- Jun 13, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 19, 2025
Today has been the 2025 Selkirk Common Riding and we've hugely enjoyed seeing all the riders "Safe Oot and Safe In' this year. What a day it's been and the weather so good! It's also reminded us that we had a great evening out on May 28th at the Selkirk Ex Standard Bearers’ Junior Ride Out.
The junior ride out, now in its 11th year, continues to build up a reputation as a great evening, attracting young riders from across the Borders for a fun ride around Selkirk and this year's ride was fantastic for all, with weather to match.
Chief Executive Mags Powell said: "We had a lovely evening at the Selkirk Ex Standard Bearers’ Junior Ride, the sun shone but not as much as our young people who absolutely loved the experience. One young person said “it’s been my best day ever!” We are, as always, hugely grateful to the Ex Standard Bearer’s committee who have invited us along to ride behind them for a number of years now, it has enabled some of our young people to have a wonderful experience that they would never normally have had."
The Stable Life ponies taking part this year were: Billy (Sawyer), Paddy (Robert), Misty (Caja) and Smartie (Milly).
We were also very grateful for the sponsorship of the Scottish Borders Housing Association; their kind donation helped us to attend the event.
The history of Selkirk Common Riding
One of the oldest common ridings in the country, Selkirk Common Riding has a long and fascinating past. Most historians trace its origins back to the Battle of Flodden from which only one Souta, Fletcher, returned out of a group of 80 brave fighters who'd set out for the battle from the Border town.
However, as JN Newlands pointed out in his article, the Common Riding's history could well go even further back than the 16th century.:
"It is commonly supposed that Selkirk Common Riding dates from the Battle of Flodden in 1513, and it is certainly true that it has been carried out and commemorated for nearly five centuries, but all the evidence points to it being of a much older vintage.
"In 1113 King David I of Scotland raised Selkirk to the status of a Royal Burgh and referred to it even then as "mine old town". He granted much land to ensure the Burgh's survival, so these early Souters would have to ride the marches of this land for the protection of their interests. In these early years, they rode armed.
"The marches of the Royal and Ancient Burgh of Selkirk, therefore were ridden for four hundred years before Flodden, but it is by the Flodden Ceremony however that Selkirk is principally known,' he points out.
Tradition has it that 80 men set forth to the Border, and only one returned and raised a blood stained English banner aloft, an action commemorated every year in Selkirk with the Casting of the Colours.
Stable Life has supported many young people from Selkirk and its surrounding villages who needed our help at some point in their lives - we love meeting all the young people who come through our stables every year, and look forward to many more Junior Rides to come!
To find out more about our project at Stable Life helping the vulnerable young folk of The Borders, or to book a riding lesson our yard just visit our homepage.
