manship.
Doma Vaquera consists of three
levels: Basico (beginner), Intermedio
(intermediate), and Alta (advanced).
Like dressage, Doma Vaquera compe-
titions are based upon standardized
written tests, appropriate to the horse’s
and rider’s skill level. And the Doma
Vaquera arena measures 60 x 20
meters – the same as that of a large
dressage arena.
Unlike dressage, however, the
rider holds the reins in one hand (the
left), with the right hand placed on the
rider’s right thigh at the walk, thumb
pointing forward, and held across the
sternum with the hand in a gentle fist,
at the canter or gallop. The horse per-
forms at the walk, canter, and gallop –
in Intermedio and Alta tests, there is no
trot, although the Basico test does con-
tain one, very brief element. The basic
test includes movements like the turn
on the haunches, turn on the forehand,
the reinback, and even a fast stop from
the canter (not to be confused with a
reiner’s sliding stop). The advanced
test includes the half-pass, full-pass,
canter-pirouettes, flying lead changes,
and a fast stop from the gallop. No
matter the test’s level, however, the
horse and rider are judged on their pre-
cision, their successful performance of
each movement, and the élan or flair
with which they perform together. In
all cases, the rider must exhibit a
proudness of bearing and the horse,
willingness, graceful athleticism, and
instant responses to the rider’s (invisi-
ble to observers) cues.
For riders wishing to take Doma
Vaquera further, there are the exciting
disciplines of La Garrocha and Doma
Trabajo (working equitation). La gar-
rocha is the cattle lance – a 13.1-foot
lance or pole, traditionally made of
wood, that vaqueros use to work and
test Iberian bulls. Essentially, the gar-
rocha is used to keep the bulls at a safe
ANDALUSIAN Issue 2, 2009 29
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