Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Mexican horseback riders show off skills at Maasdam Barns
FAIRFIELD – For the second year in a row, an all-female Mexican horseback riding team entertained a crowd of spectators at Maasdam Barns in Fairfield.
The Des Moines-based equestrian troupe is known as Escaramuza Quetzalli, and it put on a show of horsemanship with a side of history Saturday afternoon, June 8. The group normally has eight riders but had seven at Maasdam Barns, where they showed off their long, flowing and ornate dresses while riding side-saddle on their horses.
Leon Connelly, a member of the Maasdam Barns Historic Preservation Commission, said the event went very well, even though the crowd was smaller than last year. The barns used an updated speaker system which made it easier for the crowd to hear the presenter talk about the Mexican tradition of “charrería,” a cattle-herding competition that began in the 16th century.
The leader of the group, Alejandra Piña, said Fairfield is the only place where the group gets a chance to speak about their heritage, since most of their other performances are strictly horseback riding.
“We are always happy to drive out to Fairfield and spend the day at the Maasdam Barns,” Piña said. “The volunteers and the community are always so welcoming and great to us! It makes us proud and happy to be able to share a little bit of what we do with our fellow Iowans.”
Connelly said he and the other members of the commission would love to have Escaramuza Quetzalli back a third time next year, and if the group does come back, the commission wants to give them more space. He said the group normally performs in a field three or four times bigger than the ground they had Saturday.
Wendy Murillo, one of the riders, said the weather was good for the event, and the clouds helped to keep the ladies from getting too hot in their long dresses.
“A lot of places invite us once, but the following year, they invite another group,” she said. “But here, they invited us back, and hopefully next year they will as well.”
Maasdam Barns will host another horse-themed event this coming Saturday, June 15 with a horse driving clinic from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors will get the chance to not only pet and feed draft horses but also to guide them pulling wagons. The event is free and open to the public. For questions, call Branden Harp at 319-530-0613.
Saturday’s program was made possible in part through a grant from the City of Fairfield’s Local Option Sales Tax.
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
