| Where: | Belper, Derbyshire -various locations including King Street and the River Gardens near Strutt's Mill, starting outside the old School house on The Fleet |
| When: | May Day Bank Holiday Monday (usually) |
| Time: | 11 am onwards |
Organised by the community group Fleet Folkloric Forum, the May Mares is a modern joyful celebration in the long tradition of May games and frolics. The Forum mark the cycle of the turning year in a variety of events such as wassailing and beating the bounds, and the May Mares is a unique sporting fixture featuring the traditional Hobby Horse which has galloped into the Belper calendar in recent years. The group were inspired by the old tradition of donkey racing in the town, which was popular for over a hundred years into the early twentieth century, by the history of smithing in Belper and by tales of the local highwayman Black Harry, who stayed in nearby Makney along with his pal Dick Turpin on several occasions. You can expect dressage and racing, and equitation enthusiasts are invited to take part in putting the ponies through their paces, to spectate or to adjudicate on the performances of the riders and their mounts (or maybe just act as an obstacle in the bending race, as the slalom is known in the parlance of the gymkhana). Mounts of all sizes are provided on the day and audience participation is encouraged at various locations around the town (though there are no Mounted Police to enforce it!); if you’re really privileged you might even be loaned a beribboned hat.
Helpful Hints
In 2026 it should be on Monday May 4th (to be confirmed). It’s usually on May Day Bank Holiday Monday, though as it’s a relatively new event and still evolving I’d advise checking the exact locations and timings with the organisers – we went at the start of the day and performances took place on an ad hoc basis around town after the meet-up at the start.
It’s a fun day out and all are welcome. It coincides with the local Arts Week so there are plenty of things happening in town, and Belper has lots of independent shops to explore.
Click here for the Fleet Folkloric Forum’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/5054192241308408
the May Mares welcome riders of any ability (especially those wearing black with red and green accessories)! You don’t have to come from Belper or even Derbyshire to ride with us!
As well as riding out on May bank holiday, next year, being the 250th anniversary of Strutt’s Mill (and the 300th anniversary of the birth of its founder: Jedediah Strutt), we shall be riding Hobby Donkeys, on July 26th, Jedediah Strutt’s birthday (TBC).
Thanks Chris! Yes, even Geordies with admittedly limited skills have been allowed to take part 🙂
Averil