Horse-riding side saddle escaramuzas keep centuries-old Mexican sport alive in Chicago area

BEECHER, Sick. — Mexico’s oldest sport is charrería.

“It is thought-about the nationwide sport – everybody thinks it is soccer but it surely’s charrería,” mentioned Vereniz Llamas.

The lads who apply the equestrian sport are referred to as charros however maybe extra spectacular are the ladies, who’re referred to as escaramuzas. It actually interprets to skirmish in English.

Llamas, 32, lives in Beecher, Illinois and has been driving for 16 years.

“An escaramuza is a Mexican cowgirl that works in a synchronized crew with eight different women on aspect saddle doing harmful crosses, quick turns and it is nearly a dance on horses,” mentioned Llamas.

Charrería, which dates again to the 1600s, lives on within the south suburbs of Chicago. Illinois now has 16 Charro groups and 9 Escaramuza groups who compete at a state degree with the hopes of happening to compete at what’s referred to as the annual Congreso in Mexico.

Illinois is considered one of 14 states that proceed the custom and may formally compete in Mexico, in line with the Federación Mexicana de Charrería.

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“Lots of people from Chicago after we inform them what we’re. In the event that they see us dressed, they ask us when are we dancing?” Llamas mentioned. “We’re like no, we’re not ballet folklorico however we trip horses they usually’re like wait, that exists?”

Llamas belongs to Las Coronelas de Illinois. Their crew practices in Manhattan at Ranchos Los Gonzalez.

Based in 2000, the Coronelas are the second oldest escaramuza crew in Illinois.

Thought-about one of many stronger groups, the Coronelas grew to become the latest state champions on Aug. 21 at this yr’s state competitors hosted by Rancho El Consuelo in Beecher. The crew is now headed to compete on the 2022 Congreso in Zacatecas, Mexico in October.

Alexa Curiel, 18, of Joliet has been driving for the previous 5 years. Curiel has been a member of the Coronelas for the previous two years.

“We’ve a really sturdy chief, Itzel,” mentioned Curiel. “As an escaramuza in Illinois, she (Itzel) is considered one of everybody’s idols as a result of she’s competed in Mexico so many instances she’s such an exceptional rider.”

Itzel Castañeda is the captain of the Coronelas. At 27 years previous, she’s been driving since she was 5.

“Being captain, it is a actually aggressive position and it is a actually troublesome position. It is a crew consisting of eight women. It is eight completely different concepts, eight completely different personalities, eight completely different schedules,” mentioned Castañeda.

The judges fly in from Mexico. They’re very meticulous, ensuring every element is in place earlier than they even trip into the world. That features apparel, horses, saddles and even their hair.

“Your hair must be in a slick-back pony. And watch out to not have fly-aways” explains Curiel. “You are additionally not imagined to have unnatural hair colours like blue or inexperienced hair. That is a part of the rule e book.”

However most significantly they take a look at the crew as a complete on their precision and accuracy.

“So should you’re doing a 360 flip what they’ll search for is that if one lady’s off. If she’s too open. It is all about precision and coordination,” mentioned Castañeda.

Not like charros, escaramuzas trip aspect saddle carrying conventional Mexican attire

Castañeda mentioned she considers herself an athlete.

“Not any individual can simply get on a aspect saddle and do it appropriately, defined Castañeda. “It entails a number of steadiness.””

Driving aspect saddle is what differentiates an escaramuza from a charro.

The lady’s saddle known as the albarda – the boys’s known as the silla. The albarda has two horns, one for his or her proper leg to cross over and the opposite for his or her left supporting leg.

“Driving aspect saddle isn’t simple, after some time it hurts your again and also you gotta look fairly doing it too,” mentioned Castañeda

Fairly within the sense that they put on colourful and conventional Mexican attire. Many of the groups, together with the Coronelas have their attire made by a particular seamstress in Mexico. Las Coronelas signature shade has change into purple.

“It is a shade with a number of life,” defined Curiel. “We wished to get attire that made you smile while you checked out them.”

