Jineteada gaucha



Jineteada gaucha or doma gaucha is a traditional sport in the gaucho culture of Argentina and the Cono Sur – Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile and the Rio Grande do Sul of Brazil. The objective is for the rider to stay on an untamed horse for a number of seconds. The specified time varies from 8 to 14 seconds, depending on the category. In Uruguay a law was enacted in 2006 establishing it as the National sport. In Argentina it may be considered a part of the national intangible cultural heritage.

The event forms part of the programme of the annual Festival Nacional de Doma y Folklore held at Jesús María in the province of Córdoba. Under the rules of the competition there, there are three categories:
 * Crina Limpia or bareback: the rider holds on to a leather strap passed round the neck of the horse and must stay mounted for 8 seconds; spurs are used
 * Sureña or Surera: the horse carries a girthed pad of sheepskin in the place of a saddle; the rider holds the reins in one hand, a whip in the other and must stay mounted for 12 seconds.
 * Bastos con Encimera: the horse is saddled; the rider must not lose the stirrups and must stay mounted for 14 seconds.

The rider may not touch the horse with his/her hands at any time.