This documentary photography was submitted to Edge of Humanity Magazine by Documentary Photographer Miguel Proença.

 

Click on any image to see Miguel’s gallery of projects.

 

From project “Los Agarradores” by Miguel Proença.

 

“Los Agarradores” is a story about an centennial tradition of a group of ordinary men, that every summer is celebrated in the mountains of Galicia, with warrior shouts, local villagers force the horses down from the mountains to the valleys. The images show aspects of the dispute, sudden and violent movements, where the dynamics of the human body resemble the horse. The exhausted grippers, lay on the ground, clinging to the beast as if it were a trophy and continuing a tradition that’s in their blood and a way to understand life in communion with the wild beasts.

 

The fighters are confronted with horses, as equals, holding the beast down on the ground to be able to cut their manes and sometimes brand them. Amil-Moranã in Galicia, Spain.

 

The fighters are confronted with horses, as equals, holding the beast down on the ground to be able to cut their manes and sometimes brand them. Amil-Moranã in Galicia, Spain.

The fighters are confronted with horses, as equals, holding the beast down on the ground to be able to cut their manes and sometimes brand them. Amil-Moranã in Galicia, Spain.

The fighters are confronted with horses, as equals, without ropes or poles, to immobilize them and cut their manes. Amil-Moranã in Galicia, Spain.

The fighters are confronted with horses, as equals, without ropes or poles, to immobilize them and cut their manes. Amil-Moranã in Galicia, Spain.

The fighters are confronted with horses, as equals, without ropes or poles, to immobilize them and cut their manes. Amil-Moranã in Galicia, Spain.

The fighters are confronted with horses, as equals, without ropes or poles, to immobilize them and cut their manes. Amil-Moranã in Galicia, Spain.

The fighters are confronted with horses, as equals, holding the beast down on the ground to be able to cut their manes and sometimes brand them. Amil-Moranã in Galicia, Spain.

The fighters are confronted with horses, as equals, holding the beast down on the ground to be able to cut their manes and sometimes brand them. Amil-Moranã in Galicia, Spain.

The fighters are confronted with horses, as equals, without ropes or poles, to immobilize them and cut their manes. Pobra do Caramniñal, Spain.

 

 

In the mountains the horses are encircled and brought down across the city using corridors formed by people who are participating in the celebration. Sabucedo, Spain.
In the mountains the horses are encircled and brought down across the city using corridors formed by people who are participating in the celebration. Sabucedo, Spain.

 

Curro in Amil-Moranã, Spain. During the celebration ponies are separated from the horses and later sold by some hundred euros each.
Curro in Amil-Moranã, Spain. During the celebration ponies are separated from the horses and later sold by some hundred euros each.

 

Many fighters don’t finish the celebrations because of injuries incurred during the fight. Amil-Moranã in Galicia, Spain.
Many fighters don’t finish the celebrations because of injuries incurred during the fight. Amil-Moranã in Galicia, Spain.

 

The fighters are confronted with horses, as equals. Pobra do Caramniñal, Spain.
The fighters are confronted with horses, as equals. Pobra do Caramniñal, Spain.

 

After cut their manes and branded the horses are kept in the “curro” till the end of the celebrations and later freed to the mountains. Amil-Moranã in Galicia, Spain.
After cut their manes and branded the horses are kept in the “curro” till the end of the celebrations and later freed to the mountains. Amil-Moranã in Galicia, Spain.

 

See also:

Behind The Hill

Mamluk

By Miguel Proença

 


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