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==Criticism==
==Criticism==
[[Image:47148121 73274e8f1a.jpg|thumb|''Manganas a Caballo'' or Forefooting on horseback]]
[[Image:47148121 73274e8f1a.jpg|thumb|''Manganas a Caballo'' or Forefooting on horseback]]
Three of the traditional events involving horse-tripping have been criticized by [[animal welfare]] groups in the United States as being inhumane, notably the heeling and forefooting events<ref name=adhf>{{cite web|publisher=American Horse Defense Fund|url=http://www.ahdf.org/tripping.htm|title=History of Horse tripping}}</ref><ref name=Rentein/><ref name=equine>{{cite web|publisher=Equine Voices Rescue Sanctuary|url=http://www.equinevoices.org/pdf/pdf/rodeosch.php|title=La Charreada or La Charro – Mexican Rodeos}}</ref><ref name=idusa>{{cite web|publisher=In Defense of Animals|url=http://www.idausa.org/facts/horsetripping.html|title=Horse-tripping facts}}</ref> and they claim that the horses used will often sustain injuries, including broken bones and teeth, dislocated joints, and lacerations.
Three of the traditional events involving horse-tripping have been criticized by [[animal welfare]] groups in the United States as being inhumane, notably the heeling and forefooting events<ref name=adhf>{{cite web|publisher=American Horse Defense Fund|url=http://www.ahdf.org/tripping.htm|title=History of Horse tripping}}</ref><ref name=Rentein/><ref name=equine>{{cite web|publisher=Equine Voices Rescue Sanctuary|url=http://www.equinevoices.org/pdf/pdf/rodeosch.php|title=La Charreada or La Charro – Mexican Rodeos}}</ref><ref name=idusa>{{cite web|publisher=In Defense of Animals|url=http://www.idausa.org/facts/horsetripping.html|title=Horse-tripping facts}}</ref> and they claim that the horses used will often sustain injuries, including broken bones and teeth, dislocated joints, and lacerations.

There is no real evidence to support this contention, of repeated serious injuries to animals in Charreada. Even Eric Mills, the first proponent of a ban on mangana, conceded that the claims of serious injuries are exaggerated. <e-mail dated August 18, 2010. During the 2010 National Finals in Pachuca Mexico, 252 teams competed in 84 charreadas with one Charro Completo. Over 1000 manganas were thrown and over 2000 colas were done. Over six hundred piales were thrown. Not one animal was seriously injured. <charroup.com and mundocharro.com> During the five day 2011, State Finals in Texas, 54 teams competed in 15 Charraedas. No animals were injured. <charrosdetexas.com> During the ten days of the Cheyenne Rodeo, dozens of animals were seriously injured or killed. <rodeocruelty.com>

⚫
Seven US states, including southwestern border states Texas, California, New Mexico and Arizona have banned the event as a sport, although exemptions still exist for activities such as capture of a horse for veteriniary care, identification and branding Arizona, California, Texas and New Mexico. In Olklahoma, Illinois and Nebraska, the ban on catching a horse by its legs is only for entertainmant. In those three states, you can captures horses by their legs at any other time. <ref>Cal. Penal Code Sec. 597, Ariz Penal Code 1329, Tex Penal Code, 42.09, NM Penal Code 30-18-11, Neb Penal Code, 21-1705, Olk Penal Code LB 764, Ill 21-1705</ref> and as of May 2011, the state of Nevada is considering a ban.<ref name=law>{{cite web|publisher=Animal law coalition|url=http://www.animallawcoalition.com/animal-cruelty/article/1645|title=NV Horse-tripping Ban May Go Forward}}</ref> In 2011, Colorado, Oregan and Navada, rejected anti-charro legislation. <Denver Post, January 25, 2011, NWHORSESOURCE>COM>

Horse tripping is also not permitted in motion pictures monitored by the [[American Humane Association]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=American Humane Association|title=Film monitoring|url=http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/who-we-are/faqs/film-monitoring.html}}</ref>


