The Charrería or Charreada is a competitive horse show that highlights a charro’s skills in horseback riding, cattle management, and roping, with an additional uniquely Latino cultural aspect to it. Like the American rodeo, the Charrería is deeply tied to Mexico’s history. While the Spanish were developing agricultural and equestrian customs in Mexico during this time, they prohibited any Indigenous peoples of Mexico from riding or owning their horses. The only exception made was for those who worked on the haciendas for the Spanish. They were, however, not allowed to use Spanish-style saddles or clothing. The need for functional horseback riding clothing and equipment led to the development of Mexico’s own distinct style of attire and the famed sombrero. Today, a charro’s clothing is just as celebrated in the Charrería as the skills on display.

During the Mexican War of Independence in the 1800s, charros became revered military figures as they fought and served in various armies. Following Mexico’s independence, the charro’s status only grew, raising them to become celebrated across the nation. To preserve the traditions created by the charro, the Federación Mexicana de Charrería was founded in Mexico City in 1933 and declared the National Sport of Mexico. In the past century, the significance of Charrería to Mexican culture has only grown and evolved. The Charrería now includes an event for women known as escaramuza charra, a women’s team riding event displaying exceptional horseback riding skills and a traditional Mexican outfit called the Adelita, which features a feminine blouse and skirt, sash, and sombrero. Though born from humble origins as workers with little freedom, the charro is now honored as a symbol of Mexico’s culture, freedom, resiliency, and pride.

Hugo: Yo no escogí la Charrería, la Charrería me escogió a mi. Yo nací en una familia de charros y me enseñe a montar antes que a caminar. Cuando yo era chico, mi papá organizaba rodeos donde se hizo una escuela de montar toros y fue donde me inicié y me llevó a ir avanzando hasta llegar a U.S.A.

I didn't choose the Charrería, the Charrería chose me. I was born in a family of charros and I was taught to ride before walking. When I was a boy, my dad organized rodeos where he had a bull riding school and that was where I got started and led me to advance until I reached the U.S.A.

Jeronimo: Mi Familia me enseñó y me acercó a la Charrería desde pequeño, a partir de los 2 años de edad mi madre y abuelo comenzaron a subir a los caballos, inconscientemente me estaban generando una especie de seguridad al estar arriba de un caballo, conforme pasaron los años me fueron dando ciertas instrucciones para así tener mayor experiencia y confianza tanto con el animal así como conmigo. El ser charro es una disciplina muy importante ya que se habla de una unión entre dos ( el animal y el jinete) eso lleva a que conforme los años de entrenamiento del jinete junto con su caballo se forme una especie de lazo para así lograr un equilibrio de respeto tanto para el animal como del animal para el jinete. Me convertí en charro gracias a la buena educación y enseñanza que me dieron mis padres, abuelos y familia cercana, no muchos tienen la fortuna de poder ser un charro echo y derecho, el ser charro se forma y se gana.

My family taught me and brought me closer to the Charrería since I was little, from the age of 2 my mother and grandfather began to get on horses, unconsciously they were generating a kind of security for me by being on top of a horse, as the years passed. For years they gave me certain instructions in order to have greater experience and confidence with both the animal and myself. Being a charro is a very important discipline since it speaks of a union between two (the animal and the rider), which leads to the formation of a kind of bond over the years of training of the rider and his horse in order to achieve a balance. of respect for both the animal and the animal for the rider. I became a charro thanks to the good education and teaching that my parents, grandparents and close family gave me, not many are fortunate enough to be able to be a full-fledged charro, being a charro is formed and earned.

Lissie: desde que nací siempre estuve rodeada de la Charrería ya que mi papá es charro o fue charro en su juventud, cada que íbamos a las charreadas donde él participaba veía a las escaramuzas y a los charros hacer sus suertes y yo solo quería aprender para estar un día un día en la escaramuza y vestirme con esos hermosos vestidos y galopar al son de una canción.

Since I was born, I was always surrounded by the Charrería since my dad is a charro or was a charro in his youth. Every time we went to the charreadas where he participated, I saw the skirmishes and the charros, and I just wanted to learn so that I could be there one day in the skirmish and dress in those beautiful dresses and gallop to the sound of a song.

