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With Sombreros And Sidesaddles, Virginia Women Renew A Mexican Tradition

Before their performance, three members of the Amazonas del Dorado watch the men's roping and riding competitions.
Vanessa Rancaño
/
NPR
Before their performance, three members of the Amazonas del Dorado watch the men's roping and riding competitions.

They sit high on their imported sidesaddles, their ruffled skirts tucked neatly beneath them at a ranch in northern Virginia. Las Amazonas del Dorado — this riding group slated to perform — are preparing for their next ride.

These six women are engaging in the sport of escaramuza, a group riding event performed only by women at Mexican rodeos.

"When you're on the horse and performing, it gives me chills every time," said 17-year-old Adriana Jimenez. "Inside, you feel this great happiness, and it fills me up with pride inside to be from a place so full of culture and life and color."

While the star of the show is the cowboy, these cowgirls provide some of the sport's most dazzling entertainment.

To hear more about these women and the sport, listen to the audio link above.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

The Amazonas perform in the rodeo ring their family built in Catlett, Va.
Vanessa Rancaño / NPR
/
NPR
The Amazonas perform in the rodeo ring their family built in Catlett, Va.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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