Maasdam Barns to host Mexican horseback troupe Saturday

FAIRFIELD – Maasdam Barns in Fairfield will welcome back a group of female horseback riders who celebrate Mexico’s history of herding and horsemanship.

The group is called Escaramuza Quetzalli, and its riders will perform a show from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, June 8. The event is free and open to the public. It will be the second year in a row Escaramuza Quetzalli has performed at Maasdam Barns. Leon Connelly, vice president of Maasdam Barns Historic Preservation Committee, said last year’s event was well attended, and the members of Escaramuza Quetzalli enjoyed their visit so much that they promised to come back the following year.

Members of the group come from all parts of Iowa to perform the equestrian tradition of “Charrería,” which evolved from livestock herding communities in Mexico. Escaramuza Quetzalli was founded in 2021 by Alejandra Piña, who said her team is the first Escaramuza team in Iowa to have one of its members crowned Mexican Rodeo Queen, and the first team to host a state competition in Iowa and win.

“Being an Escaramuza is having the concentration and capacity to measure distance like a golf player, the strength and vigor of a hockey player, the artistic flow and the capacity to make an extremely difficult task look simple and elegant like a ballerina,” she said.

Connelly and Tony Webb, president of the Maasdam Barns Historic Preservation Committee, said children will be able to ride the horses after the show, and the barns will offer guests rides to and from the adjacent parking lot at Jefferson County Health Center.

Connelly and Webb said they like being able to host horse-themed events at the barns, and especially when they can highlight diverse cultures. This year’s event is being held later in the day so that it does not overlap with the Dodge Vintage Power Wagon Rally that morning on Fairfield’s square.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com