Part Two: Rebellion
Maru García
Maru was eight years old when she first encountered the charrería. Her parents were furious when they discovered that their young daughter had been sneaking off after swim practice to watch the charros (male riders) practice. She spent many evenings trying to find a charro that would let her ride his horse.
Maru’s family could not afford to buy her a horse, so their only option was to rent one. “It was a skinny, ugly horse that I would share with six or seven other people.” She would often wonder how many other girls wanted to ride but could not afford to. Today, Maru trains national champions in Mexico and the United States as well as young women who, like her, come from humble backgrounds.
Escaramuza regulations demand that female competitors keep their hair long and natural. Maru’s hair is dyed blue. She still receives pressure to remove the dye from her hair so that she does not influence the women she trains.
“I think one creates opportunities. That’s how I was taught in my house.” In the 1950s, the escaramuza was introduced as a form of entertainment, but women were not allowed to actually compete until 1979. That year, the escaramuza was finally included as a competitive event in addition to the nine already-existing events for men. Maru became the first female national champion with her team that year. However, since she was also the first national coordinate of the escaramuza at the time, she did not formally accept the title. Maru continued on to win the national championship again in 1989 and 1992. Later, when she realized that the escaramuza was judged exclusively by men, she created the first panel of female judges.
Three young women train with Maru in Huixquilucan, Mexico. Maru is a strict trainer. She demands excellence from her students, and her high standards push them past their perceived limitations. The spirit she brings to these trainings reflects her devotion to ensuring that all women have a place in the sport.
Today, Maru owns three businesses. In one business, she trains women in the escaramuza. In another, she coaches escaramuza trainers. She and her husband also run a plumbing business.
Maru, a pioneer of the escaramuza.