Our ride from Addis started at 7am and we headed towards the town of Fiche. We were told we would drive about 2 hours - we couldn't wait to see everything! We were really excited!

Four hours of driving later, we were still 'collecting information' and looking for 'the perfect village'. It turned out that the Horse Galloping Ceremony doesn't start until about 1pm and it happens simultaneously across many towns and villages in Oromia Region.

Eventually, about 2pm, we reached the chosen village. On the way we saw boys and men with long bamboo sticks walking in the same direction. We got out off the car and had a 30min walk, through the meadows, hills and bushes, ahead of us. A group of about 30 people walked with us, watching our every step. The walk wasn't difficult but because of the altitude our breathing was shallow and quick. There was not a single horse in sight though - we got a bit worried whether the ceremony was actually happening.

Finally, half way through the walk uphill, the first horse joined us with its owner. The animal wore a decorative harness and saddle, all very colourful and full of pom-poms flapping in the wind.