Las Varas Celebrates Father’s Day with a Mounted Parade

Tara A. Spears

One of Mexico’s most picturesque customs is a gathering of mounted horse riders called a cabalgata. Each Father’s Day, the village of Las Varas hosts a parade in honor of dads, gathering at noon at the Lienzo Charro “La Costeña” before the riders head out on a trail ride. These get-togethers of horse riders are carried out very frequently in honor of a special occasion or to remember saints, and it is typical to invite neighboring pueblos to join in. Cabalgatas have gone from being simple local events to becoming a cultural phenomenon with international recognition. The participants, with their horses, gather at a particular time and place before starting the parade. Not only is a cabalgata fun for the rider, but it’s a beautiful spectacle to watch and photograph. The riders wear traditional clothes and the animals vary from sturdy mules to high-stepping, dancing Azteca and Andalusian horses and every type of horse in between.

One reason for the continued popularity of riding in this country is that the horse was central to historical events — it was indispensable as a means of work and transportation that contributed to the civilization of Mexico. One cannot talk about the history of Mexico, or of the North American continent, without including the horse.

While the United States reveres its cowboy history, it was Mexico that invented many aspects of this ranching tradition. When the indigenous Mexican people (Tlaxcala) began to be allowed to ride horses in the 1500s, explained Jorge Cobos, president of the Veracruz Riders Club, they quickly developed riding ability. These workers stood out for being extraordinary riders, which led to the term charro.

The Charrería, or Mexican rodeo, has its origins in colonial times, when indigenous riders were allowed to ride horses on the condition that they did not use any European mount. So the ever industrious and creative indigenous people created their own horse breeds, as well as a unique style to tame and use the horses.

By December 1, 2016, charrería was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in addition to being recognized as Mexico’s national sport.

Cabalgata can be translated as the act of riding, especially gathering together many mounted horsemen. Another definition of cabalgata is a parade of riders held for a special day, or the celebration of something.

Another cowboy tool that talented vaqueros created is called the lariat in English, or la reata in Spanish — a fiber rope used for roping cattle. Basically, it is a loop of rope designed as a restraint to be thrown around a target and tightened when pulled. Many cabalgata riders carry la reata on their saddles, and often the soft jangle of the riders’ spurs blends with the clip-clop of the horses walking on the streets.

“We owe so much to the ingenuity, talent and creativity of the Mexican vaqueros. The neighboring country to the north copies, or tries to claim, these designs that were created by us,” said Sr. Cobos.

The Las Varas cabalgata is not just an equestrian outing; it’s an event that honors fathers, rancheros, and celebrates Mexican history. Each rider who participates carries with him the heritage of a people that does not forget its heroes and traditions. Happy Father’s Day to all!