Caballos del Vino 2017 Caravaca dates back to the thirteenth century , although the documented origin of this celebration is from the nineteenth century .
Legend has it that Caravaca was surrounded by the Arabs from the Kingdom of Granada and the Templars defended it from within the walls . The lack of water and its poor quality caused an epidemic , the Templars had to travel outside the walls to find some water to give to the population; Instead they found wine (sounds like a trick worth learning!) they loaded it on their horses in a few hidden places, rode back with it and give it to the sick who were then healed; Hence they take the name of the wine horses .
The festival used to be a procession but now it has developed into a race. Watch the video from this years celebrations but don’t let “health and safety” see it.
Some of this information is from http://www.tradicionesyfiestas.com/
