Contested intangible heritage: equestrian sport and animal welfare in Mexico

Abstract

Heritage, a constantly contested cultural process, undergoes reconstruction and repositioning. This study, beyond anthropocentric views, acknowledges how heritage often engages other species in human-defined practices. Focused on Charrería, a Mexican equestrian sport, it explores how practitioners embrace their intangible cultural heritage while grappling with the ethical implications of involving other animals. Tensions arise between national identity, pride in heritage, and the ethics of interspecies involvement. These ethical dilemmas not only affect the sport's social acceptance but also jeopardis e Charrería's heritage status. The paper suggests that international and national heritage organisations are pivotal in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage while addressing evolving ethical concerns within interspecies relationships.