"La Corrida" is Spanish for Round up. Circumstances allowing, Rancho El Choyal has one every spring and fall. El patron (boss), Joe Henson heads up this operation. Visitors will have the privilege of working side by side with the vaqueros on this raw and rugged Mexican working cattle ranch. Guests can participate in gathering, roping, fire branding and castrating cattle much in the same way as the early rancheros did in the mid 1800's.

In the spring roundup the cattle are generally moved from the south end of the ranch to the north. The bulls, who have been resting and “beefing up” are reintroduced to the herd. Newborn calves are earmarked, castrated, vitamized and turned back out with their mothers to grow out during the summer monsoons.

The fall gathering is the time for separating, weaning, tagging and branding. The bulls will go back to their pasture( to smoke a cigarette or two), hopefully having bred most, if not all, the cows. The corrida ends with the bawling calves being shipped off to market and a great sense of satisfaction of a job well done (with little or no injuries) and of course a fiesta !

In either season you will awaken at the first light of daybreak to the sounds of the roosters crowing, hungry horses nickering, the milk cow mooing and the smell of some “float a horseshoe” cowboy coffee. All of this is topped with a hearty hot breakfast consisting of everything good and always accompanied with frijoles (beans) and freshly made tortillas. After a good morning’s ride you will herd the cattle back to headquarters in time for that much anticipated comida (lunch) which is accompanied with fresh tortillas and of course, frijoles! After a short siesta it is time to saddle up and continue to gather until everything is gathered (where is the bengay?). Every night ends after a fine meal , tortillas and of course, frijoles! You can enjoy a campfire, a game of poker or dominoes and recount the day’s high and low lights. This is where the tall tales and true legends are born!

On the fourth day the show really begins by working the cattle in the corral. There is a great display and competition of horsemanship, roping, pushing cows, kicking, snorting, (an occasional cussing vernacular) cow poop and of course, dust! We guarantee everyone will have the ever popular scent of Corral #5!

Whatever your level of horsemanship expertise you will be equally partnered to the one of the ranch’s specially bred and raised gentle quarter horses. You will become familiarized and matched with all the equipo de vaquero, such as a western saddle, bridle, and chaps. After the first day each rider will be knowledgeable enough to care and saddle their own horse. It is once in a lifetime, unforgettable and sometimes unpredictable experience…