Louis Garcilazo is a fourth-generation charro, carrying on the family’s legacy as a horseman and an entertainer. He will be part of the family act that includes his father, four-time PRCA Dress Act of the Year Tomás Garcilazo, and his mother, Justine Garcilazo, during the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARRO ON THE ROAD)

 

GUNNISON, Colo. – Louis Garcilazo stands tall, the sign of confidence and an understanding of one’s ability. He’s a fourth-generation charro, sharing his love of the art of La Charreria and showcasing his Mexican culture.

He is also 12.

Louis Garcilazo is part of the family act that will be part of this year’s Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo, set for Thursday, July 9-Saturday, July 11, at Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison.

“This is a pretty big deal for us to get the Garcilazos to Gunnison,” said Kevin Coblentz, the rodeo’s general manager who has long been part of the volunteer committee that produces the annual celebration. “Tomás Garcilazo is one of the greatest specialty acts in rodeo. What he can do with a rope always amazes me.”

The amazement has grown over time. Tomás Garcilazo has won the PRCA Dress Act of the Year four times, and he has performed at the National Finals Rodeo more than a dozen times. As his show has evolved, he’s included his family. That’s where Louis comes in. Even in his pre-teens, he is an established horseman.

It comes from being raised by one of the greatest. Tomás Garcilazo is an award-winning charro, and he’s passed down those skills to his son. Justine Garcilazo is more than a wife and a mom – the couple has two other sons, Gaspar and Ulysse – she is an accomplished horsewoman. Tomás, Justine and Louis perform together, showcasing Mexican pageantry at its finest.

“Something that’s really important to us is that from head to toes, we have the Western-style and charro-style, which are very beautiful and unique,” Tomás Garcilazo said. “My horses’ tack, our outfits and the handle of the horse, beauty has to be the one thing in the mind and in the picture. This is also something we take great pride in.”

They ride athletic horses that look exquisite, which just adds to the grandeur. It will be the perfect match for Gunnison’s stunning beauty, surrounded by the majestic Rocky Mountains. Like the Garcilazos, their horses have been featured at the NFR.

Hollywood, a 24-year-old palomino stallion, has been the cornerstone of the family’s performance team and has helped carry Old Glory during dozens of go-rounds in Las Vegas. He was retired “under the spotlight at the NFR, where his career had begun 17 years earlier, with a special tribute honoring his legacy and saying goodbye to the crowd,” the statement on the family’s website reads.

Raised as a competitive charro, Tomás Garcilazo understands rodeo involves two aspects of the Western way of live. It is both a contest and theater. He shines in both, but roping tricks and horsemanship are the brightest under the lights.

“It’s an honor because specialty acts are so competitive,” he said. “I’m very flattered that what I do as a charro and representing my culture and my tradition with my horses and myself has been recognized with those contractors, committees and contestants that are part of the PRCA.

“I emphasize the tradition a lot. The heritage is very strong. For me, it is big that those are being carried on in modern day and that it is a privilege for me to keep up with this way of life. Cattle, horses and roping were all involved in my childhood.”

His children are seeing life in a different way. They travel the world and gain experiences through those adventures. They learn great lessons and have parents who understand the legacy that came before them.

“On my mother’s side, they are all churros,” Garcilazo said. “I grew up competing all my life. I picked my skill with a rope and had a vision to develop this with the horses.

“It’s a way of developing my dream. My rope, as a child, was a toy. Now, I develop the artistry with a rope in such an extensive way. It takes time, effort, patience and the (willingness to) develop all the desires to succeed in horse and roping skills.”

It is Garcilazo’s passion to share his talent and heritage with the world.

“Being in the entertainment business, you get to see the different traditions and different people from different personalities,” he said. “When you develop something with passion with your heart and express this on stage, it shows. When I see a performer, when they do these with their heart, it shows right away. I have a lot of passion for what I do, and I hope everyone sees that.”