The Lady of the Metworst
Vortum-Mullem,
a blessing on speed
They say you only see her if you believe. Not if you think you believe, but truly believe. Believe in the legend of the Vortums Veld…
Long ago, the young noblewoman Aleida, from a noble family, found herself stranded in the mud of a field in Vortum-Mullem, a small village just beyond Sambeek, upstream from Boxmeer. She was traveling by carriage when her horses bolted and the vehicle became stuck in the clay. She was alone. Her servants were not with her, and no one knew why.
She stood there, her shoes stuck in the mud, her dress torn, her hands dirty, but her gaze determined.
At that same moment, young farmers held their annual horse race in the field, a tradition of strength, courage, and fertility. Whoever rode the fastest proved his zest for life and was allowed to receive the symbol of that strength: a seven-ell-long sausage, a loaf of bread, two barrels of beer, and half a pig's head.
They saw her standing there. One pushed his shoulders under the wheel, another calmed the horses. And a third had eyes only for her. He looked at her, reached out his hand, and brought her to safety. She said hardly anything, but her gaze lingered on his face. As if she knew him from the past. Or was it from a dream?
Since then, it is said that the young lady returns every year. She floats along the course, her eyes fixed on the riders. The boy who reminds her most of her savior, not so much for his appearance but for his courage, will win.
And whoever wins with her blessing experiences a special year. Some suddenly found the love of their life. Others an unexpected opportunity. There have been riders who said that their fears and doubts suddenly vanished, as if someone had quietly taken them away from them.
At the end of the day, when the horses are back in the stable and the mud has been washed off the boots, a blue scarf sometimes hangs in the tree by the old pasture. No one knows who it belongs to.
They say: she is still grateful. And as long as the Metworst is driven, she keeps watching. In silence. Looking for him. And that is the reason why, to this day, only young, single men are allowed to participate. Not for the show, but for the chance… that she recognizes him.
