Charreria, a Mexican Tradition

Charreria, a Mexican Tradition

Charreria

Charrería is a culture, tradition, sport, and art practiced in Mexico and the United States.  A central component of charrería is the charreada.

The charreada is a festive event that incorporates equestrian competitions and demonstrations, specific costumes and horse trappings, music, and food. 

Charrería first captured the imagination of Mexico

many centuries ago, and it is still a vibrant part of life and culture for many in Mexico and the United States.  Charrería was born in the sixteenth century when the first horses arrived with the conquerors. 

In the big fields of the haciendas agriculture and cattle raising developed and evolved, into the culture of the Mexican charro.  By the nineteenth century, people from the large haciendas all over the country organized celebrations in which charrosshowed their skills and competed against each other

Brief History

La Charreada is the most ‘’Mexican’’ and traditional party in Mexico. The Charreada takes place in a lienzo charro. It is a custom for many

people attend these elegeant and disciplined events. The Charro Teams demonstrate their skills performing the ‘’suertes

charras’’ which are the following: CALA DE CABALLO PÍALES EN EL LIENZO COLAS ESCARAMUZA JINETEADA DE TORO TERNA EN EL RUEDO JINETEADA DE YEGUA MANGANAS A PIE PASO DE LA MUERTE CHARRO COMPLETO

Charreada

Lienzo Charro

Basically, this consists

of demonstrating the horses ‘’education’’, it shows how good the horse is.

Cala de Caballo

This performance

consists of lassoing the back legs of a horse who is running. The Charro gets three opportunities.

Piales en el Lienzo

In this performance

the Charro has to grab the running cow by the tail to try to bring it down.

Colas

This performance

generally involves 8 women Charras who demonstrate musical choreographies with their horses.

Escaramuza

This performance

consists of riding a bull until the Charro falls down. It is like the rodeo performances in the United States.

Jineteada de Toro

This performance

consists of three Charros riding their horses, they have to ‘lasso’ a bull down.

Terna en el ruedo

This performance

consists of a Charro riding a wild/angry horse. Basically the same as the jineteo de toro.

Jineteada de Yegua

This performance

consists of ‘lassoing’ a horse or bull while the Charro is on foot.

Manganas a pie

This performance

consists of a Charro riding a ‘manso’ horse having to jump on to a ‘bruto’ horse and has to control it.

Paso de la muerte

A Charro completo is a

Charro that can perform all of the ‘suertes’, hint the name “complete Charro”. He performs all the suertes except: Escaramuza, Terna en el ruedo, and jineteada de yegua.

Charro completo