Palmanova, Friuli/Italy (2018) – While the Italian sun merciless heated up the grounds, 45 teams of five different countries showed with their horses and carriages in Friuli's "starred city", Palmanova, what humans and animals can accomplish together if only they understand each other well. The "International Competition of Attacks", organized by the local ANAC COLOC FRIULI lasted three days and demanded not only incredible skills of the carriage drivers and their horses but also all their endurance possible. The competition consisted of dressage, marathon on the ramparts between "Porta Udine" and "Porta Cividale" and skill tests with moving obstacles. The teams came from Austria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and France to challenge the local Italians. The photos in the gallery were taken on the second day when horses and drivers in carriages had to show their slalom talents when the courses lead them through a maze of hay balls, railings and walls. By the way: The fortress of Palmanova has become part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017.

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Horses with carriages attack in Palmanova / Slalom through hay balls, railings and walls

Wolfgang Stocker