⚫
Seven US states, including southwestern border states Texas, California, New Mexico and Arizona have banned the event as a sport, although exemptions still exist for activities such as capture of a horse for veteriniary care, identification and branding (or in some cases all reasons except for entertainment),<ref>Cal. Penal Code Sec. 597, Ariz Penal Code 1329, Tex Penal Code, 42.09, NM Penal Code 30-18-11, Neb Penal Code, 21-1705, Olk Penal Code LB 764, Ill 21-1705</ref> and as of May 2011, the state of Nevada is considering a ban.<ref name=law>{{cite web|publisher=Animal law coalition|url=http://www.animallawcoalition.com/animal-cruelty/article/1645|title=NV Horse-tripping Ban May Go Forward}}</ref> Horse tripping is also not permitted in motion pictures monitored by the [[American Humane Association]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=American Humane Association|title=Film monitoring|url=http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/who-we-are/faqs/film-monitoring.html}}</ref>


In modern times, charreda horses roped in competition are likely to be animals intended to be sold for [[horsemeat]] after being used in competition.<ref name=equine/>
In modern times, charreda horses roped in competition are likely to be animals intended to be sold for [[horsemeat]] after being used in competition.<ref name=equine/>


There are also concerns about the 'steer tailing' event, as the bull can suffer injuries to his tail, but also his back and limbs as he rolls.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=American Humane Association|title=American Humane Opposes Tail-Grabbing Rodeo To Be Held In Jefferson County, Colo.|url=http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/animal-welfare-news/american-humane-opposes-tail-grabbing-rodeo-to-be-held-in-jefferson-county-colo.html}}</ref>
There are also concerns about the 'steer tailing' event, as the bull can suffer injuries to his tail, but also his back and limbs as he rolls.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=American Humane Association|title=American Humane Opposes Tail-Grabbing Rodeo To Be Held In Jefferson County, Colo.|url=http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/animal-welfare-news/american-humane-opposes-tail-grabbing-rodeo-to-be-held-in-jefferson-county-colo.html}}</ref> There are over 330 Federated Charro teams in the united states. Each team competes two times a month during the season. 9 colas are done by each team, for a total of 26,000 colas. <charrousa.com and mundocharoo.com> The Jefferson County insident is the only documented instance of injuries during colas.


Whilst animal rights organisations, such as [[PETA]] oppose all animal sport, other organisations support rodeo but not charreada. The [[Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association]] distances itself from charreda by specifically opposing horse-tripping events.<ref name=adhf/> The distinction claimed between horse-tripping and events that use cattle, such as [[calf roping]], is that the high center of gravity of a horse, the longer legs and faster speed of a horse creates greater potential for injury, whereas calves are smaller, have a low center of gravity, are slower and have sturdier limbs.<ref name=adhf/>
Whilst animal rights organisations, such as [[PETA]] oppose all animal sport, other organisations support rodeo but not charreada. The [[Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association]] distances itself from charreda by specifically opposing horse-tripping events.<ref name=adhf/> The distinction claimed between horse-tripping and events that use cattle, such as [[calf roping]], is that the high center of gravity of a horse, the longer legs and faster speed of a horse creates greater potential for injury, whereas calves are smaller, have a low center of gravity, are slower and have sturdier limbs.<ref name=adhf/> This statement is absurd. Anyone who is familiar with calf roping and steer busting, knows that the rope can tear at the neck of the calf and steer and their necks can be broken. <rodeocruelty.com>


In states where rodeo is popular but horse-tripping bans are being considered, charreadas are often viewed as underground, "shadow sports" akin to [[dog fighting]].<ref name=law/>
In states where rodeo is popular but horse-tripping bans are being considered, charreadas are often viewed as underground, "shadow sports" akin to [[dog fighting]].<ref name=law/> This type of blatantly racist statement, is common among the anti charro groups. It is an easy sell, in todays anti-immigration climate. If you look at the people making these allegation, you can see a common thread. PETA, the Horse Defense Fund and Voice for animals, all pander to that racism to raise money. There is no secrete about charreada. Calendars are published and even people who oppose it can pay the admission and get in They can bring their video cameras. <charrosdetejas.com, sacharro.com, charrousa.com, mundocharro.com>


