Charrería in Jalisco
Charrería is Mexico's national sport, whose tradition involves performing equestrian skills, traditional forms of cattle ranching, and various forms of rodeo.
By Jalisco Culture
Directorate of Comprehensive Project Management
Art and sports
Charrería is on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and is considered Intangible Cultural Heritage of Jalisco.
Charrería (2013-02-12) by René SaldañaJalisco Culture
Associations and schools train members of communities to participate in competitions where charros demonstrate the art of herding and riding wild mares and bulls. Charros wear traditional attire with wide-brimmed hats for men and colorful shawls for women.
Jaripeo
This is the festival where charros have performed their tasks since the mid-18th century, displaying their skills. These galas showcase the best horses, an activity that in the 20th century was established as a competition and designated the national sport.
Family heritage by Cultura JaliscoJalisco Culture
Family heritage
The charro festival goes beyond the arenas: It is a way of life that integrates children into traditions, a family legacy and heritage.
Boys are initiated in the daily tasks and skills, which then extend to rodeo and later into competitions as per the Mexican Charrería Federation. Girls are taught good riding and horseback choreography, which concludes the charreadas.
Primera Academia de Charrería de Jalisco en San Martín Hidalgo (2022-08-22) by Coordinación General de Desarrollo SocialJalisco Culture
Escaramuzas
The charrería events include a female team practice called Escaramuzas, which involves synchronized riding to background music.
The Jalisco Escaramuzas wear Adelita-style clothing, with a circular pleated skirt with ruffles, lace, colored ribbons, and a wide-brimmed hat, which embellishes their choreography.
Escaramuzas charras lanzando su sombrero (2019) by Cultura JaliscoJalisco Culture
Jineteo de yegua by Cultura JaliscoJalisco Culture
Bareback riding
One of the charro events is bareback riding on an untrained mare, where a rider mounts and holds on with a rope. To withstand the bucking, the rider uses both hands and holds their legs horizontally against the ground.
Similar to bull riding, riders attempt to stay on the horse until it stops moving.
Charro de Tonalá by Cultura JaliscoJalisco Culture
Rope skills by Cultura JaliscoJalisco Culture
Rope flourishing
Rope flourishing refers to the action of releasing the lasso and, before it closes, giving the rope an effect that allows the lasso to open at the charro's will and spin around the person handling it.
Bordado en pita (2023-02-27) by Cultura JaliscoJalisco Culture
Pita embroidery
Pita embroidery is one of the crafts associated with charrería that gives it identity, incorporating natural motifs and family emblems.
Artículos piteados (2023-02-27) by Cultura JaliscoJalisco Culture
Regional craft
The municipality of Colotlán, located in the Northern Region of Jalisco, is where most piteado items are made.
Silla de montar en pita (2023-02-27) by Cultura JaliscoJalisco Culture
Piteado items
Piteado finely decorates the leather of the horse saddle, belts, and other accessories used in charrería.
Coleadero (2016-02-21) by René SaldañaJalisco Culture
Coleadero
Coleadero is a demonstration of a rider's physical strength and skill in catching a bull and wrapping its tail around their lower leg to hold it in the shortest distance possible, which is essential in the field to prevent cattle from escaping.
Besides coleadero, there are other charro events such as horse reining, roping, bull riding, team roping, mare riding, forefooting on foot or horseback, and the leap of death.
Esta historia se realizó con el apoyo y colaboración de la Secretaría de Cultura de Jalisco.
