【I Want To Be The First Guy】

LONDON -- A church service just isn't a church service unless a horse is I Want To Be The First Guypresent.

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And St. John's Church in Hyde Park, London, just hosted an entire church service for more than 60 horses.

The event is hosted annually to raise awareness of working horses in central London and to celebrate horse riding in the city.

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Horses continue their own dirty protest at the event, started in opposition to the threat of closure to Hyde Park's stables. Credit: Jack Taylor/Getty Images

On Sept. 18, the vicar of St. John's Church -- the Reverend Stephen Mason -- led a cavalcade of horses and their riders through the streets before gathering outside the church for the 49th Horseman's Sunday.

Hot to trot: the Reverend layers up in full clerical wear to deliver the service. Credit: Jack Taylor/ Getty Images

The horses congregated on the church's forecourt for a blessing before being awarded rosettes.

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Young riders, members of the public, MPs and community leaders were in attendance. Naturally, cloaked members of the clergy were also on horseback.

My little ponies all round, as young riders join the procession outside the church. Credit: Jack Taylor/ Getty Images

The annual Horseman's Sunday event began in 1968 to "highlight the need to maintain stables along the north of Hyde Park".

"This occasion is one of the most colourful events in the Hyde Park calendar. After all, how often do you get to see a cloaked member of the clergy on horseback these days?" the Reverend said in statement.

How often indeed!

Topics Animals

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