168 CultureShock! Chile
huaso, is not relegated to history because his culture is alive
and flourishing. The term huaso is believed to come from
an Indian word for shoulders or haunches. As the Mapuche
had never seen horses before the Spanish conquest, they
assumed that the rider was attached to the horse between
the shoulder and the haunch. Of course the Mapuche soon
discovered the truth, and went on to become formidable
horsemen themselves. Huasos live and work in the Central
Valley where cattle are raised. The huaso zone begins in
Santiago and extends southward.Huaso Outfi ts
The elegant huaso outfit is a Chilean version of the Andalusian traditional
dress for men. On his head he wears a broad and flat rimmed hat, called
a chupalla, made of straw in the summer, and felt in the winter. A basic
white shirt and black or gray pin-striped trousers are the foundation
for his outfit. Over the shirt a short brown or black jacket is worn. The
rider’s calves are sheathed in black leather leggings decorated with long
leather tassels. These chaps are called perneras (derived from the Spanish
word for leg, pierna) and fit over the riding boots and pants. Perneras
are used to protect the huaso’s legs when riding through thick brush. He
wears high black boots with a heel to accommodate large spurs. These
spurs, sometimes made of silver, have rowels or spiked discs used to
prod the flanks of the horse to make it go faster. Traditionally, huasos
complete their attire with a manta, a colourful short poncho they wear
over their clothing.Rodeos
Huasos usually work alone or with a few others when tending
the cattle. Their solitude is broken up by rodeo competitions
(there are over 200 rodeo clubs in Chile). At first, these rodeos
were an annual event when workers rounded up the cattle to
count and brand the animals for sale. Eventually they evolved
into festivals where animals were brought to the village main
square and riders displayed their talents. Today they are a
contest of skill in cattle herding. Taking their place in the
celebration of all things Chilean, rodeos are very popular
during Fiestas Patrias. The rodeo season starts in September
and runs through May.
For the last 150 years or so rodeo has been a sport with
definite rules. Unlike rodeos in other countries, there is no