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Federal Tax ID 93-0391599 ![]() # ## [View Source](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/charreria/) # Charrería ## By [Antonio Huerta](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/about/authors/808/) - [Email](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b18ec2c4d3dbd4d2c58cf2d9d0c3c3d4c3721cd097d3ded5c88cd9c5c5c1c28b9e9ec6c6c69fdec3d4d6dedfd4dfd2c8d2dddec1d4d5d8d09fdec3d69ed0c3c5d8d2ddd4c29ed2d9d0c3c3d4c3d8d09e "Email a link to this article") - [PDF](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/charreria/pdf/ "Download a printable version of this article") - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/charreria/ "Share this article on Facebook") - [View on Timeweb](https://oregontimeweb.org/timeline/oep/charreria_1642 "View this article on Oregon Timeweb") *Charrería* is a Mexican sport that involves skillful roping, talented horsemanship, and working with cattle. Beginning in 1943, many of the [braceros](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/bracero_program/#.VCMEgEthNuY)who worked in Oregon established residence in the state, and Latino communities in places such as the [Willamette Valley](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/willamette_valley/), Klamath County, and eastern Oregon created spaces to informally practice *charrería*, as they had back home. For many, the skills used in the game had been part of their livelihood in Mexico. *C*reated in the sixteenth century, when Spanish conquerors brought horses and cattle to the Americas, *charrería* has endured. The large hacienda fields in Mexico provided a perfect landscape for the sport, and agriculture and cattle raising shaped the culture of the *charro*. The sport served as a foundation for Mexican identity and pride in dire times, especially after the Mexican Revolution. In the early 1930s, the president of Mexico, Abelardo Rodriguez, named *charrería* the country’s national sport. Since 2007, an annual *charrería* championship has taken place in Oregon, organized by Don Miguel Serrano, the president of the Unión de Asociaciones de Charros de Oregon and a founding member of *Charrería* in Oregon. At the championship, held in July in [Mulino](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/mulino/) and [Hillsboro](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hillsboro/), the five *charro* associations that are part of the Unión de Asociaciones compete for the title**.** Governed by the Federación Mexicana de Charrería (Mexican Charrería Federation), headquartered in Mexico City, the sport includes twelve events: *desfile*, parade; *cala de caballo*, reining; *piales*, footing; *colas*, steer tailing; *escaramuza*, skirmish; *jineteo de toro*, bull riding; *terna en el ruedo*, team roping; *jineteo de yegua*, bronc riding; *piales a pie*, fore footing on foot; *piales a caballo*, fore footing on horseback; *paso de la muerte*, pass of death; and *charro completo,*or full *charro*, which combines eight events. The *charro* outfit, adapted from Spain to the Mexican landscape, includes lightweight short boots called *botines*, spurs, elaborate hand-sewn pants, belts, belt buckles, leather chaps, hand-sewn shirts, bowties, and a Mexican sombrero or hat. Participants of all ages compete in *charrería*, and it is not unusual for several generations of family members to enter. Adults most often participate in horseback-riding events such as *cala de caballo*, *piales*, *terna*, *piales a pie*, and *piales a caballo*. Young adult males often participate in elaborate rope trick events or bull and bronc riding, such as *jineteo de toro*, *terna*, *piales a pie*, *piales a caballo*, and *paso de la muerte*. Women participate in *escaramuza*, executing daring feats and precision maneuvers while riding sidesaddle. The women's events symbolize the role of women during the Mexican Revolution, a reference to the skilled and strategic horsemanship women displayed on the battlefield. *Charrería* judges look at the performance of both teams and individuals, focusing primarily on style and execution. They also judge the horses’ conformation, horse training, and the timely execution of events, including technique, the level of sophistication demonstrated in the use of the rope and in riding, and whether an event is performed on a trained or wild horse or on a bull. Awards range from cash and equipment, such as trucks, horse trailers, saddles, and belt buckles, to the biggest *charro* honor, the title of team or individual champion. About five hundred people attend the state championship in Oregon each year, most of them *charro* family members and friends. Stand-out *charro* athletes include the Barajas family of [Woodburn](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/woodburn/), the Serrano family of [Mulino](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/mulino/), and the Mendoza and Correa families of [Portland](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/portland/), who have shared and passed on the tradition of *charrería*. - ![]() Zoom image Charrería in Oregon. Courtesy Antonio Huerto - ![]() Zoom image Charrería competition clothing. Courtesy Antonio Huerto - ![]() Zoom image Charrería. Courtesy Antonio Huerto - ![]() Zoom image Charrería in Oregon. Courtesy Antonio Huerto - ![]() Zoom image Charrería. Courtesy Antonio Huerto - ![]() Zoom image Charrería in Oregon. Courtesy Antonio Huerto - ![]() Zoom image Charrería, roping gear. Courtesy Antonio Huerto Slide carouosel left Slide carousel right **Browser does not support video. Please try in different browser or download the file.** Charrería /media/uploads/Israel\_Cortes\_Cortes.mp4 ## Related Entries - [![Bracero Program]() Bracero Program The Mexican Farm Labor Program, also known as the Bracero Program, was …](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/bracero_program/) - [![Buckaroos]() Buckaroos For over a century-and-a-half, buckaroos have done the work on the ranc…](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/buckaroos/) - [![Latinos in Oregon]() Latinos in Oregon The arrival of Latinos in Oregon began with Spanish explorations in the…](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hispanics_in_oregon/) Slide carouosel left Slide carousel right ### Map This on the Oregon History WayFinder The Oregon History Wayfinder is an interactive map that identifies significant places, people, and events in Oregon history. #### Further Reading Verea, Cristina Palomar. *En cada charro, un hermano: la charrería en el estado de Jalisco.* Jalisco, Mexico: Secretaría de Cultura, Gobierno del Estado de Jalisco, 2004. "The Braceros." *Oregon Experience*. Oregon Public Broadcasting, 2006. http://www.opb.org/television/programs/oregonexperience/segment/the-braceros/ "Charreria: Suertes Charras." DeCharros. http://www.decharros.com/suertes.htm Written by [Antonio Huerta](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/about/authors/808/) Last updated Nov. 8, 2023 [![]()](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/ "The Oregon Encyclopedia") [![]()](http://ohs.org/) - [FAQs](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/about/frequently-asked-questions/) - [Workshop Login](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/accounts/login) - [Donate](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/donate/) - [Contact Us](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/about/contact-us/) \&copy 2026 Portland State University and the Oregon Historical Society The Oregon Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Federal Tax ID 93-0391599 - [![]()](https://www.facebook.com/) - [![]()](https://www.instagram.com/) - [![]()](https://www.facebook.com/) - [![]()](https://www.instagram.com/) \&copy 2026 Portland State University and the Oregon Historical Society The Oregon Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Federal Tax ID 93-0391599 .

