Feria de Colima 2026 Horses: Kid Charros, Escaramuza, Teatro del Caballo

Feria de Colima 2026 horses: a full house for the kids

The Feria de Colima 2026 horse program has had its biggest family moment so far: a children's show that filled the Teatro del Caballo. On November 3, 2026, NTCD and La Neta Noticias reported a full house for 'Pequeños Grandes Jinetes: talento a caballo' at the 87th Feria de Todos los Santos.

The show was organized by the Vargas sisters, whose riding school runs the Teatro del Caballo program. It had support from Iffecol, the Colima state government's institute for fairs and exhibitions, which listed it as the show's second edition.

What the reports describe:

• Ian Rafael 'Rafita' Delgado, a national children's charrería champion, performed rope suertes dressed as a charro. Both outlets called it one of the most applauded moments of the show.
• Six riders from the escaramuza Adelitas de Villa de Álvarez rode an exhibition of traditional drills.
• Other girls and boys rode across the arena to music, showing their horsemanship to the crowd.

Neither report gave an attendance figure or the performers' ages, so we don't either.

The horse side of the Feria de Todos los Santos

The Feria de Todos los Santos is Colima's biggest yearly fair, held at the fairgrounds on Avenida Niños Héroes in the state capital. The 87th edition runs for 18 days, from October 30 to November 16, 2026. Governor Indira Vizcaíno inaugurated it on Friday, October 30, NTCD reported.

Daily times can change, so check Iffecol's official channels before you go.

The horse activity happens in two main venues.

Teatro del Caballo

This is the family arena, run with the Vargas sisters' riding school. The lineup Iffecol presented includes:

• 'Pequeños Grandes Jinetes' (already held)
• The fifth edition of the mixed rodeos, with a final announced for Sunday, November 8
• A pole race, barrel racing and a 'Rodeotlón'
• Beginner riding sessions where visitors can meet the horses
• The Premiere Barrel Circuit, announced as the closing horse event

Lienzo Charro Camino Real

Colima's charro arena hosts the more traditional side. Iffecol announced a dancing-horse contest (Caballo Bailador) for Saturday, November 7.

The arena's announced program also includes a clinic on rein work and lateral movements ('Clínica de riendas y perfección de lados'), ranch and stable presentations, a morphology show, an equine auction, a Noche de Mujeres y Caballos and an Ibero-American horse day. Iffecol described many of these as free, but most dates and times weren't in the reports we found.

Mule night at the Teatro del Caballo

The October agenda listed the mule events with the Lienzo, but Iffecol's program for Tuesday, November 3, put them at the Teatro del Caballo: the first mule skills contest was scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m., and Rancho El As was set to present 'Noche de Mulas: paso firme y mucho show' at 8:30 p.m., with free entry.

Noche de Peludos (already held)

On Saturday, October 31, the free Noche de Peludos filled the horse zone at 5:30 p.m. with long-maned, feathered horses: Friesians, Gypsy horses, Warlanders and more, ridden or driven. If your kids loved them, read our guide to feathered horse breeds.

What children's charrería and escaramuza look like

Charrería is Mexico's national sport, and children compete in their own categories. The Mexican Charrería Federation runs kids' and youth groups (Dientes de Leche, Infantil A, Infantil B and Juvenil) for both charro teams and escaramuzas.

Rope suertes

What Rafita Delgado showed is the rope work charros call floreo de soga: spinning a lariat into loops on foot or on horseback, jumping through it and changing its shape. It looks effortless, but it takes thousands of hours, and many kids start it on foot before they ride. Learn the basics in our floreo de soga guide.

Escaramuza

An escaramuza is a team of women and girls who ride side-saddle at a gallop through crossing, weaving drills to Mexican music. In competition a team has eight riders and runs a routine of 12 required exercises.

The Adelitas' six-rider display was an exhibition, so it isn't scored. Our escaramuza explainer covers the saddle, the dresses and the judging.

How kids start in charrería and escaramuza

Most children don't start with a suerte. They start with a calm horse and a lot of groundwork. A typical path looks like this:

1. Find a school or association. Many charro associations and riding schools offer beginner classes, and fair-week sessions like the Teatro del Caballo's are a low-pressure first contact.
2. Learn the horse before the tricks. Grooming, leading and reading body language come first. See our groundwork and grooming pages.
3. Rope on foot. Floreo can be practiced on the ground long before a child spins a rope in the saddle.
4. Ride a steady, experienced horse. An older, quiet horse teaches more than a flashy young one.
5. Gear up. A certified helmet for practice, proper boots and any protective gear the school or event requires.
6. Move into a category. Once the basics are solid, kids can join a team or escaramuza in their age group.

Ask any school about lesson costs, whether they lend horses and tack, and how they group kids by level. Our charrería for kids guide goes deeper.

Horse safety in fair crowds: a family checklist

Fairs mix horses, music, rides and crowds, and that's exactly when horses get startled. A few habits keep everyone safe:

• Hold small children's hands near arenas and in the horse zone, and use the stands or rails.
• Ask before touching. Only pet a horse when its handler says yes, and approach from the side toward the shoulder.
• Never walk behind a horse. A startled horse can kick without warning.
• No running, shrieking or popping balloons near the horses, and keep strollers out of the path where horses enter and exit.
• Don't feed the horses. Snacks can cause problems, and fingers look like treats.
• Watch your feet. Closed shoes help, because horses step on toes by accident.
• Stay out of the arena unless staff invite you in, even when a show looks finished.

For more, see our safety page and the kids section.

What to watch next

The second half of the fair still has a busy horse calendar. Here's how to plan it:

• November 7: the announced Caballo Bailador contest at the Lienzo Charro Camino Real.
• November 8: the announced mixed rodeo final at the Teatro del Caballo.
• Closing: the Premiere Barrel Circuit, with the date still to be confirmed.
• Check before you go: times and any changes are posted by Iffecol and the Colima state government. Programs can shift, so confirm on the day.

We'll update this guide if new results or dates are published. New to horses? Start at Get Started or browse disciplines.