Crystal Wise
If you think cowgirls only ride in Texas, think again. The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is taking its obsession with equestrian badassery all the way to Aguascalientes, Mexico to honor U.S. charras, the women who dominate Mexican rodeo with style, skill, and enough nerve to make most of us reconsider our life choices.
Escaramuzas are not your average horseback riders. These teams of eight women perform sidesaddle routines so intricate and risky that most of us would be lucky to stay in the saddle for five seconds. In the U.S., teams claw their way to Nationals by crushing state competitions with a minimum score of 290 points, only to cross the border and face the ultimate slap in the face: no horses of their own. However, their path is far from smooth. Strict quarantine rules mean U.S. teams can’t bring their own horses, so they have to show up early and get acquainted with borrowed or rented mounts before competing on the world’s biggest stage.
American teams have yet to win the national championship, though some have made impressive runs to the finals. Only once, Riverside, California’s Flor del Campo B in 2023, made it to the finals. And yet, these women keep showing up, doing flips and spins, all while keeping their hair in place and their pride intact.
Representing The Cowgirl during the final week of the event will be Associate Executive Director Diana Vela, Ph.D., Department Coordinator Ella Weishuhn, and Engagement Specialist Paola Pimienta. This marks a historic milestone — the first time The Cowgirl has traveled internationally to recognize equestrian women competing at the highest level of their sport, which runs from Oct.17 to Nov. 9.
Crystal Wise
“I’m incredibly proud we have supported and recognized these charras by sharing their history,” Vela said in a release. “When we conceived the exhibition, we knew it would soon gain momentum and expand outside the Museum. This ongoing effort embodies the Museum’s message: We are all cowgirls: somos vaqueras.”
The Cowgirl is bringing recognition in style. Pimienta and the team will present custom buckles made by Hebillas JA to the highest-scoring U.S. team, proving that this Museum isn’t just about displays and dusty archives — it’s willing to fly across the globe to celebrate women who live and breathe equestrian excellence.
Pimienta says it best: “The spirit of the cowgirl and the charra are one and the same — courageous, skilled, and deeply connected to tradition. The Cowgirl’s representation is about honoring that shared heritage and building a bridge between the women of the U.S. and Mexico who keep this equestrian legacy alive.”
