Ploughing tradition

On the third Sunday of August, children living on South Ronaldsay in the Orkney Islands take part in a historic agricultural tradition. Dating back at least 200 years, the South Ronaldsay Festival of the Horse and Boys’ Ploughing Match draw on the island’s rich farming heritage. The Festival of the Horse sees girls dress up in richly decorated costumes emulating the harnesses and adornments of plough horses in the show ring. Competitors parade before the Hope Community School before they are judged on their decoration and harness detail. In the ploughing event, boys use miniature ploughs on the beach at the Sands O’ Wright. They are competing to create the most even and straight furrows over a 4ft (1.2m) square plot. Originally only boys were allowed to compete. When the event was re-established after the Second World War, however, it was decided girls could dress as horses.