Stunning photos from Vogue of traditional Mexican women equestrian riders in the sport of Escaramuza (rodeo sport). Article by Mariel Cruz, Photos by Devin Doyle.
Last year, photographer Devin Doyle, who’d spent two years photographing high school rodeo culture in the United States, became curious as to what the Mexican equivalent might look like. After all, he says, “It’s the same land, the same ranching culture.” What he found was an exciting competitive equestrian sport performed by women dressed in stunning traditional costumes, a sport directly inspired by the Adelitas—the female soldiers who fought in the Mexican Revolution.
Escaramuza, an event within the larger rodeo-like sport known as charrería (now recognized as Mexico’s national sport) is comprised of teams of up to 16 women (though only eight can compete at a time) performing a series of routines inside a lienzo charro, or stadium, at breakneck galloping speeds—all while riding sidesaddle.
Grayanotoxin (also known as mad honey disease):
n.
A neurotoxin found in the nectar of certain species of rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.) and laurel (Kalmia spp.) and in unprocessed foods produced from the nectar, such as unpasteurized honey, and causing temporary effects such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and irregular heartbeat if ingested.