South America ~ Argentina ~ Corrientes

Riding: 3-6 hours a day or tailored to suit

Horses: Criollo and farm bred crosses

Pace: varied, tailored to suit (fast to moderate on Gaucho Ride)

Riding ability: novice to experienced riders; families welcome (intermediate and above on Gaucho Ride)

Weight limit: about 95kg (15 stone) but contact us if you are 90kg (14st 2lbs) or over

Accommodation: comfortable estancia

Group size: maximum 12 (max 6 for polo weeks)

The horses are local criollo and polo ponies, most have been bred on the farm and are well schooled and used to cattle work and polo so a responsive ride. Saddles are Argentine (very comfortable with big sheepskins) or polo saddles. The horses are ridden in pelham bits with a loose rein and light hands. Saddle bags are provided where necessary.

Hours: When staying at the estancia there is usually about 4 to 6 hours riding a day with breaks for rests and lunch, although hours are flexible and tailored to suit. On the Gaucho Rides there is about 6 hours riding each day, with a long lunch break. During polo weeks there is usually about 4 to 5 hours riding with concentrated practice in the morning and matches in the afternoon.

Pace and experience required: Estancia based rides suit riders of various ability levels. As a minimum you must have some previous riding experience and be fairly fit. You should be comfortable and in control on a well schooled horse at a walk, trot and canter and used to riding in open country. Experienced riders will have responsive forward going horses and fun riding but there are also sensible, steady schoolmasters, and riding hours can be adjusted, for less experienced riders. The pace is varied with opportunities for canters and some slower days. The Gaucho Rides are for intermediate riders and above only and pace is moderate to fast, covering about 50km a day and changing horses regularly.

There are 6 guest bedrooms at La Rosita, all with en-suite bathrooms, they are simple but comfortable, quite old fashioned and furnished in traditional 'estancia' style.
When on the Gaucho Rides you stay at three other estancias - again accommodation is simple but comfortable though there may be shared bathrooms on some nights.
The Estancias are homes belonging to your hosts and are very much homes rather than hotels. You are looked after with true Gaucho hospitality. There is a swimming pool at La Rosita and also one of the other estancias on the Gaucho Ride.
Dinner is usually served in the family dining room and lunches and breakfast outside on the verandah or on tables set up under the palm trees in the garden.
You will be well fed with traditional Correntino cooking and plenty of excellent Argentine beef and lamb (vegetarians can be catered for with advance warning)

The meeting point for the Gaucho Rides is Buenos Aires. For flights from London budget around £700 to £750 economy return (varies with season and availability). British Airways has direct flights from London to Buenos Aires, or Iberia and Aerolineas Argentinas fly via Madrid. For Polo weeks and stays at the Estancia transfers from / to Buenos Aires are not included but can easily be arranged either by bus or private vehicle.

Itinerary in brief (Gaucho Ride)
Met from your flight or hotel in Buenos Aires and transfer to the bus station for a Luxury Sleeper Bus departing 21:00hs to Esquina (dinner included).