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The charreada is his rodeo, his opportunity to show off both his skills with rope and horse and his decorative, elegant costume. It is at the center of Mexican heritage and self-image, a source of mythology and genuine heroes that has been brought to Texas by immigrants. And since 1989, it has included women, charras, who participate in elaborate and difficult riding formations. San Antonio photographer Al Rendon has taken this ideal subject for the camera and created a collection of splendid sepia photographs reproduced in duotone. The photos juxtapose the grit of the arena with the poise and polish of the charros, charras, and their horses.
The essays, by Julia Hambric, Bryan Woolley, and F. E. Abernethy, describe the history of the charreada and its roots in Mexican culture. Hambric
