Mexican Rodeo

Who needs all four major sports leagues in town when you have Mexican rodeo? This exquisite custom captures everything essential about a sporting event—drama, heroics, compassion, and grace. The San Antonio Charro Association (6126 Padre Dr., 210/532-0693, www.sacharro.com [1]) hosts monthly charreadas (traditional Mexican rodeos) from March through October at its ranch on Padre Drive.

Don’t miss seeing the daring and graceful charros (horsemen) in action on horses, bulls, and wild mares. One of the most jaw-dropping, suspenseful acts is el paso de la muerte (“the pass of death”), where a charro tries to leap from his own bareback horse to a wild bareback horse (all without reins) and ride it until it stops bucking. The death-defying element? All the while, three other mounted charros are chasing the wild mare around the arena. As if all this weren’t enough, sometimes the charros perform this act backwards just for show.

his event, along with other macho roping and riding feats, are tempered with the beauty and grace of the Escaramuza equestriennes, a group of women who showcase a hybrid of Mexican and North American equestrian arts.

Check the website for show dates. Gates open at 1 p.m., mariachis perform from 2–3 p.m., baile folklorico (folk dancing) takes place from 2–3 p.m., and the show starts at 3 p.m. Admission is $10 for ages 12 and up.