Supporters of Charreda defend the sport, stating that there is little evidence to support claims of inhumane treatment and noting that few animals are seriously injured in Charreada.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} It is true that there are few hard statistics, as most charreadas are loosely organized in the USA and obtaining data is a challenge.<ref name=adhf/> However a high rate of injury in the USA has been informally reported by animal advocacy organisations; in California, between 2 and 5 of every 25 horses leased for charreada were reported to be injured seriously enough to be put down each week and in another example, over 75 horses were leased for a season's use by two charro rodeos, but only two of the original horses survived until the season's end.<ref name=adhf/>
Supporters of Charreda defend the sport, stating that there is little evidence to support claims of inhumane treatment and noting that few animals are seriously injured in Charreada.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} It is true that there are few hard statistics, as most charreadas are loosely organized in the USA and obtaining data is a challenge.<ref name=adhf/> However a high rate of injury in the USA has been informally reported by animal advocacy organisations; in California, between 2 and 5 of every 25 horses leased by an unnames source and reported by an unnamed source, for charreada were reported to be injured seriously enough to be put down each week and in another example, over 75 horses were leased for a season's use by two charro rodeos, but only two of the original horses survived until the season's end.<ref name=adhf/> The question the Charros ask, is why should 400 years of tradition be made illegal, based on speculation. Especially, when the speculation is being done by groups with a monetary interest in making racist charges. The Charros have issued the Charro Challenge, to do a scientific study of the so-called dangers to animals in charreria.


The [[Charro Federation]] has stated that experienced Charros know how to properly rope a horse without injuring it. There has also been criticism that bans on charreada represent a form of cultural discrimination.<ref name=Rentein>{{cite book| title=The Cultural Defense|author =Rentein, Alison Dundes |pages=107-109|publisher=Oxford University Press US |date= 2005|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=zyWr3dSXUrIC&pg=PA108&lpg=PA108&dq=charreda+cruel&source=bl&ots=EgeFWruuVj&sig=81yrokFfJ5zT_mUAdopqQxgF0Po&hl=en&ei=5fTjTcSTMNOUtwfgw6GjBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCIQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q&f=false|pages=107-109}}</ref> However, when a horse-tripping was debated in California, leading to a ban enacted in 1994, individuals such as [[Cesar Chavez]] and the [[Mexican-American Political Association]] testified in favor of the ban, arguing that the events were a "cruel cultural anachronism." Others argued that horse-tripping was not a traditional activity at all.<ref name=Rentein/>
The [[Charro Federation]] has stated that experienced Charros know how to properly rope a horse without injuring it. There has also been criticism that bans on charreada represent a form of cultural discrimination.<ref name=Rentein>{{cite book| title=The Cultural Defense|author =Rentein, Alison Dundes |pages=107-109|publisher=Oxford University Press US |date= 2005|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=zyWr3dSXUrIC&pg=PA108&lpg=PA108&dq=charreda+cruel&source=bl&ots=EgeFWruuVj&sig=81yrokFfJ5zT_mUAdopqQxgF0Po&hl=en&ei=5fTjTcSTMNOUtwfgw6GjBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCIQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q&f=false|pages=107-109}}</ref> However, when a horse-tripping was debated in California, leading to a ban enacted in 1994, individuals such as [[Cesar Chavez]] and the [[Mexican-American Political Association]] testified in favor of the ban, arguing that the events were a "cruel cultural anachronism." There is no reference to prove Cesar Chavez, did testify. This is probably, because he died two months before the bill was submitted in June of 1993. <Wikipedia, Cesar Chavez> Others argued that horse-tripping was not a traditional activity at all.<ref name=Rentein/>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 16:44, 5 June 2011

Charreada in progress with charro attempting to catch a loose horse

The charreada or charrería is the original rodeo developed in Mexico based on the working practices of charros or working hands. The modern events were developed after the Mexican Revolution when charro traditions were slowly disappearing, and the competing charros often come from family lines with a history of taking part.[1] A charreada consists of nine events for men and one for women, all involving horses, cattle or both.[2] Some of the events in the charreada are criticised by animal advocacy groups, and several states in the United States have banned one or more of the ten events.[3]

History

The Federation of Charreria located in Mexico City.

