What Is Escaramuza Charra? Mexico's Side-Saddle Women Riders Explained

What is escaramuza charra?

An escaramuza charra is a team of eight women or girls who ride side-saddle, at a gallop, through a set routine of crossings, turns and formations to Mexican music. It is the women's team event of charrería, Mexico's national sport, and teams are judged on precision, horsemanship and traditional dress.

The word escaramuza means "skirmish" in Spanish, and at full speed it looks like one: eight horses crossing paths, and in the highest-value crossings the gaps between them can be no more than a horse length and a half. Each rider is a charra; the team is the escaramuza.

Why everyone is asking this week

• The parade slip. On September 16, 2026, during the Independence Day military parade in Mexico City's Zócalo, two horses from the escaramuza charra team of Sedena (Mexico's defense ministry) slipped on the pavement in front of the presidential stand, and both riders fell. Press reports said they were taken for a precautionary medical check, and initial reports showed no serious injuries.
• A record national field. The Mexican Charrería Federation (FMCH) has expanded its national championship in San Luis Potosí from 120 to 160 escaramuzas, and the draw was held September 17. Dates and results live in our separate championship guide in Trends; this page explains the sport itself.

From a 1953 children's team to 160 national teams

The first escaramuza rode on March 22, 1953, at the Asociación Nacional de Charros' former grounds on Avenida Ejército Nacional in Mexico City. Everardo Camacho, then the association's president, and instructor Luis Ortega Ramos started it with children aged 5 to 9, boys and girls together.

Today the sport is women-only by rule. The FMCH rulebook defines it as eight horse-and-rider pairs showing a mandatory routine at the gallop, riding a mujeriegas (side-saddle) in a traditional saddle called an albarda, dressed as Adelitas or charras.

Charrería was added to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016, and escaramuzas now compete on both sides of the border. In July 2026 the federation said 418 escaramuzas had entered state qualifiers in Mexico and the US, and that some states now have more federated escaramuzas than charro associations.

Riding a mujeriegas: how the side saddle works

Escaramuza riders sit with both legs on the horse's left side. The albarda has two horns: the right leg crosses over one, and the other supports the left leg.

That leaves no right leg to steer or push the horse. Riders rely on one hand on the reins in the charro style, plus seat and balance, which is why a responsive, well-schooled horse matters as much as the rider.

• Saddle classes: plain (lisa), gala without metal fittings, and gala with metal fittings (herraje) in silver, alpaca or steel. Gala saddles must match across all eight riders; plain saddles may vary in color.
• Stirrups: square or rectangular, never Texas-style.
• Leather colors: natural, honey, tan, rust, wine and brown; black and white only on gala saddles.
• Foot out of the stirrup during a run costs points.

New to saddles and bridles? Start with our tack and equipment guide.

The routine: 12 exercises at a gallop

An official run follows a fixed order: dress and tack inspection, a parade, two puntas, the entrance, the routine and a salute. In the adult Libre category the whole run has an 8-minute limit, puntas included.

1. Puntas. Two riders, one at a time, gallop in and stop the horse on its hindquarters inside a marked rectangle.
2. Entrance. All eight gallop in as a group and come to a full stop.
3. Routine. Twelve exercises, each with a clear entry, crossing point (cuaje) and exit.
4. Exit. All eight halt and give the charro salute, and the clock stops.

The music must be traditional Mexican: mariachi, regional or banda. Rock or a pasodoble costs the team 6 points.

Moves to know

• Coladera: four riders form a circle in the middle while the other four cut through it.
• Cruce: riders cross paths at the same instant, straight across or on the diagonal.
• Escalera: a single-file column that the other riders cross.
• Giro: horses pivot on their hindquarters, keeping a radius of about one horse length.
• Abanico: the "fan," eight riders in a diagonal line with the lead rider on the wall, held for a full lap.
• Flor: riders move from the rail to the center (or back out) and change direction together.

How escaramuza teams are judged

Each exercise is worth 16, 20, 26 or 28 points, depending on how many riders cross at once and how tight the gaps are. In Libre crosses, the gap between horses can be up to three horse lengths for 16 points, up to two for 20, and no more than a horse length and a half for 26 and 28. In Libre, the 12 must include one 16, two 20s, two 26s (one of them the abanico), five 28s and a combinado of two linked exercises.

Common penalties in the FMCH's 2024–2028 rulebook:

• Light touch between horses (roce): -2
• Refusal or rearing (paro de manos): -6
• Collision or rider fall during an exercise: the team loses that exercise's full value
• Over time: -5 per minute or fraction
• Mismatched dress or tack: -2 for each element that differs (three different hats count once)

The judging panel is made up of women from the FMCH's National Judges College, who need at least five years of competing experience; male judges measure the puntas. After the run, the captain reviews video with the judges before signing the score. A state champion needs at least 290 points for a direct pass to nationals.

The escaramuza dress: Adelita, charra and china poblana

Dress is judged too. The FMCH rulebook recognizes the Adelita dress, five classes of charra suit (faena, media gala, gala, gran gala and etiqueta) and the china poblana, but in competition a team may ride only in the Adelita dress or a faena, media gala or gala charra suit. Riding a competition in gran gala, etiqueta or china poblana disqualifies the team; those outfits are reserved for presentation contests and social, cultural or official events.

The Adelita, named for the women of the Mexican Revolution, is the look most people picture:

• A mostly cotton dress with a high, closed collar and at least one skirt ruffle of 10 cm or more
• A starched crinoline, plus long cotton pantalettes tucked into Jalisco-style boots
• A handmade rebozo tied at the waist with the knot on the left
• Hair gathered at the nape with a bow, under a palm or felt sombrero

All eight dresses must share one design (colors may vary), and sequins, metallic trims and neon colors are banned on the Adelita. Even a visible tattoo or unnaturally dyed hair can disqualify a rider.

Why horses slip on pavement (the parade lesson)

Escaramuza routines are ridden on soft, raked dirt in a lienzo charro. Parades are different: smooth pavement and stone give far less grip, especially for shod horses that turn or move faster than a walk.

If you ever ride on roads or in a parade:

• Stay at a walk on hard surfaces and avoid sharp turns.
• Watch for painted lines, metal covers and wet or polished stone.
• Ask your farrier about traction options if you ride on pavement often.
• Wear a helmet and choose a horse that has already seen crowds and noise.
• Bring a ground crew and first aid; see our safety guide.

How to watch, or start riding

The national championship runs October 9 to November 1 at Arena Potosí in San Luis Potosí, and most charreadas on the official program include three escaramuzas. At any run, watch for:

• Straight, controlled stops in the puntas
• Tight, even gaps in the 26- and 28-point crossings
• An abanico that stays a straight line for its full lap
• Eight matching outfits and saddles, and no touches

Escaramuza is taught through charro associations federated with the FMCH, in Mexico and the United States. Girls start in age divisions set by birth year each season.

Dientes de Leche rides a shorter routine of six exercises, worth up to 118 base points; every other category rides 12.

Getting-started checklist

1. Find a federated charro association near you and ask to watch a practice.
2. Ask how new riders are brought along and whether teams share horses (the rules allow it).
3. Keep building your riding skills; balance and a quiet seat matter even more side-saddle.
4. Budget for gear: in a 2022 ABC7 Chicago report, a Chicago-area rider put dresses at $300 to $500, a custom saddle at around $800 and a sombrero at around $800, not counting the horse or federation fees.