[Standard]

Looks like a beautiful day for a ride. Glad you had a large turnout for it. Does this ride take place yearly?

[Highlander31]

Nice photos Alex. Nice little bit of history as well.

[cessna152towser]

Does this ride take place yearly?

Yes it is an annual event though it has received more publicity this year as part of the Return to the Ridings which is one of the events in the Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme.

[acaig]

Great story and photos, as usual, Alex. Thank you.

What is a Callant - similar to Cornet ?

[McClef]

There certainly seems to be quite a few horsey activities going on near you Alex.

[cessna152towser]

What is a Callant - similar to Cornet ?

Yes, different towns call them by different names.
For those unfamiliar with the tradition, in most of the south of Scotland towns a young unmarried man who was born in the town is appointed annually to lead the ridings of the marches, when the horse riders of the town patrol the boundaries. As a preliminary to the ridings of the marches most towns also have rideouts to nearby destinations in the preceding weeks.
Dumfries and Hawick both call the leader the Cornet but other terms such as Callant, Whipman, or Braw Lad are used by other towns.