Following the breakup of the haciendas by the Mexican Revolution, the charros saw their traditions slipping away. They met in 1921 and formed the Asociación Nacional de Charros to keep the charrería tradition alive. The advent of the Mexican cinema brought greater popularity, especially musicals which combined rancheras with the charro image, akin to the Western and "singing cowboy" genres in the United States.

Mexican Americans in the United States also held various charreadas during the same period, but in the 1970s, the Federación Mexicana de Charrería began assisting them in establishing official charreadas north of the border. They are now quite common. The US champion team now competes in the national competition of Mexico. Forefooting (manganas) have met with criticism in the US and have been modified in their practices.

Performance

Charras in parade wearing the traditional Adelita

A charreada is held within a marked-off area of an arena called a Lienzo charro consisting of a lane 12 meters (13 yards) wide by 60 meters (66 yards) long leading into a circle 40 meters (44 yards) in diameter.

The participants in the charreada wear traditional charro clothing. In the opening ceremony, organizations and participants parade into the arena on horseback, usually accompanied by a mariachi band playing Zacatecas March. The charreada itself consists of nine scoring events staged in a particular order for men. Unlike rodeos, most charreadas do not award money to the winners as charreadas are considered an amateur, rather than professional sport. Prizes may take the form of trophies. Unlike American rodeo, events are not timed but judged and scored based on finesse and grace. Charreada historically enjoys greater prestige in Mexico than in the United States.[2]

Until recently, the charreada was confined to men but a women's precision equestrian event called the escaramuza is now the tenth and final event in a charreada. The event involves women's teams dressed in a style reminiscent of the nineteenth century participating in precisely choreographed patterns for horses.[2]

Events

El Paso de la Muerte (The Pass of Death)

The charreada itself consists of a number of scoring events staged in a particular order—nine for the men and one for the women. Two or more teams, called asociaciones, compete against each other. Teams can compete to become state, regional, and national champions. The competitors are judged by both style and execution. Unlike rodeos, most charreadas do not award money to the winners as charreadas are considered an amateur sport, not professional. Under Mexican laws it would be illegal to receive a monetary reward for participating in a charreada. At times there are such prizes as saddles or horse trailers.

