Clark's First Charreada

Clark and I went with Jose to our first Charreada today in Phoenix. It's the Mexican equivalent of an American rodeo. Here are my handsome boys in their cowboy hats in the kitchen before we left.











The Charreada was amazing. I really liked the women riders, called Escaramusa. Their dresses were incredible, made with tons of ruffles and ribbons and lace. The details are really intricate, and handmade, as far as I can tell. Who knows how in the heck they ride horses dressed like that!




This lady sitting in front of us had the same dress on as the riders in these shots. I think she was filming the riders. It was incredible to me that they didn't run into eachother, but Jose told me that that is the whole point of this particular exhibition. They ride in various formations, meeting in the middle, narrowly escaping head-on collisions! It's scary!








This guy sitting in front of us also had on the traditional garb! Yes, that's a real Mexican Sobrero! They call the men Charros. And let me tell you, the danger the women are in is nothing compared to the Charros. They have a competition, called the Paso de la Muerte, or Walk of Death, where the Charro rides bareback on one horse and holds another horse by the mane...then the rider switches horses while they are still running at full speed!!! It's insane! But it is possible, 'cause we saw one of them do it. Wow.





Um, it was all really great, but it was sooooo hot! Poor Clark was starting to get a heat rash, so, this is Clark before we took his clothes off...











And this is Clark after getting down to the diaper! Clapping, no less!











Jose has a Charro suit that his grandma gave him. It's amazing, with leather detail work all down the pant leg and the sleeves of the jacket, very similar to the one this Charro is wearing. He and his wife are from San Diego and came just for the Charreada! I loved his hat; it has leather all the way around the rim, with tiny designs in it.









There were a bunch of vendors there, and the lady selling sadles let us put Clark on one for a photo op. Ride 'em Cowboy!!! I swear, you would have thought we'd made all his dreams come true! He was having such a good time!







Here's another shot of those amazing dresses! It was kinda funny because we don't think this girl was too excited to take a picture with us. Oh well!

On the way out, Jose saw a guy walking a horse in the parking lot, and asked if we could give Clark a ride. He was really nice and got a kick out of little Clark up there on that big horse.










Clark loved going for a ride on that horse. He must take after his daddy and his Grandma Lonette! He smiled, and rocked back and forth like he was just as happy as can be! Thanks Dad, for taking us to the Charreada!