Riders in wide-brimmed hats cross a sandy arena on horseback in a loose, wide procession. Further back, a bandstand or reviewing stand with a drum and gathered figures is suggested by color shapes at the upper right, while tiers of spectators dissolve into scattered flecks of muted color against a hazy grey-blue backdrop.

Soft, even daylight casts no hard shadows, and the arena is flattened into pale bands. Gestural dabs and dry-brush strokes carry the figures, with thicker, more saturated pigment for the riders and horses over the fibrous paper grain. The mood is nostalgic, rustic and gently festive.