  1. Cala de Caballo (Reining); Literally the demonstration of the horse rein, the horse is required to show its talents in the canter, gallop, slide stop, spins on its hind legs as well as backing. Is one of the hardest events to master and also the most elaborately scored, it is possible to score more negative points than positive ones.
  2. Piales en Lienzo (Heeling); a horseman must throw a lariat, let a horse run through the loop, catching it by the hind legs. Three opportunities are given. Points are awarded for distance needed to stop the mare. This is done in the rectangular portion of the arena;
  3. Colas en el Lienzo, or Coleadero (Steer Tailing) similar to bull dogging except that the rider does not dismount; the charro rides alongside the left side of the bull, wraps its tail around his right leg, and tries to bring the bull down in a roll as he rides past it. Points are given for technique, time, and roll of the bull.
  4. Jineteo de Toro (Bull riding) similar to the rodeo event. Bulls are smaller, between 990 and 1320 pounds, and are ridden until they stop bucking. Two hands can be used on the bullrope. Points are given for technique. The charro cannot fall off, he must dismount and land upright. After the charro dismounts the bull he must remove the bullrope and bellrope so the Terna en el Ruedo can follow. This event has its roots in an earlier form known as Jaripeo.
  5. Terna en el Ruedo (Team Roping); a team roping event in which three charros attempt to rope a bull - one by its neck, one by its hind legs, and the last then ties its feet together. They have a maximum of 6 minutes. Points are awarded for rope tricks and time.
  6. Jineteo de Yegua (Bareback on a wild mare); similar to Bareback bronc riding. Yegua means mare. An untrained horse, often a mare, is riden with a bullrope. Two hands are used and the legs are held horizontally to the ground.
  7. Manganas a Pie (Forefooting) a charro on foot (pie) has three opportunities to rope a horse by its front legs and cause it to fall and roll once. The horse, usually a mare, is chased around the ring by three mounted charros or hazers. Points are awarded for time and rope tricks as long as the horse is roped and brought down. Extra points are given for the tirón del ahorcado (hanged pull) in which the rope is around the charro's neck, like a noose, and he uses his body to cause the mare to fall and roll. Points for all three attempts are cumulative. Eight minutes are given.
  8. Manganas a Caballo or (Forefooting on Horseback); a charro on horseback has three opportunities to rope a horse by its front legs and cause it to fall and roll once. The horse is chased around the ring by three mounted charros. Points are awarded for time and rope tricks as long as the horse is roped and brought down. Points for all three attempts are cumulative. Eight minutes are given. In the U.S. the horses are not rolled, they are released as soon as they are roped.
  9. El Paso de la Muerte (The pass of death) a charro riding bareback, with reins, attempts to leap from his own horse to the bare back of a loose, unbroken horse without reins and ride it until it stops bucking. The most dangerous part of this is if the charro performing the pass falls under three other mounted charros that are chasing the loose horse round the arena ring. This is done backwards at times for show.
  10. Escaramuza (English: "skirmish") is an event added in 1992 for teams of women who perform precision equestrian displays riding sidesaddle and garbed in Adelita dress. It is usually held between the Coleadero and the Jineteo de Toro.[2]


Criticism

Manganas a Caballo or Forefooting on horseback

Three of the traditional events involving horse-tripping have been criticized by animal welfare groups in the United States as being inhumane, notably the heeling and forefooting events[4][5][6][7] and they claim that the horses used will often sustain injuries, including broken bones and teeth, dislocated joints, and lacerations.

There is no real evidence to support this contention, of repeated serious injuries to animals in Charreada. Even Eric Mills, the first proponent of a ban on mangana, conceded that the claims of serious injuries are exaggerated. <e-mail dated August 18, 2010. During the 2010 National Finals in Pachuca Mexico, 252 teams competed in 84 charreadas with one Charro Completo. Over 1000 manganas were thrown and over 2000 colas were done. Over six hundred piales were thrown. Not one animal was seriously injured. <charroup.com and mundocharro.com> During the five day 2011, State Finals in Texas, 54 teams competed in 15 Charraedas. No animals were injured. <charrosdetexas.com> During the ten days of the Cheyenne Rodeo, dozens of animals were seriously injured or killed. <rodeocruelty.com>

Seven US states, including southwestern border states Texas, California, New Mexico and Arizona have banned the event as a sport, although exemptions still exist for activities such as capture of a horse for veteriniary care, identification and branding Arizona, California, Texas and New Mexico. In Olklahoma, Illinois and Nebraska, the ban on catching a horse by its legs is only for entertainmant. In those three states, you can captures horses by their legs at any other time. [8] and as of May 2011, the state of Nevada is considering a ban.[9] In 2011, Colorado, Oregan and Navada, rejected anti-charro legislation. <Denver Post, January 25, 2011, NWHORSESOURCE>COM>

Horse tripping is also not permitted in motion pictures monitored by the American Humane Association.[10]


In modern times, charreda horses roped in competition are likely to be animals intended to be sold for horsemeat after being used in competition.[6]

There are also concerns about the 'steer tailing' event, as the bull can suffer injuries to his tail, but also his back and limbs as he rolls.[11] There are over 330 Federated Charro teams in the united states. Each team competes two times a month during the season. 9 colas are done by each team, for a total of 26,000 colas. <charrousa.com and mundocharoo.com> The Jefferson County insident is the only documented instance of injuries during colas.

