Escaramuza My Legacy:
Alejandra Maldonado
Escaramuzas is the official national sport of women in Mexico. Each escaramuza team is composed of eight riders who wear matching outfits, with the option of dress in either the traditional Adelita style dresses or the charro style attires. The escaramuza routine is made up of twelve individual exercises presented in continuous sequence. The presentation runs an ordinary of 10 minutes and is performed throughout at a full gallop, ridings on a sidesaddle style. A background of traditional Mexican music is essential adding to the rhythm and drama of the thrilling string of geometric movements. Heart-stopping crosses and quick turns must be executed with accuracy to avoid accidents and points deductions for loss of synchronization and symmetry. Official contests require strict regulations that rule every single aspect of the performance, as wells as wearing the appropriate outfits and following a scoring procedures. Nonetheless more than just a sport, it’s a representation of Mexico’s culture, and a style of living.
Her Mexican roots have inspired her to continue with this beautiful tradition representing her family and her legacy. It was at the age of nine, when Alejandra Maldonado best known as “Golo” started riding with a team “Las Rancheritas.” “Las Racheritas” was the first escaramuzas team founded in Illinois. “I was the youngest girl in the team and I didn’t know what I was really doing at that time, I just knew I loved been on the horse and dressing with the fancy Adelita dress.”
Few months later, the coach of the team didn’t let Alejandra be part of the team kicking her out with no explanation. It was then when Alejandra’s mom decided to form her own team “Perla Tapatia.” At that time, Alejandra didn’t ride with her mom’s team because she joined the “Escaramuza Infantil” “Las Alazanas,” which consisted of younger girls. “One of the best decisions my mom could of made was to put me in a team with girls my age. From that I gained knowledge as well as experience, said Alejandra.
It was in 2003, when Alejandra performed for the first time with a judge from Tijuana. “It was such an excitement, Yes I was young, but performing and being judge felt as if I was competing in Mexico.”
As of every year tradition holds, nominating a girl from every Escaramuza team to participate in a Banquet Show. Each girl has to perform a traditional Mexican dance as well as giving a speech in public and sharing their knowledge. The escaramuza chosen as the ‘Reina de la Charreria” gets to go to the “Nacional Charro” representing every team of charros and escaramuzas. In 2005, Alejandra participated in the Banquet Show. “ It never crossed my mind winnig, it was such an excitement to be the one representing all Charros and Escaramuzas. She was the First “Reina de la Charreria” representing Illinois.
In 2008, Alejandra graduated from highschool and decided to stop riding for some time and focus on her first year of college. “It was hard for me to get used to not riding.”
After graduating from college, Alejandra decided to start working and riding again. As of 2015, she is riding for an escaramuza team “Las Margaritas de Illinois,” who have won two competitions and are one of the top teams of the season. “I awknowledge nothing else fitted me as being an escaramuza, nothing else makes me feel more proud than calling myself an escaramuza.”