Below the costume they put on a crinolina or crinoline to maintain it puffy. Beneath that they’re required to put on a calzonera which is at kind of legging. And crucial is the rebozo or scarf which is tied round their waist in a signature six-tie knot.

Escaramuzas carry out in male-dominated sport

Mockingly, charrería is taken into account a “macho” sport in line with Castañeda. A lot in order that some charros do not take the escaramuzas severely.

“Once we carry out within the charreadas we go like proper in the course of it and a number of the boys are like- that is our half time present,” Castañeda mentioned. “We’re identical to – we’re simply as necessary as you guys.”

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Castañeda is of the assumption that being an escaramuza is more difficult, on condition that they need to work as a crew whereas the charros are a person sport. “If one lady is lacking it may possibly throw us off within the routine,” Castañeda mentioned.

‘Accidents can occur so rapidly’

One factor everybody agrees on, is the hazard concerned with being an escaramuza.

“It may be very tragic. There is usually a cross the place a lady can crash into one other lady and we trip saddle on the left aspect so we do not have these two legs to regulate our horses a deadly crash can occur,” defined Llamas.

Historically, escaramuzas put on both their very own hand-made equipment or others that function “el mal de ojo” to ward of any unhealthy power or hazard. Additionally they pin little holy pendants to their attire to guard them within the area. Lots of the pins have the picture of La Virgen de Guadalupe.

“Accidents can occur so rapidly and I really feel like that is the place the non secular half is available in,” mentioned Curiel. “They’re (equipment) like part of me, and my residence life, they’re with me.”

“We often put escapularios on and it reveals some ornament,” mentioned 19-year-old Valeria Vargas of Romeoville. “I am fairly non secular and it is like having God by my aspect.”

The crew’s youngest rider is 13-year-old Sweet Duran of Joliet. Duran mentioned she tends to black out in the course of the competitors.

“Generally random ideas undergo my head however more often than not I am actually centered and attempt to not get overwhelmed so much,” mentioned Duran.

For Llamas it is all concerning the adrenaline rush.

“All you actually hear is the stomping of the hooves on the ground. I drown out the music, watch that we’re okay,” mentioned Llamas.

Border disadvantages

The U.S. groups have an enormous drawback when competing in Mexico. They can not convey their very own horses.

“It is a actually lengthy drive to take our horses over there. They need to bear blood checks to see in the event that they’re eligible to cross the border,” defined Castañeda. “So it is method too dangerous and method too harmful.”

One other drawback for the Coronelas and their fellow Illinois groups is the chilly winters.

“We do not have excellent climate yr spherical so we solely have sure months all year long the place we will apply in an area,” mentioned Castañeda.

Throughout the winters they’re going to apply in an enclosed area but it surely’s a lot smaller including to the listing of hurdles las Coronelas leap to position in Mexico. The groups in Mexico do not at all times give the American groups a heat welcome.

“We get a number of combined response,” mentioned Llamas. “Some women are very stunned that we make it that far since now we have to regulate to a brand new horse in three days.” “And a few women are form of snobby pondering – we won’t let these women that come from a complete completely different nation – take our spots.”

The game isn’t low-cost both.

“It is rather costly. The attire run from $300 to $500. The custom-made saddles are round $800. The sombreros are round $800 as nicely,” mentioned Castañeda. “Horses are costly too, all the upkeep every little thing behind it.”

“We do our greatest to get our sponsors,” defined Llamas. “Our mother and father are our primary supporters. Quite a lot of us simply see us as eight women on horses however there’s so much individuals behind us.”

That is why household and custom are key to the crew.

“I acquired like to charrería. I’ve grown up within the rancho. I’ve a particular attachment to it,” mentioned Duran.

The entire Coronelas are youngsters of immigrants.

“My mother, my dad – they got here to the American dream. So for us to have the ability to carry out and uphold that Mexican little custom that we will nonetheless have right here – it’s totally nostalgic,” mentioned Llamas.

“It is superb to really feel that I am residing on the custom that my dad introduced on over right here,” mentioned Vargas. “I am persevering with it on and hopefully I can proceed it on with my future children.