The Camargue horse is an ancient breed of horse indigenous to the Camargue area in southern France. Considered one of the oldest breeds of horses in the world, over time it has developed endurance, toughness and speed. The Camargue horse is the traditional mount of the gardians, the Camargue Gardians who herd the black Camargue bulls (see Camargue bull) and traditionally escorted them to the arena. Although they are guardians of the horse, they actually take their name from the plains to the North known as Le Gard. L'Abrivado (abriva means to speed up in provençal language) consists of bringing the bulls from their pastures to the arenas. The cattle are flanked by cowherds riding their white horses in order to avoid "attrapaires" (young lads from the village) who try to let the bulls escape. The group of horses and bulls trots through the streets of the village as the crowd is cheers.
