Long Live the Argentine Gaucho

I have owned La Margarita for a number of years now and in that time I have seen a lot of things and also leaned a lot of things. But even after all this time this area where La Margarita is based delights and surprises me. Take yesterday for example. I had to go to Tapalque to pick up some supplies. I headed out on the one kilometre driveway that takes me to the road leading to Tapalque. As I approached the main entrance to La Margarita I saw a fantastic sight. There were hundreds of horses passing by La Margarita – horses as far as the eye could see. It was an exhilarating sight, really incredible. I watched fascinated. I luckily had my camera with me and took some photos. After the horses had passed the gauchos who were droving the horses arrived. I had a quick chat with them. One was the owner of the horses (that’s a lot of horses to own) and he explained that in Flores a town about 150 kilometres away had been held this year International Day of the Gaucho.

Nearly the finish if a 4 day drove as these horses reach Tapalque

Cowboys and Horses Argentina Style Passing La Margarita

He with his fellow gauchos had taken these three hundred or so horses to the show. As we talked it turned out he explained it was a four-day ride to get them there and obviously a four-day ride back. He invited us to his ranch in Bolívar some 100 kilometres away to see his operation and next year I will certainly go Those that say the days of the gauchos are numbered had better come here to have a look. From what I see the days of the gaucho are here to stay for a long time yet and if you love riding and the romance of the gaucho you won’t pick a better place than around La Margarita

This is David Cummings alias The English Gaucho hasta pronto

The Dia del Gaucho (Day of the Gaucho) is what the title says really. It’s in fact more than a day normally taking in the whole weekend. Each year a town is chosen to hold this fascinating event. It’s an unbelievable festival of horses and the gauchos who work with them. Here the horse is king and the chosen town is shut town to cars and given over to horses and the gauchos. A few years ago it was held in Tapalque and it was a jaw dropping experience.