Foto. Jaime Ramírez
José Domingo Huenchul, son of Chilean rodeo champion Luis Huenchul and national Rienda champion Romané Soto, achieved a significant milestone in his young career, qualifying for the prestigious Campeonato Nacional. The accomplishment comes after a second-place finish at the San Clemente qualifier, marking a breakthrough for the rising star in the Chilean rodeo scene.
José Domingo Huenchul secured the runner-up position in the Movimiento a la Rienda Menores Masculino category at the Clasificatorio Zona Centro de San Clemente, riding Doña Dominga Impeque. This result earned him a historic spot in the 77° Campeonato Nacional, a moment of immense pride for him and his parents, Luis Huenchul and Romané Soto.
“I’m very happy because What we have is the first time I’m going to Rancagua,” Huenchul said. “Now that they’ve implemented the three qualifying events, it’s easier because they award first and second place, not just first. I’m super happy; this award represents a lot of effort, a lot of work from my dad, from my mom who accompanied me, who went to test the horse and from my dad who worked with the horses. I’m very happy about that, very grateful to my family, to my grandparents who unfortunately couldn’t come, but my dad and my mom’s friends were here to support me.”
Regarding the competition itself, Huenchul noted, “I thought it was a fair competition, the track was extraordinary, very good. You just had to give it your all to at least finish second.”
“Impeque is a very good horse, he’s been performing well lately. He’s a son of Refajo and a Morcacho mare, a very good horse. I also want to thank the caretakers of the breeding farm, because they helped me all year, taking the horses to the medialuna, helping me saddle them, clean them, and even polish my spurs, and boots. I’m very grateful for that. Now we have to keep working and enjoy Rancagua,” he added.
A Proud Moment for Parents
Luis Huenchul, the 2024 Chilean rodeo champion, expressed his joy over his son’s qualification. “It’s a very nice feeling, because last year we went to San Carlos and fell short by just one point. He’s just starting out, he’s 12 years vintage and he loves it so much. He accompanies me in all my endeavors, whether it’s with horses or anything else. Aside from being my son, he’s my great friend, my support, so I’m very happy, very pleased and I feel very proud, because he’s very loved by the fans, by his friends, everyone is happy that he’s going to Rancagua. I’m very happy, very pleased for him.”
Huenchul believes that Rienda is a valuable foundation for rodeo. “I think Rienda is a very good stepping stone for our discipline, rodeo, because it’s the basis of the horse’s work, of the rider’s work, you learn a lot. So, I think we’re on the right track. He’s also competing in calf roping, he’s been awarded prizes, he’s competed in a couple of rodeos with his godfather Gonzalo Silva, and everyone supports him. Vittorio Cavalieri always lends us horses and cattle when we go south. We’re trying to develop a rider for the future,” he said.
Huenchul also discussed the guidance he provides to his son, drawing on his own experience at the Rancagua Monumental arena.
“Of course, I think it’s a good age for a rider to come to Rancagua, to these events, because they mature, they develop into riders. We talk a lot, my wife also talks a lot with him, about taking it with a lot of responsibility. His main job right now is to study; this is a hobby, so we’ve clearly defined the boundaries for him to enjoy it and take it step by step,” he commented.
Romané Soto, a seven-time national Rienda champion, shared her emotional reaction to her son’s achievement. “It’s a different kind of happiness. I think I’ve never cried as much as I did today. José Domingo was crying, I was crying, Luis was crying, it was super emotional, it was very stunning. The most critical thing is the effort that José Domingo put in. Training and just getting to Rancagua is a reward, that was our goal, it was achieved and with that we are more than satisfied. I congratulate him because he is perseverant. I thank the Doña Dominga corral, and Luis who works with the horses and is also a teacher, so we couldn’t be happier as a family.”
“I’ve been competing since I was 14, I’m 47 now, and when I compete I recognize that whether I do well or not, my motto has been to enjoy it, share it with my friends and, of course, to instill the same in José Domingo – to participate and, as a friend says, failure is the perfect dose for success. After many failures come successes, and Jose has that clear. Now it’s time to enjoy, we’re more than satisfied. It’s wonderful, it’s incomparable, when you compete and do well it’s very nice, but seeing a son work hard is something else, we are very proud,” she added.
Looking ahead for José Domingo, Soto said, “It’s going to be a beautiful experience for him to go down that tunnel that day. He knows, you just have to have perseverance and the best advice I can give him is that after many failures come successes and that’s very rewarding.”
