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ABOUT RIDING AT ESTANCIA Los Potreros - in their own words:

About the horses:
The estancia is exceptionally proud of its reputation of having outstanding horses for our guests to enjoy, and with a riding herd of over 80, there is something for everyone. The horses, mainly bred on the estancia, are responsive, sure-footed and willing. The varied work that they take part in including rounding up cattle, taking out guests or playing polo, combined with the natural lifestyle they lead in an un-stabled herd environment means the horses are always fresh, interested and keen to do their jobs.

The herd is a mixture of Criollos, Paso Peruanos, polo ponies and some crossbreeds. The estancia is currently actively breeding Paso Peruanos, a unique horse that has 5 gaits or paces (instead of 4) which provides an extremely comfortable riding experience that is not quickly forgotten. Guests are encouraged to get involved with all of the horse activities on the farm, whether that is watching the horse-breaker at work or rounding up the mares and foals to protect them from pumas.

"Los Potreros is a place for people who appreciate fine horses and know how to ride horseback. However, there are horses for every ability, and beginners are welcome. The ranch's forte for horse lovers is its Peruvian paso horses, which here are used to round up cattle on the rocky hillsides like any criollo equine, giving lie to the popular notion that they can only amble and are incapable of galloping sure-footedly. The one assigned to me gave me one of the smoothest canters I have ever enjoyed, in addition to the superb swift ambling walk that is innate in the breed."    (Bonnie Tucker Herald Travel Editor).

Riding on the estancia:
The horses have exceptionally soft mouths and are ridden ‘Western’ style, which is very relaxed and intuitive to pick up. Tack is English, with comfortable sheepskins over the saddle.

All riding abilities can be catered for, and rides are split according to ability. Small riding groups are preferred, with normally no more than 6 guests in one ride. There is total flexibility regarding both the length of stay and the horseback riding possibilities.

Riding is usually centred round estancia life with occasional overnight excursions. There is no set itinerary for the estancia rides as every day the farm offers new challenges and activities. You can expect to be in the saddle for between 4-6 hours per day, consisting of either a day picnic ride or two rides (a longer morning ride and shorter afternoon ride) returning to the estancia for lunch. The following are some examples of the rides that we offer from the estancia: Take a sunset ride to ‘The Top of the World’ to get your bearings and enjoy the spectacular views, and look out for condors.

Ride to the waterfall, and take a refreshing dip in the pool. Return to the estancia for lunch on the veranda, and after a well-earned siesta help the gauchos to bring in the mares and foals.

A full day picnic ride to a local Dominican church, and to visit the local one-teacher rural school which is supported by Estancia Los Potreros. The fabulously smooth and forward-going Paso Peruano horses make sure that the day in the saddle doesn’t feel quite so long!

No horse-riding holiday to Argentina would be complete without trying your hand at polo! Ride down to the polo field, have a short lesson and some practice ‘stick and ball’ and then play a few chukkas of this highly addictive game. A barbeque lunch at the polo field is followed by a visit to ‘El Vergel’, the oldest building on the estancia dating back to 1639. If that wasn’t enough, try your hand at ‘sortija’, a gaucho game on horseback that involves threading a stick through a small ring at speed!

Ride to the north of the farm – Potrero de Niz – to soak up some of the family history of the farm. This was the original family home of the Begg’s some four generations ago, and the landscape is peppered with shrubs along running streams.

Another full day’s ride to the far south of the farm, enjoying a picnic by the stream next to a small museum in what used to be the house of Guido Buffo, an art and science lover, who built an unusual chapel as a memorial to his wife and daughter.

Visit Chiviquin on horseback, the main working cattle part of the farm, perhaps seeing the gauchos in action with the Aberdeen Angus cattle which are the backbone of the farm today. Ring the ‘Bellstone’ on the way back, and on returning to the estancia enjoy a traditional Argentine ‘asado’ and a leisurely afternoon dip in the pool. Follow this with an afternoon in the corrals – watch our horse-breaker at work or try your hand at lassoing.