Everyday multispecies resistance: Power relations in an equestrian sport

Interest in human-animal relations in sport has grown, but it often remains anthropocentric, overlooking the agency of animals, particularly in Global South contexts. This study focuses on the Mexican equestrian sport of Charrería, using multispecies ethnography to explore the complex power dynamics between humans, horses, and bulls. Drawing on James Scott’s concept of “weapons of the weak”, we examine how animals resist domination through both subtle tactics (like denial, surrender, escape) and overt acts of confrontation that challenge human domination within equestrian sports. The concept of everyday multispecies resistance is proposed that highlights the everyday nature of these forms of resistance, exploring overlap between individual and collective action, and complex entanglements with power. Through multispecies ethnography, the research reveals the nuanced interplays of agency, power, domination and resistance in human-animal interactions, challenging traditional human-centric practices in equestrian sports.