Young, old keep tradition of Joaquín Murrieta horse ride alive

It doesn’t matter your age when it comes to understanding the importance of the Joaquín Murrieta Horse Pilgrimage.

One-year-old Nicco Julián González – whose great-great-grandfather Julián Orozco was one of the original four horse riders who began the 60-mile horse ride to bring attention to the plight of Cantúa Creek farmworkers who lived in trailers with no running water or electricity – was in his element on Saturday when the event arrived at Lindgren-Lozano Park.

The toddler is too young for an interview, but he was busy sitting on a saddle and posing for photos atop a horse while sporting a charro sombrero just like his great-great-grandfather.

The reason that about 100 riders and their supporters made the second-day journey from Firebaugh to Mendota before ending the day at Three Rocks was to maintain the horse culture that Mexicans like Joaquín Murrieta brought to the United States.

“It’s important to maintain tradition,” said Juanita Gonzalez, who has helped organize the horse ride as it recovers from the pandemic and a 2012 split among riders that saw some riders reverse the route.

Fresno City Councilmember Esmeralda Soria, who would represent the route if she wins the 27th Assembly District race in November, addressed the riders before they headed out of Firebaugh at 9 a.m.

“I just wanted to thank you for continuing all this tradition and for inviting me to be part of this great tradition in the community,” said Soria in Spanish. “Sometimes it makes me very proud to be Mexican. My first-generation parents are from Michoacán.”

Soria vowed to return to next year’s horse ride if “someone will lend me a horse” to ride on.

Ignacio Orozco, son of Julián Orozco, wants to grow the horse ride as long as it sticks to a family-oriented mission and remains faithful to the event started by the late Sigurdur ‘Mexican Segui’ Christopherson.

Riders and their horses rested for about 2 hours at Lindgren-Lozano Park, where Aztec dancers performed.

Sunday, the riders will travel the 3 miles from Three Rocks to the Half Way Store where store owner Leticia Fernández will greet them with music and a brief ceremony honoring Murrieta, who has been the subject of books and film.

Participants will then go back to Three Rocks where activities continue through 6 p.m.

Esta historia fue publicada originalmente el 30 de julio de 2022, 7:31 p. m..