The English Gaucho: What a Great Ride Out To The Little House On The Prairie!

Getting the asado ready ummmm

Wide open spaces- wonderful

Many guests who come to stay on Estancia La Margarita come here to ride horses. The great thing is even if guests have no experience of riding they still get a great kick out of riding out on the famous Argentina pampas surrounded by grazing cows and big wide open flat spaces in true gaucho country. Experienced riders love it here and have a fabulous time galloping across the famous pampas– it is a wonderful experience without doubt. Over the years we have offered long rides as well as the normal shorter rides to guests who like to ride. Lately we had been talking about offering another ride to try to incorporate a famous asado midway though the ride. It’s a funny old world because three weeks ago Max my neighbour, who owns the estancia next to mine, came to stay on his estancia and we got together as we always do to have a whisky or three. He mentioned that he had a small house far out in his campo, which is empty. Historically the house would have been used by a gaucho whose duties would have been to look after the cattle in the area of the house. The house is tiny (its called a puesto in Spanish) with a kitchen, bedroom and eating space (think Little House on the Prairie). Max said he would like to see it used and did we have any ideas for it – err what err yes we sure do. I said why don’t we arrange to have a ride out to the house and have lunch in the way of an asado to see how it all goes. Max enthusiastically agreed and the date was set last week and everything was organized. Last Wednesday excitedly ten of us set out to the little house on the prairie from La Margarita to La Torcaza and then on for the long ride to the Little Joe’s house ! It was a fantastic sunny day and the ride was a dream. Two hours later we arrived at the small house. The house is truly in the middle of nowhere – the setting is beautiful, it’s a place where you can forget about the rest of the world and all it’ s troubles – it’s a place where time has stood still – wonderful wonderful wonderful.

Getting lunch ready

The steak from Max’s estancia was already being prepared by Max’s staff who had gone out before us in true gaucho style to cook the asado and thirty minutes after arriving we all sat down to enjoy a great lunch of steak, chorizos and a couple of Raquel’s delicious salads, of course washed down with some great malbec wine . After lunch we all sat around chatting, drinking mate (or tea in my case) and taking in this great day and ride. The ride back was equally exhilarating and a couple of hours later we arrived back on La Torcaza and La Margarita tired but so happy we had the chance to enjoy this true gaucho ride out.

So happy were we with the ride and lunch we have decided to offer the ride to guests who stay on La Margarita. We are still in the planning stage but we felt that since many of our guests love riding and eating an asado this was a ride we just have to offer. Next week we are doing it all over again and I can’t wait. There may even be a possibility that guest can stay the night in the house - what a great experience – me first though!

This is David Cummings alias The English Gaucho saying a big thanks to Max for the use of the little house on the prairie - I owe you a whisky or two!

Hasta pronto