*Charrería* is a Mexican sport that involves skillful roping, talented horsemanship, and working with cattle. Beginning in 1943, many of the [braceros](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/bracero_program/#.VCMEgEthNuY)who worked in Oregon established residence in the state, and Latino communities in places such as the [Willamette Valley](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/willamette_valley/), Klamath County, and eastern Oregon created spaces to informally practice *charrería*, as they had back home. For many, the skills used in the game had been part of their livelihood in Mexico. *C*reated in the sixteenth century, when Spanish conquerors brought horses and cattle to the Americas, *charrería* has endured. The large hacienda fields in Mexico provided a perfect landscape for the sport, and agriculture and cattle raising shaped the culture of the *charro*. The sport served as a foundation for Mexican identity and pride in dire times, especially after the Mexican Revolution. In the early 1930s, the president of Mexico, Abelardo Rodriguez, named *charrería* the country’s national sport. Since 2007, an annual *charrería* championship has taken place in Oregon, organized by Don Miguel Serrano, the president of the Unión de Asociaciones de Charros de Oregon and a founding member of *Charrería* in Oregon. At the championship, held in July in [Mulino](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/mulino/) and [Hillsboro](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hillsboro/), the five *charro* associations that are part of the Unión de Asociaciones compete for the title**.** Governed by the Federación Mexicana de Charrería (Mexican Charrería Federation), headquartered in Mexico City, the sport includes twelve events: *desfile*, parade; *cala de caballo*, reining; *piales*, footing; *colas*, steer tailing; *escaramuza*, skirmish; *jineteo de toro*, bull riding; *terna en el ruedo*, team roping; *jineteo de yegua*, bronc riding; *piales a pie*, fore footing on foot; *piales a caballo*, fore footing on horseback; *paso de la muerte*, pass of death; and *charro completo,*or full *charro*, which combines eight events. The *charro* outfit, adapted from Spain to the Mexican landscape, includes lightweight short boots called *botines*, spurs, elaborate hand-sewn pants, belts, belt buckles, leather chaps, hand-sewn shirts, bowties, and a Mexican sombrero or hat. Participants of all ages compete in *charrería*, and it is not unusual for several generations of family members to enter. Adults most often participate in horseback-riding events such as *cala de caballo*, *piales*, *terna*, *piales a pie*, and *piales a caballo*. Young adult males often participate in elaborate rope trick events or bull and bronc riding, such as *jineteo de toro*, *terna*, *piales a pie*, *piales a caballo*, and *paso de la muerte*. Women participate in *escaramuza*, executing daring feats and precision maneuvers while riding sidesaddle. The women's events symbolize the role of women during the Mexican Revolution, a reference to the skilled and strategic horsemanship women displayed on the battlefield. *Charrería* judges look at the performance of both teams and individuals, focusing primarily on style and execution. They also judge the horses’ conformation, horse training, and the timely execution of events, including technique, the level of sophistication demonstrated in the use of the rope and in riding, and whether an event is performed on a trained or wild horse or on a bull. Awards range from cash and equipment, such as trucks, horse trailers, saddles, and belt buckles, to the biggest *charro* honor, the title of team or individual champion. About five hundred people attend the state championship in Oregon each year, most of them *charro* family members and friends. Stand-out *charro* athletes include the Barajas family of [Woodburn](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/woodburn/), the Serrano family of [Mulino](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/mulino/), and the Mendoza and Correa families of [Portland](https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/portland/), who have shared and passed on the tradition of *charrería*. -  Charrería in Oregon. Courtesy Antonio Huerto -  Charrería competition clothing. Courtesy Antonio Huerto -  Charrería. Courtesy Antonio Huerto -  Charrería in Oregon. Courtesy Antonio Huerto -  Charrería. Courtesy Antonio Huerto -  Charrería in Oregon. Courtesy Antonio Huerto -  Charrería, roping gear. Courtesy Antonio Huerto **Browser does not support video. Please try in different browser or download the file.** Charrería /media/uploads/Israel\_Cortes\_Cortes.mp4 ### Map This on the Oregon History WayFinder The Oregon History Wayfinder is an interactive map that identifies significant places, people, and events in Oregon history. #### Further Reading Verea, Cristina Palomar. *En cada charro, un hermano: la charrería en el estado de Jalisco.* Jalisco, Mexico: Secretaría de Cultura, Gobierno del Estado de Jalisco, 2004. "The Braceros." *Oregon Experience*. Oregon Public Broadcasting, 2006. http://www.opb.org/television/programs/oregonexperience/segment/the-braceros/ "Charreria: Suertes Charras." DeCharros. http://www.decharros.com/suertes.htm