The Last Charros
The Díaz family keeps traditional Mexican horsemanship alive under the pressure of a changing landscape
The Diaz Family came to New Braunfels after the flood of ‘98 displaced them from their ranch in San Antonio. “I carried my father, my mother, in my arms up to higher ground. My brother was able to get out by holding onto the horse’s tail,” Jerry said. “And at that time, I do believe that was a sign from the Lord Jesus Christ that we couldn't live there no longer.” Following the flood Jerry saw an ad in the paper for the land that their ranch currently resides on. The family moved to New Braunfels in 2000 and established the first working covered arena for a horse facility in the city.
Nicolas Diaz, 18, feeds the horses at the Diaz Family Ranch on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Nicolas has been performing as an equestrian entertainer with his father and mother, Jerry and Staci Diaz, since he was two-years-old. "Nicolas plans to carry on the tradition and continue performing as a career.
“Horses, they've always been part of my life. And it's a great thrill to ride in the shows and everyone seems to love horses and to put a smile on people's faces when you perform. And just when little kids come to our barn and they see the horses and they want to pet them and brush them just brings you so much joy. It's a lot of work taking care of horses. I cleaned stalls this morning and scrubbed water buckets and moved horses around and saddled up and we train but it's great. I wouldn't do anything else.”
MIKALA COMPTON | Herald-Zeitung
A development is seen as a horse runs at the Diaz Family Ranch on Thursday, June 24, 2021. “When I first moved over here 21 years ago, there was nothing here. It felt like I was on a ranch. Now I feel like I'm in the city and I feel like I'm a fish in a fishbowl,” Jerry said. They've been approached to sell their land, but Jerry said he won't be convinced to sell easily. "“I was always raised around here, we would take the horses out over where the Buc-ees is now. He would pony me on another horse behind him when I was six, seven years old. And we would ride where all these developments are now. And slowly, they built the target. And then they started the shopping center. And to think now that homes are around us and that we might have to move one day, it's sad. But it is a push to another future that we just don't know yet. So it's really hard to ever say we're going to leave this place. But if that's what the future holds, that's what it holds.” Nicolas said."
Jerry Diaz, right, instructs his son Nicolas Diaz as they practice tricks with their horses at the Diaz Family Ranch on Friday, July 2, 2021. Jerry Diaz’s father Jose "Pepe" Diaz came from Jalisco and trained horses for the President of Mexico. He was then recruited to Barnum and Bailey Ringling Brothers and was one of the first charros to perform with the organization. He performed for the Queen of England, and played a stunt double in Western films.
“Keeping the tradition he was one of the pioneers to influence all the charros here in United States in how you dress, the discipline of the horsemanship, and the rope artistry,” Jerry said. “I was the [child] that followed my dad's footsteps...and I think the Lord brought me to this world to talk to people about the culture of the Mexican charro way of life. Jerry has continued to pass the culture and way of life down to his son.
Staci Diaz practices tricks with her horse Conquisto at the Diaz Family Ranch on Friday, July 2, 2021. Both Staci and Jerry grew up in families that performed in rodeos and horse shows. They've continued that tradition with their son and have performed as a family across the country for the past 21 years.
Charro Jerry Diaz, left, sets preparations for the Diaz Family Horse Show at the Diaz Family Ranch on Thursday, March 5, 2021. It was the first performance the family had given since COVID stopped their performances. "
“COVID was a shock across the world. For me, it was hard to accept that we didn’t have outside work. For the first couple of months, it was very difficult for me to put it in my heart and my mind. Now what are we going to do, we don't have no contracts, we have an overhead of all these horses, what are we going to do? So through the blessing of our Lord and our tradition, and our work ethic, we just took outside horses for training, and we were taking horses, we were giving lessons. And that's what kept food on the table for maybe 16 months,” Jerry said.
Charro Jerry Diaz pats his saddle at the Diaz Family Ranch on Thursday, March 5, 2021. Diaz said this is the saddle he used when performing for President George W. Bush.
As they prepare for the show, Cesar Maldonado fist bumps Nicolas Diaz, right, at the Diaz Family Ranch on Thursday, March 5, 2021. “It's a very difficult living, because there's a lot of work that goes behind it. It's just not only you physically mentally, but there's a lot of logistics that go with it. And it's the care of the animals. And they come first," Jerry said. "Together, Stacey and I and Nicolas just to maintain this ranch or run this ranch takes a lot of work. So you really have to have a love for it.“
Shadows are displayed on Jerry Diaz's travel trailer during the Diaz Family Horse Show at the Diaz Ranch on Saturday, March 6, 2021. "We've had the honor and the prestige to represent New Braunfels, Texas, around the country for the last 21 years, from Canada to Mexico to big fairs, big rodeos, some of the biggest rodeos in the country," Jerry said.
Jerry Diaz performs during the Diaz Family Horse Show at the Diaz Ranch on Saturday, March 6, 2021. Jerry said it takes 7 to 8 years to train their horses to do the tricks they perform.
Traditional Mexican dancers stand behind the curtain as they wait to perform during the Diaz Family Horse Show at the Diaz Ranch on Saturday, March 6, 2021. The Diaz shows highlight tradition and culture along with horsemanship.
A horse performs in the arena during the Diaz Family Horse Show at the Diaz Ranch on Saturday, March 6, 2021. “Always as a little boy I enjoyed entertaining. People would come to the house and my dad would put me on a horse and I would sing a song and then he asked me to spin the rope and he put on music for me to dance. As a little kid, four or five years old," Jerry said. "So watching my father was something that I had a passion for and I wanted to be just like him when it came to the horses.”
Staci Diaz poses for the crowd as she performs with her horse Conquisto during the Diaz Family Horse Show at the Diaz Ranch on Saturday, March 6, 2021.
Jerry Diaz waits backstage to be announced during the Diaz Family Horse Show at the Diaz Ranch on Saturday, March 6, 2021. “I know there's a lot of charros that want to just do the rodeo thing. But there's a difference between the competitors, or the ones that do it on weekends, versus a person who has made a living doing it. In this case myself, I'm kind of a unique cowboy, charro. I no longer compete," Jerry said. "The destiny for me was to entertain, to talk to families, children, and to describe the different parts, the different tools, the different methods, some of the horsemanship, the art of it. And as long as I live, and I'm around, I'm going to try to continue to show the art side of it, more than anything.”
“The destiny for me was to entertain, to talk to families, children, and to describe the different parts, the different tools, the different methods, some of the horsemanship, the art of it. And as long as I live, and I'm around, I'm going to try to continue to show the art side of it, more than anything.””
Charros round up a horse in the arena during the Gran Charreada at the Diaz Ranch on Saturday, July 20, 2019.
This piece originally ran in the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung on July 9, 2021.