Iuzkani De Luna Cárdenas dressing as a Charra in her father’s room. The charra outfit is a custom adaptation for female riders, with a fitted skirt that flares for horseback riding. The outfit includes buttons, a vest, and two bows—one as a tie at the neck, and the other in the hair. This specific outfit was created for a special occasion: the Escaramuza Monumental de Reinas in 2023, performed by 24 damas charras at the Congreso y Campeonato Nacional Charro San Luis Potosí, led by Reina Nacional Luisa I. Crafted from rebozo fabric for the vest, tie, and bow, and designed with comfortable materials for the skirt and jacket, the outfit features silver eagle-shaped buttons. The hat, embroidered in gold and silver threads, symbolizes the crown of a queen in charrería. A refined ensemble that celebrates Mexican tradition.
Noemi Elizabeth Trigueros Avila stands with her horse, Bandido, in a tequila agave field on the outskirts of Guadalajara. “I’ve been surrounded by horses my whole life. My grandfather is a charro, my father is a charro, and so are my brothers. My whole life has been about horses since I was a baby. Little by little, my love for them grew. At seven, my family practically forced me to join a Escaramuza group. because I hated the dusty, but I loved the horses, and that’s how it all started. I fell in love with it. I’m the only woman in my family doing this sport. it’s been 11 years already, It saved me.”
Zoila and her daughter Iuzkani are a sport “charras” ladies, their “Adelita” dress is what they wear when they belong to a Escaramuza Charra. Zoila is the founder of the Escaramuza-Escuela “Perla de Occidente”, a vital part of the charro culture throughout Mexico and Guadalajara excels in this discipline, which is not only a sport, but a great tradition with strong roots, where pride for the Mexican heritage is the center of everything they do. Zoila is charra by heritage, since her grandfather and father were charros. She has been riding horses since the late 70’s and due to her great passion she founded her school since 1991, where she has been teaching women’s riding mexicano style, which is distinguished by painting with the legs on the left side of the horse. Her daughter Iuzkani rode a horse before taking her first steps and since then she is a great student of her mother, passionate about this sports, disciplined and follows the teaching guidelines, like her mother.
Brianda Mariel Three years ago, a friend of Brianda Mariel’s mother introduced her to the world of Escaramuza, and she instantly fell in love with the sport. “The connection between the horse and the rider is something magical. To be a good rider, you need to practice with several horses. During my time with the Escaramuza group, I’ve trained with five. I trained my horses to become Escaramuza horses. It’s a different kind of training than teaching a horse to just “behave”. Usually, training a horse to be an Escaramuza one takes about 2 years, but of course, it all depends on the horse.”
Adelita’s dresses, which are reminiscent of those worn by women during Adelina’s “Mexican Revolution,” honor Mexico’s rich history, merging the strength and resilience of the soldaderas with the spirit of the times. Adelita’s dresses are those worn by charra ladies in their performances and competitions. They can cost between 3,000 to 10,000 Mexican pesos or more, depending on details such as embroidery, embellishments, fabrics, or even the designer or tailor. “The latest dress made for our team is valued between 4,500 and 5,000 pesos,” says Zoila Cárdenas, director of the “Escaramuza-Escuela Perla de Occidente.” “There are specific and obligatory rules for making the outfit: the fabric must not be shiny, transparent, or fluorescent colored. It can be made in one piece: dress; or in two: skirt and blouse. The skirt must have a flounce at the bottom, the blouse with an old-style sleeve and a high collar. Also, the rebozo at the waist (a 100% Mexican silk handcrafted item) cannot be missing. The hair must always be gathered at the nape of the neck with a bun matching the dress. Under the dress we wear a special skirt stiffened with starch that makes the dress look “puffy” or gives volume to the skirt; and also a type of pants to prevent the skin of our legs from being seen when galloping on the horse, which must be white or beige. The charro hat, boots and hairstyle are also part of the traditional Mexican attire.
