History
the tradition of common riding dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries, during the continual land border wars both with England and against other clans. It was a tribal custom to plunder and thieve cattle, known as reiving (the ancient Celtic word for robbing), and commonplace amongst the major Borders families. In these lawless and battle-strewn times, it became the practise of the day for the local lord to appoint a leading townsperson, who would then ride the clan's boundaries, or "marches", to protect their common lands and prevent encroachment by neighbouring landlords and their peoples.
Long after they ceased to be essential, the ridings continued in commemoration of local legend, history and tradition.
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