SA Charro Association performs at Day of American Cowboy 

In 2009, the Frontier Times Museum Board of Directors selected their first inductees to the newly formed Texas Heroes Hall of Honor as recognized by the State of Texas.

One of the first of those honored was San Antonio’s Dr. Raul Gaona Sr., the classic and elegant patriarch of the Gaona family – and an enthusiastic promoter of classical Mexican culture in Texas. Over 55 years ago, he helped found the San Antonio Charro Association, which has been designated the oldest charro association in the United States.

For the second year, La Escaramuza precision riders with the San Antonio Charro Association will perform at the Frontier Times Museum Ranch Rodeo on Saturday, July 24, at Mansfield Park.

Escaramuza refers to a precision team-riding exclusively for women, to individual members of the team and, later, to the competitive event in the charreada. The Frontier Times Museum is honored to present this award-winning San Antonio group.

Charrería, the national sport of Mexico and a forerunner of the North American rodeo, originated among the Spanish conquistadors in the sixteenth century. Charros, or Mexican horsemen, adapted the equestrian contests of the Spaniards to produce a uniquely Mexican sport.

By the 19th century these contests evolved into celebrations held on large haciendas, especially festivities celebrating the herraderos or brandings and rodeos or round-ups. People traveled for miles to participate in the celebrations and to watch charros exhibit their skills and compete against each other in daring competitions of horsemanship.

Charro contests were also included at major fiestas and celebrations in Mexico, and single charro events, such as the coleadero, the forerunner of bulldogging or steer wrestling, were often used as holiday contests. Anglo-Texans first participated in the sport at these fiestas and celebrations. Charrería was well known in Texas from the days of the republic, and by the 1860s these contests were included at Texas fairs.

Charrería was also influenced by the corridas, or bullfights, in the plazas de toros, where the coleaderos and jineteos de toros – bull riding – became popular. Charro sports were included in the corridas through the 19th century. This helps explain the presence of bull riding – which is not a ranching chore – in both rodeo and charrería.

Large haciendas in Mexico were divided after the Mexican Revolution. Fearing the demise of their tradition, charros convened a congreso in Mexico City on July 4, 1921, and founded the Asociación Nacional de Charros. In 1933, the Federación Nacional de Charros was founded in Mexico City to govern the different charro emerging associations. In the late 20th century, this organization oversaw the charro associations in both Mexico and the United States.

To compete in an official charreada, or rodeo, all associations must be licensed by the federation, and competitors must be certified as charros. There are presently over 100 charro associations in the United States. Texas charro associations exist in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Dallas and El Paso.

Tickets to the Mansfield Park rodeos on Friday, July 23, and Saturday, July 24, are available at Gunslinger, 1107 Cypress Street, and at Mansfield Park on Highway 16 prior to the events.