The sport of Charreria: what are the "suertes", how many are there, and what do they consist of?

1. Cala de Caballo

Reining

Often called the most important, it tests the horse's obedience and the rider’s skill. It includes a sliding stop, spins (360° turns), and backing up.

2. Piales en el Lienzo

Roping the Feet

A charro on horseback must lasso the hind legs of a running mare and stop her completely. This often creates smoke from the friction of the rope against the saddle horn.

3. Coleadero

Steer Tailing

The charro rides alongside a bull, grabs its tail, wraps it around his leg, and accelerates to flip the bull to the ground.

4. Jineteo de Toro

Bull Riding

Unlike American rodeo (8 seconds), the charro must stay on the bull until it stops bucking. He earns more points for riding with one hand or landing on his feet.

5. Terna en el Ruedo

Team Roping

A team of three charros must rope a bull by the neck and the hind legs to bring it down. It demonstrates teamwork and precision roping.

6. Jineteo de Yegua

Bareback Mare Riding

Similar to bull riding, but the charro rides an unbroken, wild mare bareback until she stops bucking.

7. Manganas a Pie

Roping on Foot

While teammates chase a mare around the ring, a charro on foot performs elaborate rope tricks before lassoing the mare's front legs to bring her down.

8. Manganas a Caballo

Roping on Horseback

The same as Manganas a Pie, but the charro performs the rope tricks and the capture while mounted on his own horse.

9. Paso de la Muerte

The Pass of Death

The grand finale. A charro rides his horse bareback at full gallop alongside a wild horse and must jump from his horse onto the wild one, riding it until it stops.