Gauchos ride wild horses at rodeo celebrating Criolla Week

'Gauchos' are Latin American cowboys who travel from all over Uruguay and neighbouring Argentina and Brazil to participate in the Criolla Week Rodeo in Montevideo each year. (Photos: AP)

A wild horse bleeds after injuring himself while freeing himself from being ridden by a gaucho during the "Criolla del Prado" rodeo during Easter Week in Montevideo, Uruguay. The horse continuously hit his face against the pole he was tied to until it freed itself.

A gaucho is thrown off a wild horse during the "Criolla del Prado" rodeo during Easter Week in Montevideo, Uruguay. The traditional "jineteadas" have been a popular Holy Week tradition since 1925, and were named a national sport by Uruguayan lawmakers in 2006.

A gaucho is thrown off a wild horse during the "Criolla del Prado" rodeo during Easter Week in Montevideo, Uruguay. This South American nations holds "jineteadas" all year long, but the week-long festival during Holy Week is the most important one of the year.

A gaucho carries the flags of Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil at the "Criolla del Prado" rodeo during Easter Week in Montevideo, Uruguay. "This is part of the best tradition of Uruguay," said Hector Ramos, a Montevideo resident who grew up in the countryside surrounded by horses and other animals. "The homeland was made riding a horse!" he said.

Gauchos who work preparing horses stand at the pole during the "Criolla del Prado" rodeo during Easter Week in Montevideo, Uruguay. The cowboys tie wild, unbroken horses to three different poles within the arena and prepare them to be ridden by gauchos, including irritating them.

A gaucho rides a wild horse during the "Criolla del Prado" rodeo during Easter Week in Montevideo, Uruguay.

A wild horse falls with its rider during the "Criolla del Prado" rodeo during Easter Week in Montevideo, Uruguay. The so-called "jineteadas" have been named a national sport, which draws protests from animal rights activists.