Spanish (page 13)

Beginners’ Spanish I (SPAN 201): Researching a Traditional Sport

Hope O’Keefe

Doma Vaquera is traditional to Spain. The sport can be translated into western dressage. While it is called western dressage, Doma Vaquera horses show everything that dressage horses show but with more speed and impulsion. Dressage can be related to dressage, while Doma Vaquera is flamenco, another type of Spanish traditional dance! Doma Vaquera can be shown in a group as well. Like western, some of the sharp and agile movements are required when working livestock which dressage horse breeds such as warmbloods do not posses. Doma Vaquera has the elegance of dressage but with a mixture of poles and reining. It expands into a jineta style of equitation, which implements la garrocha.

The horses commonly used for this work are Andalusians, also known as the pure Spanish horse. They have been bred for athleticism and spirit, also known as the “chispa” or “sparkle.” The vaquero is what the rider is called. Large warmbloods would not be suitable for these types of movements.

Some of the movements include parada a raya, arreon, mantra estribera, terre-a-terre, jambette, etc.

In order to progress into corrida de toros, also known as bullfighting or coursing of bulls, you must first master Doma Vaquera. Corrida de toros requires immaculate speed, agility and a high degree of collection from the horse. Gradually, la garrocha, a wooden pole, will be added and from there you can begin training for corrida de toros.

Doma Vaquera also has traditional tack and requires riders to use such for competitions.

The vaqueroten bridles used are commonly serretas which consist of a headpice, muserola or noseband, browband. Unlike the average dressage or western bridle, there is no throatlatch and includes a mosquero, also known as a mosquito fringe on the bridle. The bridle consists of a vaquera curb bits, meaning that this sport encourages you to have a lot more control over your horse since you are not able to use harsher bits. The bridle is paired with split reins so the rider is able to progress to one handed riding, preferably held in the Izquierda hand, left, to leave room for la garrocha en la derecha.

The silla vaquera, or vaquero saddle has been used in spain for centuries. It is similar to a western saddle, but without a horn. The saddle has special stirrups called estribos, which are bucket stirrups are made in steel and protect the foot from an angry bull. The saddle may consist of a baticola, a crupper to attach to the horses tail to ensure the saddle doesn’t slip. A pechopetral, a breastplate may be used as well for the same purpose, along with a Gamarra, a martingale. The saddle has a manta estribera, a saddle drape, a striped wollen or cotton blanket worn over the front of the saddle, and a sheepskin pad on the saddle itself for the vaquero to sit on. There is sometimes an agrrador, which is a strap to assist the rider when mounting. The saddles have been moderated from old traditional styles as the tree of this saddle is not the most fitting to the horses back, so they do make them with lightweight carbon fibre trees now. The saddle differs slightly when transitioning to corrida de toros and a rejuneo saddle is used. The cincha, or cinch is closer to a western cinch as opposed to an English girth.

For your entertainment, here are some videos of performances I thought were absolutely breathtaking and encapsulated the chispa immaculately. You can tell these riders have a strong connection with their horse and immaculate control through movement transitions. All of these videos contain Andalusian horses which I can simply tell by conformation.

Doma Vaquera, with a whip used in hand not la garrocha, begin at 1.30 for primera vaquero and 3.13 for Segundo rendimiento del caballo:

La garrocha doma vaquera: