La Saca de las Yeguas, Almonte
The "Saca de las Yeguas" is an ancient tradition dating back to 1504, where over 1,500 semi-wild mares and foals are herded from Doñana's marshes to Almonte, Spain. This unique spectacle, held annually on June 26th, draws thousands as "yegüerizos" (breeders) guide the "troops" of horses through a scenic, marshy path.
The journey offers a feast for the senses, with the sight of galloping horses, their distinct smell, and the sounds of neighing mixing with the breeders' calls. A significant moment occurs around 11:00 AM in El Rocío village, where the herds pause at the Hermitage of La Blanca Paloma for a traditional Hail Mary prayer.
Later, the horses rest before continuing to Almonte, arriving around dusk. They parade through the town's streets before reaching the Huerta La Cañada livestock enclosure. Here, traditional tasks like branding, grooming, and deworming are performed on these Marismeña horses, an endangered Andalusian breed.
The Saca de las Yeguas, a highlight of Almonte's San Pedro festivities, is a crucial event for the conservation of this native breed. From June 27th to 30th, the enclosure hosts livestock work, a market, and a morphology competition. Finally, on July 1st, the mares and foals are released back into Doñana, continuing a tradition that blends history, nature, and dedicated conservation efforts.
