Sam Barker | Charro
Photo � Sam Barker Photography -All Rights Reserved Let's go south of the border with the charro. These are Mexican horsemen (the horsewomen are known as charra) typically dressed in an elaborately decorated outfit of close-fitting pants, jackets, and sombrero. The charro originated in the ce ntral-western regions of Mexico, and participate in the c harreada ; a form of rodeo riding that has become an official sport in that country. It is a competitive event quite similar to the United States rodeo, and was developed from animal husbandry practices used on the haciendas of old Mexico. According to scholars, there is perhaps no better representative of the country's combined cultures and history than the horse trained for " c harreada ." Charros believe that Mexicans were originally conquered by horses, but gained independence with horses, so are inseparable from their steeds. The horses preferred by the charros are a combined breed: the American Quarter Horse, des...