Chilean Horse Traditions

Chile, Tierra de Caballos

Horses are still a very present actor in the folklore, traditions, and culture of Chile. We would like to share with you some of these rich equestrian traditions so that you may come to better understand the cultural heart of Chile.

• The Rodeo
• Las carreras a la Chilena
• La jineteada
• El Cuasimodo
• The Trail of Mares
• Traditional Garb
• El huaso
• El arriero

The Rodeo

Chilean rodeo is very different from the rodeo traditions practiced in the United States.
The Chilean tradition consists of two riders chasing a calf around a ring, trying to drive it into a special padded area. Once the calf has been driven into the special area, the two riders try to trap it against the padded wall with the chests of their horses. Points are awarded for the style and efficiency with which the riders pin the calves.

Despite being an important Chilean tradition going back over 400 years, Chilean rodeo was not recognized as a national sport until 1962. And although the tradition may have started in the late 1500s, the sport has changed very much since its creation mainly to allow the better organization and standardization of its events. For instance, competitors can only ride horses bred and registered in Chile, ridden by participants dressed entirely in traditional “huaso” attire.
The official rodeo season in Chile lasts from September to April with over 320 competitions nationwide culminating in the National Rodeo Championships in the National Rodeo Stadium in Rancagua.
Rodeo arenas in Chile don’t just hold riders, calves and horses, it holds the accumulation of customs, values, traditions, and history of an entire nation, as well has helps preserve the rural culture and traditions the modern Chile would otherwise be at risk of losing.

Understanding the rodeo

Some vocabulary:
Media luna: The arena in which riders compete in the rodeo
Collera: The team of two riders which attempt to pin a calf
Apiñadero: The second closed, padded area within the medialuna
Atajada: When the collera attempts to pin the bull within the apiñadero.
Carrera: A carrera includes the following steps: First, the collera must ride twice around the media luna chasing the calf. Then, one of the collera must ride behind the calf and the other member beside it. The riders maintain these positions throughout the two laps around the ring. The collera gets three attempts to pin the bull within the apiñadero.
Punto bueno, malos: If the collera makes no mistakes within the apiñadero, they automatically receive one point. In each of the 3 atajadas allowed, it is possible to receive 4 points. It is possibe to receive a maximum of 14 points.
In the case that the riders are unable to pin the bull within the apiñadero, they receive 2 “puntos malos,” or have two points taken out of their score.

It is also possible to commit fouls in the rodeo, the most common of which being “la tijera” (or “the scissor”) in which the bull comes between the two riders.

La carrera a la chilena (Bareback matches)

Bareback carreras are often some of the most exciting matches to watch and are always a crowd favorite. It is difficult to describe the energy of the spectators when a collera comes into the media luna without a saddle and spurs holding on only to a set of reins. Often times, these riders are just children. On the days of these matches, no matter the distance, no one stays home. Women ride side-siddle behind the men on Chilean bred criollo horses for what becoms a celebration of national spirit and pride.
These carreras a la chilena are not made for points. The carreras a made for the carreras sake; for the joy of the ride and the spirit of the crowd.

El Cuasimodo

This festival is a tradition in the more rural parts of Chile with a history dating back almost 150 years. The festival was created to remember the long and difficult roads that often existed between towns and churches, and the difficulty of going to communion and the priests that would often travel many miles to visit the sick and disabled. These roads used to be very dangerous, and the priests that traveled them were often robbed and assaulted, so local townspeople began to travel with the priests in large groups to protect them. The coming together of local people is the reason for which the festival was creaed.
This singlular expression of popular piety, which Pope John Paul II called “a true treasure of the people of God,” happens once a year during Easter. On this day, priests go to visit the sick and infirmed accompanied by riders on horseback, bicyclists and decorated carriages in a genuine celebration of devotion and joy.
In the past, “quasimodistas” adopted the culture and typical dress of rural Chile, but today it has become a truly modern celebration with participants accompanying the procession on bicycles, motorcycles and cars.
In fact, every community in Chile has distinct variations of the festival, with no two being exactly the same. Today, it is the largest celebration in most of rural Chile with anticipatory preparations lasting for months. Often times, the decorations and costumes made of flowers, ribbons, and tapestries are prepared months ahead of time. The spirit of faith, piety and history of the Chilean people is expressed in this singular cavalcade.
La trilla a yeguas (the trail of mares)

