Wellington, FL – February 27, 2004 – Mexican charro Gerardo ‘Jerry’ Diaz, a featured performer at the 2003 National Horse Show in Wellington, will once again bring his precision roping maneuvers and skills in dressage, reining, tricks, and dancing to the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club for four appearances at the 32nd Winter Equestrian Festival. In this return engagement, Jerry’s wife Staci Diaz, a professional trick rider and movie stuntwoman, will perform with him. The two will exhibit their extraordinary equestrian act entitled “Romance On Horseback.”

The Diaz couple will perform at the show grounds on Friday, March 12, at 6:30pm as part of the entertainment at the Nations Cup show jumping competition; on Saturday, March 13, from 11:00am to 3:00pm at the Children’s Fair; on Sunday, March 14, from 11:00am to 3:00pm at the Children’s Fair, and also as a highlight of the $100,000 Cosequin U.S. Open Jumper Championship, CSIO****, which starts at 1pm

“I am so excited,” said Jerry Diaz. “I had never been to Florida until I came for the National Horse Show and I really enjoyed performing there. I’m honored that I was asked to come back by Mr. Mische. I’m thrilled that Staci will perform with me this time. It’s going to add a lot to the show.” Eugene R. Mische is the president of Stadium Jumping, Inc., producer of the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Dressed in full charro regalia – silver-studded bolero jacket and trousers, topped by a 14-inch sombrero – Jerry will perform his horsemanship and roping feats while Staci, who has two traditional Spanish charra outfits – a long ruffled dress trimmed in lace when she rides sidesaddle, and culottes when she is astride – maneuvers around him in dancing movements. The Mexican mariachi music sets the mood and the ‘romance’ heightens when the two riders perform intricate movements in unison. The horses are trained to exhibit colorful movements such as Spanish walk, sidepass, marching, and piaffe as well as tricks – they sit, lay down, and bow – all enhanced by elaborate show tack that complements their riders’ costumes.

Gerardo Diaz, 43, is a fourth generation charro from San Antonio, Texas. He has presented exhibitions at venues ranging from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics to the Professional Rodeo Circuit to the Economic Summit for world leaders. He carries on the Mexican cowboy tradition that originated with his great-grandfather in Spain and his grandfather and father in Mexico. He prefers to describe his rope artistry not as trick roping rather as ‘rope maneuvering’. Jerry uses a maguey rope, which is one of the most difficult ropes to maneuver. The Diaz family now lives in New Braunfels, Texas, where they operate Three Mile Creek Ranch, a 50-acre horse operation.

Staci Diaz, 34, is a third generation performing equestrian. Her grandfather, Joseph ‘Bob’ Hofmeister performed in Wild West shows and circus acts with trained animals from elephants to stallions and earned fame as one of the first horsemen to exhibit eight stallions working at liberty. Staci’s mother Jo-Ann Hofmeister was part of the act and also had a stint in New York as a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall. Jo-Ann met Don Anderson when they were both performing at the American Royal, and after their marriage, they launched their act. With their two children, Austin and Staci, they traveled the country performing in Wild West Shows. Staci was on the road at six weeks of age and was performing in the act with her trick pony by the time she was four years old. She began Roman riding at age five, standing on two horses, then added two more to drive, and ultimately followed in her father’s footsteps with the six-horse stagecoach version, which she still performs today.

Married for four-and-a-half years, Jerry and Staci Diaz are the proud new parents of an eight-week-old baby boy, Nicolas Adrian Diaz, who will accompany his parents to Florida. “He’s fifth generation charro in the Diaz family,” said Jerry. “He’s already been on a horse.”

2004 WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL TICKET INFORMATION
Show days for the 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival are Wednesday through Sunday. Gates open at 8:00 am. Ticket Prices: Wednesdays are free to everyone; Children 12 and under are admitted free every day; Young Adults 13 to 18 and Seniors are $5 on Thursday through Sunday; Adults are $5 on Thursday and Friday, $10 on Saturday, and $15 on Sunday. The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club is located on Pierson Road off South Shore Boulevard. For additional information, visit www.stadiumjumping.com or call 561-793-5867