'ring riding' with draft horses.