Charros Performance

[Abby Brown] The Charros and Escaramuza are performing at the Elwell Family Park and it is a beautiful display of Mexican culture.

(Music)

[Juan Pina] We have the two of the drill team for the girls, which is called Escaramuza. That's a female part of this Mexican sport, which is huge in Mexico. And it's huge in the states, too. I think it's in 19 states already in the in the United States. 

[Abby] Okay.

[Juan] So we have the honor to be here today. Thank you to the Iowa State Fair for having us. Give us the opportunity to show you some of our culture and roots. We see some of the dancing horses for Mister Macedo. And the Charros. Charros is the only Mexican sport for Mexico. We have a young Charros, first generation of Charros born in Iowa. We started this about 17-18 years ago with one team or two. Now it's 8 teams in the Des Moines area. We're really proud to to see that growing so much and see those kids getting the passion for this, because this is really a big passion to do this. 

(Music)

[Indalecio Macedo] This one, it's a Friesian horse. He's a 6 year old. We do Alta Escuela with him, which is a high school training. It's elements of dressage, which is a passage,  piaffe and throws.

(Horse neighs)

Yes. And a Spanish walk. 

[Abby] Is that when he's picking his feet up super high? 

[Indalecio] That's right. Spanish walk. 

[Abby] Okay. And what are some of the other movements that he's performing?

[Indalecio] He did a little bit of passage and piaffe and Spanish walk and throws.

[Abby] And what's your job when you're riding? Do you tell him what to do?

[Indalecio] Of course. This is body language more than pushing him to do things. My body is telling him to do it a little bit. So he has been very sensitive on his back, same as the rein. So when I move a little bit with my hand and with my body, he understands right away what I want.

[Abby] So, yes, you're a great team.

[Indalecio] Yes. Thank you.

(Crowd cheering)

(Music)

[Abby] So tell me about the Escaramusas.

[Cynthia Pina] Escaramusa is a Mexican traditional sport. We ride side saddle, so you are controlling your horse with the rein and your one leg. You're not using both legs like a man that uses both legs to control their horse.

(Music)

[Abby] Tell me more about the family tradition of it.

[Adriana Soto] We're trying to create, you know, bring our roots from where we're from, so that even though they're born here, they know where we came from. And then they grow with that roots and they can teach generation by generation. And that's why we get involved in one way with the kids so that they can develop this and they can keep the traditions.

(Music)