Hugo: Yo le debo toda mi formación como deportista al rodeo, gracias a eso soy la persona que soy al momento y prácticamente fue mi vida.

I owe all my training as an athlete to the rodeo, thanks to that I am the person I am at the moment and it was practically my life.

Jeronimo: Realmente me es muy increíble el como puede el jinete aguantar tanto tiempo en una bestia de casi 1 tonelada de puro músculo, a pesar de que tan solo tienen que soportar 8 segundos, esos 8 segundos pueden significar la vida o la muerte.

It really is very incredible to me how the rider can last so long on a beast of almost 1 ton of pure muscle, even though they only have to endure 8 seconds. Those 8 seconds can mean life or death.

Hugo: Pues es algo que hago día a día, para mí es un estilo de vida así que sigo conectado todo el tiempo.

Well, it's something I do every day, for me it's a lifestyle so I stay connected all the time.

Lissie: La Charrería podría decir que es la identidad de ser mexicano, ya que los trajes son indumentarias 100% mexicanas que han ido evolucionando al paso de los años pero jamás han perdido lo tradicional de nuestros ancestros hombres de a caballo. Y las suertes charras siguen siendo las mismas que con lo que inició este deporte en los campos abiertos para atrapar al ganado, ósea, empezó como trabajo diario. La conexión que tengo pues es 100% a mi cultura Mexicana, ya que las canciones que interpreto son acompañada con el mariachi que solo existe acá en México, donde las letras hablan del amor romántico y bonito, de las serenatas en los balcones, de la vida en el campo con los hombres galantes y las mujeres tan femeninas a su andar. Me llena el alma cantar a caballo vestida de china poblana o de charra esas canciones bravías que hablan de lo bonito que es nuestro México y nuestra cultura tan colorida.

La Charrería could be said to be the identity of being Mexican, since the costumes are 100% Mexican clothing that has evolved over the years but has never lost the tradition of our horseman ancestors. And the charros' luck remains the same as what started this sport in the open fields to catch cattle, that is, it began as a daily job. The connection I have is 100% to my Mexican culture, since the songs I sing are accompanied by the mariachi that only exists here in Mexico, where the lyrics speak of romantic and beautiful love, of the serenades on the balconies, of the life in the countryside with gallant men and women so feminine in their footsteps. It fills my soul to sing on horseback, those brave songs that talk about how beautiful our Mexico is and our colorful culture.

Hugo: La satisfacción de llegar a lograr lo que nadie logró en México es lo máximo.

The satisfaction of achieving what no one else achieved in Mexico is the greatest.

Jeronimo: Me encanta sentir la adrenalina que tienes antes de subirte a un animal tan hermoso y letal a la ves. Es una sensación muy extraña que puede dar el animal, se siente que impone por su tamaño, su fuerza, su poder. El estar arriba de un toro se siente como si volaras, como si todo lo demás se desvaneciera y solo quedarás tú y el toro.

I love feeling the adrenaline you get before getting on an animal so beautiful and deadly at the same time. It is a very strange sensation that the animal can give, it feels imposing due to its size, its strength, its power. Being on top of a bull feels like you're flying, like everything else fades away and only you and the bull will be left.

Hugo: Quiero compartir los buenos modales, las costumbres de un caballero y sobre todo lo que involucra el comportamiento de un charro con la gente hasta con el cuidado de su caballo.

I want to share the good manners, the customs of a gentleman and, above all, what involves the behavior of a charro with people, even taking care of his horse.

Lissie: Exorto a todos los mexicanos y a todas las personas del mundo a conocer nuestro deporte nacional que es la Charrería que está conformado por hombres y mujeres valientes que hacen suertes a caballo con majestuosos trajes coloridos elaborados a mano por grandes artesanos, a probar nuestra comida que está llena de explosivos sabores, a conocer nuestros hermosos pueblos mágicos como nuestros hermosos paisajes.

I urge all Mexicans and all people in the world to learn about our national sport, which is Charrería, which is made up of brave men and women who participate in different events on horseback with majestic colorful costumes made by hand by great artisans, to try our food, which is full of explosive flavors, to get to know our beautiful magical towns and our beautiful landscapes.