Thursday, May 9, 2013

Charro Rodeo

The other day I was down at Buckeye with the Carroll family and while we were waiting for the playday to start, I see that they had a Charro rodeo going in the big covered arena. I've never seen a charro rodeo before...

It was fascinating!!!

Okay, technically, it wasn't a full rodeo...It was one event...Kind of like going to a team roping.

None of my pictures turned out as well as I had hoped. I was using Meg's 'fancy' camera and I really do not know how to work it. I lightened the pics as much as I could, but you will probably have to click on the darker ones to enlarge them so you can see them.

There were a few ropes around. This kid was absolutely amazing with his rope tricks...

He could twirl the rope all the way around his horse, up over his head, around his body and make the loop bigger or smaller. It looked like to me he was practicing at getting the loop big enough to encircle the entire horse. It was a mighty fine Appy he was riding as well.

I had to watch for a little bit because I didn't quite understand what they were trying to do with the steers at first. They had that wall running down almost the entire length of the arena, guys were lined up outside the box...It's the farthest row in that is lined up at the roping box...

Then the guy in the box would nod and the steer, with the rider in hot pursuit would race down the wall...

I finally had to ask someone what the purpose was because I wasn't seeing what they were trying to accomplish. They explained, in broken english, that the rider has to reach down, grab the tail of the steer and then race by and 'trip' the steer. I was like, 'No way!'...but sure enough, a guy finally got a tail grabbed and tossed the steer...

It seems like a rather odd event...but not really that much different than steer wrestling. LOL.

I was far more fascinated by the beautiful horses. (squeeeee)...They were everywhere.




I was so mad...I kept missing getting a good shot of this to-die-for Appy...He was beyond gorgeous...


Now, I know there is controversy over the 'dancing' thing that charros train their horses to do...But it's like every other equine related event...There are good trainers and there are bad trainers. When you watch the dancing in real life...It's easy to spot the horses that are properly trained and conditioned to 'dance' and it's easy to see the horses that are forced to 'dance' and do so out of fear of having their legs whipped. There is no comparison between the two. The trained horses dance in rhythm with the music. And the forced horses just jig and hop around.

Oh yeaaa....There was a live band playing the whole time. LOL...

People took turns putting their horses in front of the band and working on their dancing...

This guy was good...

And this guy was warming up his son's pony...



I was on my way out and saw this guy...

An almost 16HH, pure-bred Andalusian stallion. Oh my!! He was stunning...

 

I think he was imported. He has a pretty fancy brand on his hip. The guy was thrilled to put him through his paces for me...and he was so beautiful and fluid to watch...


And then there was this one...



I was really impressed with the quality of horses these guys were riding. I don't know why. I guess I just have never seen the higher end of Mexican horsemanship. But it's amazing and the pride in their horses is obvious. 


6 comments:

Cut-N-Jump said...

I think it is called Coleaderos and I know a guy who does it too.

Link to video

While I may not agree with some of the tack or methods used, there are some really nice horses to be seen in the videos. Yes, some of the riding/training is good, some not so much.

Was that out at Empty Acres?

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

Buckeye

LOL...I was watching the video and thinking, I need to train my little sorrel horse to do this. Hahahaha-He'd be perfect for it; fast enough to run by a steer, short enough to make it easy to grab the tail and stout enough to yank any of those steers down.

Crystal said...

How cool! Some pretty cool looking horses there!

Funder said...

Very cool! Beautiful horses, I know you had to keep wiping the drool off your chin ;)

cdncowgirl said...

OF COURSE he was thrilled to show off for you, he has a gorgeous horse and you're a pretty lady lol

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

LOL..Those latino guys are not above showing off for the camera...anyone's camera. ;-)