The Horse Day in the name of the name of Saints Florus and Laurus, patrons of horses and domestic animals, has been celebrated today, August 31, on Red Square within the Eleventh Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival.
The tradition of honoring Saints Florus and Laurus came to the ancient Russia from the Balkans, the motherland of the saint brothers. Living in the 2ndcentury A.D. the brothers were stonecutters and were building a pagan temple in Illyricum (the present day Balkans). When the temple was completed Saints Florus and Laurus gathered all the Christians involved in the construction, demolished all the idols and erected a holy cross inside. Then they spent the whole night praying. For doing this the saint brothers following the order of Likaion, the prefect of Illyricum, were thrown down an empty well and covered over with earth. According to the legend, then the holy relics were dug out the loss of livestock stopped. It was regarded as a miracle.
Back in the past the Day of Saints Florus and Laurus was widely celebrated across the ancient Russia. This day the horses were especially honored. They were not saddled or cartered, only taken care of. Their manes and tails were dressed with colorful ribbons. Saints were honored with special services and horses were sprinkled with holy water. That cured the horses and made them stronger.
Thus the Day of Saints Florus and Laurus was honored on the horse riding arena on Red Square by the special service held by the archpriest Vyacheslav Shestakov, Dean of the Patriarchal court of Zaryadye churches in Kitai-gorod.
After the service he walked along the line of horses and cavaliers, sprinkling them with holy water.
The entertaining part of the day started with the performance by the female cavaliers of the First Special Task Police Regiment of the Chief Department of the City of Moscow of the Interior Ministry showing the guests on the stands the solemn march of the Moscow horse mounted police.
Following on two traditional Russian troikasfrom the Fellowship of the Russian Harness Horse-Breeding Association rode onsite the horse riding arena trotting several circles around it.
The first part of the Day of Horse celebration was adjourned by the performance of girls from the Sozidatel Sports and Equestrian Club (Lytkarino, Moscow Region). They staged a performance featuring American little horses. These little ones do not exceed 86 centimeters and are the smallest horses in the world. These horses are trained in number of disciplines including riding, horse jumping and agility. The American little horses are not ridden on but they can be carted as was demonstrated to the public. Three carriages with girls dressed in the Russian national flag colors skirts with balloons in their hands rode several circles on the horse riding arena.
The second part of the day featured performances of cavaliers of the Cavalry Escort of the Presidential Regiment and Kremlin Equestrian School.