In recent years, due to its growing popularity of the sport, charrería is slowly becoming known more in Mexico and the U.S. This is due to recent times since eight years ago UNESCO( The United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization) named it an official sport as it is on the representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
With its influence from the Spanish during the late 19th and early 20th century cattle herding was the first step to a great influence to the sport. Early equestrian activities were involved as well and since then the sport evolved immensely.
The sport emerged in the states of Hidalgo, Jalisco and Mexico City since new laws in the 19th century were being introduced that allowed for the charreada competitions to start taking place throughout different states. The athletes then started associations for the sport to withstand popularity and maintain tradition with one of the first being Asociación de Charros de Jalisco.
Now people might ask why is this sport important and why does it matter if we live in the U.S.? The importance of the sport is also vital here in the states, since there is a league here in the U.S. with about 18 different states where teams can compete.
As well as a Federation and an association here in the U.S. with a president and delegates which maintain the order of competitions here. There are also Lienzo Charros, which are sports arenas where the competitions take place.
But even so the importance in having a federation and teams here is for the sole purpose of maintaining that tradition alive. Unfortunately, there are people here from Mexico that can’t go back but they relive traditions here.
Traditions to hispanic people are everything and keeping them alive for the future generation is also vital as to why the sport is growing.
Since the 20th century the sport itself has evolved and there has been a better representation of amazing athletes that have changed the image of the sport. For example, before the athletes weren’t as fit, they rarely practiced and drank alcoholic beverages before and while competing. But now athletes have changed the image from before to become better and it has shown.
Two notable representatives of the sport are Jose Andres Aceves Aceves and Enrique Jimenez.
A few notable highlights from Aceves is that he is the only person in the history of the sport to win “ Charro Completo” eight times which basically means that he can complete the whole competition from start to finish. He can also do all nine aspects of phases of the sport which include la Calada de Caballos, Piales en el Lienzo, Coleadero, Jineteo del Toro, La Faena de la Terna en el Ruedo, Jineteo de Yegua, Manganas de Pie, Manganas de Caballo, y el Paso de la Muerte. He has also won two titles with two different teams being Rancho Las Cuatas in Aguascalientes, and RG2 of San Luis Potosi.
Jimenez has surprised the sport by winning the prestigious Charro Completo twice in the past two years of 2022 and 2023. He also competes in the other most important teams called “ 3 Potrillos” from Guadalajara, Jalisco. RG2 and Potrillos are like the Mexican soccer league classic, “America versus Chivas.”
With the uprise of the new wave of generation of athletes charreria is trying by all means to be conserved as it is a tradition that dates back centuries. The different associations have made it happen and now it’s up for the newer generations to take action and conserve traditions for future generations to come.
For more information on competitions and about the sport in general you can visit fmcharreria.com.org.mx.
