Common Riding Festivals at Mansfield Care

A sure sign of summer in the Scottish Borders is the annual common riding festivals, and the principals’ visits to Mansfield Care homes. These visits are much welcomed as part of community life, and many residents have taken part in the festivals for years. Each town has its own distinctive festival, but wherever you go, you’ll find amazing horse cavalcades and spectacle when the whole town gets together.

Galahill House – Galashiels Braw Lads’ Gathering

Galashiels’ Braw Lads’ Gathering was in June, and as usual, this year’s Braw Lad and Braw Lass upheld the tradition of coming to Galahill House to meet residents. Braw Lad Robbie and Braw Lass Nicola and their supporters were in full festival finery (though not on horseback!) and Elsie, Lisa, Vera, Margaret, and Sheila enjoyed the singsong of traditional songs.

Millfield House – Jethart Callant’s Festival

Jedburgh meanwhile celebrates Jethart Callant’s Festival in July. Like all the Border towns, Jethart has several rideouts to surrounding towns and villages in the runup. With Millfield House being right in the centre of town, residents get a front-seat view! They’ve enjoyed being out watching the mounted riders as they pass the home on their way into Jedburgh.

The Jethart Callant Euan and his henchmen visited Millfield to say hello at the start of the festivities, and on the main Festival Friday on 12th July, again we all watched the cavalcade of horses and riders pass by with lots of cheering. We then took seven residents up to a local hotel for a drink, to join in the local festivities.
Here are some of the Millfield residents watching the Ancrum rideout – an important one this year, with the Callant being an Ancrum boy!