The Escaramuza-Escuela “Perla de Occidente,” founded by Zoila Cárdenas, a pioneering advocate for women riders in charrería, made history in 1991 by creating the first charro school in Mexico exclusively for Damas Charras, as a civil association. For many years, the school has been a pillar of the charrería community, earning a reputation for excellence with riders competing in state, regional, and national events; as well as in demonstrations and classes internationally. “Throughout the school’s history, we have trained around 700 to 800 girls and women,” says Zoila. “We don’t just teach them to ride, we also pass on our history, culture, and the love and respect for our traditions.”
Paulette Isabella Estevez Luna. “I’ve loved horses since I was little. My dad was a charro, and I would watch him perform in charreadas. The love for horses came naturally to me, but I didn’t start riding until I was 14. When I first started in escaramuza, I was gifted a horse named Maya. With her, I learned everything—how to be an escaramuza, how to ride, how to have strength and character. I know she learned from me, too. Unfortunately, she passed away four months ago, just when we were about to compete at the national level. It felt like my whole world had collapsed; I had lost my girl. But I had the support of many people—my team, my coaches—who helped me through this difficult time, and with their help, I found the strength to get back on my feet and return to the sport I love, escaramuza.”
Yaritza Scarleth Mencias Castillo (right) Dulce Yuliana Hernández Meza (left) at their friend farm in San Juanito de Escobedo. Yuli says, “I started escaramuza at 9 years old. I’ve loved horses since I was a child because my dad has always had them. I chose escaramuza because it gave me exactly what I was looking for—connection with my teammates and a deep bond with my Mare. This sport helps me forget all my problems and makes me feel truly incredible.”
María José Carrillo Ruiz at her family far in San Juanito Escobedo. She goes there every day to hlep the family with the horses and plantations. They has always been involved with horses, with her mother being an escaramuza. She started practicing at the age of 6, and her first competition was when she was 7 years old. “To be an escaramuza, it’s not enough to just practice; you have to connect with your horse in order to perform the correct movements. It’s a team effort. At first, it was very hard to find a horse that I could truly connect with, as it should be”.
Zoe Osiris Ayala Chávez became part of an Escaramuza two years ago. The dresses are directly inspired by the Adelitas—the female soldiers who fought in the Mexican Revolution. “I’ve always loved horses. With my mother being a veterinarian, I grew up surrounded by animals. Two years ago, I decided to try out and join an Escaramuza team. An Escaramuza team consists of eight members who collaborate to create a choreography, executing a series of routines inside a lienzo charro, or arena. This is all part of Charrería, Mexico’s national sport, and it fills me with pride to be part of this tradition”.
La Escaramuza-Escuela “Perla de Occidente” is one of Mexico’s leading horseback riding teams, founded by Zoila Cárdenas, a pioneer for female riders in charrería. In 1991, Zoila created the first association for Damas Charras (female riders), breaking barriers and opening doors for women in this traditional male-sport-. The school has since gained a strong reputation, with its riders competing in state, regional, national, and international performances. The team is conformed by 8 ladies and is called Escaramuza Charra and performs a discipline in which this eight riders execute synchronized, complex routines at the gallop of their horses. The choreography involves precise formations and daring maneuvers, blending athleticism, culture with artistry. A key element of escarmuza is the distinctive attire, inspired by the soldaderas—the courageous women of the Mexican Revolution. These dresses honor their legacy of strength and resilience. The outfits worn by Damas Charras are a symbol of Mexican pride and history, blending tradition with modern athleticism. The dresses can cost between 3,000 to 10,000 pesos, depending on the design and materials, The dresses must meet strict guidelines: the fabric cannot be shiny, transparent, or fluorescent. They are either one-piece or two-piece, with a skirt that flares and a blouse featuring old-style sleeves and a high neck-collar. A rebozo (handcrafted silk shawl) ties at the waist, while the hair is styled in a bun at the nape of the neck. Underneath, riders wear a starched skirt for volume and beige or white pants for modesty while galloping. The charro hat, embroidered with gold and silver, and boots complete the traditional look, symbolizing the elegance and status of women in charrería. Through their performances and attire, these women celebrates Mexico’s history and culture, preserving the spirit of Mexico trougth the escaramuza, while inspiring future generations of female riders in charrería, to become a “dama charra” and to be part of one “escaramuza charra”.