Whilst animal rights organisations, such as PETA oppose all animal sport, other organisations support rodeo but not charreada. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association distances itself from charreda by specifically opposing horse-tripping events.[4] The distinction claimed between horse-tripping and events that use cattle, such as calf roping, is that the high center of gravity of a horse, the longer legs and faster speed of a horse creates greater potential for injury, whereas calves are smaller, have a low center of gravity, are slower and have sturdier limbs.[4] This statement is absurd. Anyone who is familiar with calf roping and steer busting, knows that the rope can tear at the neck of the calf and steer and their necks can be broken. <rodeocruelty.com>

In states where rodeo is popular but horse-tripping bans are being considered, charreadas are often viewed as underground, "shadow sports" akin to dog fighting.[9] This type of blatantly racist statement, is common among the anti charro groups. It is an easy sell, in todays anti-immigration climate. If you look at the people making these allegation, you can see a common thread. PETA, the Horse Defense Fund and Voice for animals, all pander to that racism to raise money. There is no secrete about charreada. Calendars are published and even people who oppose it can pay the admission and get in They can bring their video cameras. <charrosdetejas.com, sacharro.com, charrousa.com, mundocharro.com>

Supporters of Charreda defend the sport, stating that there is little evidence to support claims of inhumane treatment and noting that few animals are seriously injured in Charreada.[citation needed] It is true that there are few hard statistics, as most charreadas are loosely organized in the USA and obtaining data is a challenge.[4] However a high rate of injury in the USA has been informally reported by animal advocacy organisations; in California, between 2 and 5 of every 25 horses leased by an unnames source and reported by an unnamed source, for charreada were reported to be injured seriously enough to be put down each week and in another example, over 75 horses were leased for a season's use by two charro rodeos, but only two of the original horses survived until the season's end.[4] The question the Charros ask, is why should 400 years of tradition be made illegal, based on speculation. Especially, when the speculation is being done by groups with a monetary interest in making racist charges. The Charros have issued the Charro Challenge, to do a scientific study of the so-called dangers to animals in charreria.

The Charro Federation has stated that experienced Charros know how to properly rope a horse without injuring it. There has also been criticism that bans on charreada represent a form of cultural discrimination.[5] However, when a horse-tripping was debated in California, leading to a ban enacted in 1994, individuals such as Cesar Chavez and the Mexican-American Political Association testified in favor of the ban, arguing that the events were a "cruel cultural anachronism." There is no reference to prove Cesar Chavez, did testify. This is probably, because he died two months before the bill was submitted in June of 1993. <Wikipedia, Cesar Chavez> Others argued that horse-tripping was not a traditional activity at all.[5]

References

  1. ^ Kline=first=Chris (1997-05-04). "Mexico's charros are a breed apart". CNN.
  2. ^ a b c d Candelaria, Cordelia (2004). Encyclopedia of Latino Popular Culture. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 126–128. ISBN 0-313-32215-5.
  3. ^ Brown, Patricia Leigh. "Weekends at the Charreada (Mexican Rodeo)". US Times.
  4. ^ a b c d e "History of Horse tripping". American Horse Defense Fund.
  5. ^ a b c Rentein, Alison Dundes (2005). The Cultural Defense. Oxford University Press US. pp. 107–109.
  6. ^ a b "La Charreada or La Charro – Mexican Rodeos". Equine Voices Rescue Sanctuary.
  7. ^ "Horse-tripping facts". In Defense of Animals.
  8. ^ Cal. Penal Code Sec. 597, Ariz Penal Code 1329, Tex Penal Code, 42.09, NM Penal Code 30-18-11, Neb Penal Code, 21-1705, Olk Penal Code LB 764, Ill 21-1705
  9. ^ a b "NV Horse-tripping Ban May Go Forward". Animal law coalition.
  10. ^ "Film monitoring". American Humane Association.
  11. ^ "American Humane Opposes Tail-Grabbing Rodeo To Be Held In Jefferson County, Colo". American Humane Association.

See also

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