Riding toward their dreams

Dad building charreada arena at ranch for his escaramuza-loving daughters

You’ve met soccer dads and gymnastics dads and volleyball dads — fathers who go all out to support their daughters’ athletic endeavors. Now meet Jimmy Ayala, the ultimate escaramuza dad.

Escaramuza, which translates to “skirmish” riding, is a popular part of the modern-day charreada, or Mexican rodeo. Like synchronized swimmers on horseback, all-female escaramuza teams compete in an equestrian ballet, their horses spinning and pivoting, prancing and back pedaling, all under the expert control of riders who sit sidesaddle while wearing Mexican hats and dresses, their skirts long and wide enough to cover the horses’ haunches.

Ayala is so into the equine sport, he’s building his own charreada arena on his ranch so daughters Jackie, 19, and Emely, 13, and their escaramuza

teammates of Escaramuza San Antonio can practice and eventually compete with other teams.

Ayala coaches the team and long has wanted to

build his own arena, even before he bought his 11-acre ranch in Floresville about three years ago. But he was too busy running his company, Unique Interiors of

Texas, which specializes in remodeling senior living facilities.

Then came COVID-19, and suddenly he had all the time he needed.

“Once the lockdowns started and we weren’t allowed in the facilities, the business just dropped off,” said Ayala, 40. “So we were like, ‘OK, let’s finally do this.’ ”

Ayala has been divorced from the girls’ mother for many years, and escaramuza is one way they stay close.

“Jackie started riding when she was 6 and then Emely decided, ‘Hey, you know what, I want in,’ ” he said. “We got very, very involved when I started coaching them. I’m building this arena because I want the girls to be able to practice whenever they want.”

That’s already helped improve their riding, according to Jackie.

“Having our own arena means we don’t have to worry about, like, trailering our horses to practices,” she said. “They’re right there on my dad’s ranch. So we can focus on our riding and getting better.”

Ayala and his employees

Photos by Kin Man Hui / Staff photographer Jimmy Ayala poses with daughters, Emely, left, and Jackie. He is building an escaramuza arena on his Floresville ranch so the teens can practice.

Jackie, right, and Emely Ayala ride in the arena built by their father. Eventually, the complex will host full charreadas and seat up to 300.