This festival brings together the rich and the poor of Chile and celebrates the yearly harvest. Mares are driven in circles by riders around sheaves of threshed wheat. In the middle of the horses is a mound of wheat and all the horses run within a ring. For this festival, the participants choose their best and most beautiful horses. While the horses run around the ring, participants shout “Ah yegua! Ah yegua!” (“Oh mare! Oh mare!”) while the horses trample and separate the grain. While this is happening, there is no shortage of music, wine and food for everyone in the town. Today, it is most common to find this festival in the south of Chile.

El huaso

The huaso is a Chilean cowboy most often found in more rural parts of the country. A huaso can be distinguished by his traditional dress. Huasos in the Chilean countryside still wear their traditional garb, not just to compete in rodeos, but also on Sundays while out with friends on horseback and also on national holidays.

People also often dress as huasos while performing the national Chilean dance, the “cueca.”

Video of Chilean horse Queca: www.modyo.com/-tropix/video/190070

Huaso garb:

La chupalla
It gets its name from the plant called Achupalla. For centuries, artesans have used this material to make the distinctive round, flat-brimmed hat unique to a huaso ensemble.
There are towns and areas throughout the country famous for their chupalla makers, the most famous of which being La Lajuela, considered the capital of the chupalla.

La manta
It is one of the most distinctive and original parts of a huaso ensemble. Over the course of generations, the manta has become one single part of huaso dress that no huaso would ever be without, and while every huaso has one, they are all unique to the owner.
Similar to what is known in America as a “poncho,” the manta is made from silk or wool on a wooden loom. The pattens and colors in each manta are unique to each rider, and are made with a great amount of pride.
There still exist many regions of Chile which keep the tradition of manta making alive. La Serena is one of the most famous.

La chaqueta
This part of the huaso’s dress is very similar to the short-waisted Spanish Andalusian suit jacket. With buttons on the sleeves and clips on the front. It is of very simple design with very little adornment, and its use is required in Chilean rodeo. It is often used as a light winter coat when temperatures drop in the fields.

El chamanto
Is very similar to the manta in shape and design, but used more exclusively for special occasions. The design and craftsmanship are much more fine and elegant than the manta, with beautiful patterns woven throughout.
These true works of art are made ​​on loom, from wool or linen, are made with four layers, and are reversable with each side having a different pattern.
The chamanto is a distinctly Chilean craftsmanship. The Doñihue artisans, in a village located in north west of the Sixth Region of Chile, are famous for their ability to weave beautiful chamantos.

Shoes:
Made primarily of leather with a raised heel. It has a very strong andalusian influence and is used both in the city and in the fields.
Pants:
Of simple design; short and strait with a narrow hem.

Belt
Usually woven of wool or linen with a fringed and that must fall to the left side.

El arriero
Arrieros are men that make most of their money in the highlands during the summer and spring. And thin the fall and winter make most of their money in the lowlands. This is all to find the absolute best pasture lands for cattle. This trasitions goes back to colonial times and includes the central and southern zones of Chile. Many arrieros used to take cattle from Chile and into Argentina and vice versa, but this is no longer allowed; foot and mouth disease being the biggest reason.

One could say that traversing the andes in the company of arrieros is a spectacular life as they have known every secret and corner of the mountains for centuries.

Traditional Garb:

wooden saddle: Normally used in the field or rodeos. It has a wooden shell. The stirrups are normally made of wood, and are adorned with flower engravings and/or rosestones.

Mountain saddles: Ideal for long cavalcades, it has a metal interior with a sheepskin over the top, which makes it very comfortable. It also has leather stirrups, and two cinches.

The reins: traditionally made entirely from rawhide, and ends in a whip.

The bit: There are many different kinds used in Chile. They can often be much morecomplex than those used in classical riding.

The lasso: Always with the arriero. Made from braided rawhide.

Chaps: Made from leather, protects the arrieros legs while taking long rides through thck and often spiny brush.