Horse Riding in Cafayate

  Cafayate, Salta Province, Argentina Sunday, May 22, 2016

We found out about this by accident. We were in the tour office in the main square and absent-mindedly picked up this bookmark. On it was a panoramic photograph of the countryside and some horses. We liked the look of it and checked out the website printed on it. It looked like a nice day out, riding around the outskirts of the town so we dropped them an email. We got a very prompt response and that was that. All sorted we were going riding on Sunday. Personally, we can't think of a better way to enjoy a Sunday than chilling out on the back of a horse, soaking up the countryside around us. They picked us up nice and early and took us out on the same road we had already been up twice - once when we arrived in Cafayate and the second time just two days ago when we went to the canyon. Still it was a pretty road so we didn't mind too much. We turned off left part of the way into the canyon and down a dirt road which led to the farm. Here we were introduced to Great Uncle so & so who owned the horses and ran the farm. It was a very out of the way kind of place. Hidden by a few trees and nestled into a bit of a green dip in the landscape but was surrounded by desert. Our host for the day was Roddy (spoke no English) and Theresa (you can call me Reecey) who was Austrian and had been here in Argentina for a couple of years now. She also explained that before we could go riding we had to catch the horses first. She led us out into a field and there we saw 5 horses. All knew what was coming and they didn't want to be caught! One in particular really caught our eye. Just like the horses we saw at the show in Trujillo, she was running with her legs high in front of her and was so beautiful and graceful to watch. Still, be caught she must and we set to work helping Roddy to funnel them all from one field to the next to get them into a smaller area where hopefully, he stood a better chance of catching one. Once in the small paddock Great Uncle came out to join us and show us how real men catch horse. With a lasso of course! He made short work of lassoing them but when it came to the white horse (appropriately named Blanca - White in English) we had to laugh. His lasso missed her head but the rope landed across her neck. Instantly she stopped running and stood still to have a head collar put on her. The very feel of the rope lying on her neck had tricked her into believing she had been caught and gave up. We thought horses were supposed to be really intelligent - not this one apparently. It was very funny. Well once they were collared we led them out into the yard where we could saddle them up. The saddles were not like English saddles at all and were sort of built up using different parts and layers that all fit together to make the most comfortable saddles we have ever sat in. Roddy wasn't into all that hassle though. No he just put a small blanket on his horse and that was it. No saddle for him - a real cowboy. Off we all went - Bryan on Blanca, Jody on Selena - the Peruan who prances beautifully and Roddy and Reecey. We walked through the desert avoiding cactus - giant and small ones - the horses clearly had their eyes on the small ones on the ground. Roddy would relate something to Reecey who would translate things for us. This mountain is called the Little Fox - no there isn't a big fox. Pumas and armadillos live here. Watch out for the holes in the ground - snakes often live in them. Keep an eye out for the giant hares that live here too - the dogs often chase them. Yes we were again followed by the dogs from the farm. Seems like they love to get out and about too but they clearly knew to keep a safe distance from those hooves. Talking of hooves - only Blanca had shoes on. Around 10:30 am Reecy & Roddy stop on an area of level ground and get off their horses. We do the same and for the first time ever, after getting off a horse our backsides didn't feel like they had been sitting on a horse for a couple of hours! Reecey had laid out a picnic of local goats cheese, Fresh bread, some cake her sister-in-law had made and a small bottle of wine! Wow - this is how to spend a Sunday. We stayed there for about an hour. The sun had come out whilst we were riding so it was so peaceful it would have been tempting to lie back and have a snooze if it wasn't for all those tiny little spiky cactus plants on the ground. Well head back we must and the last part of the road back was level and clear enough for us to have a bit of a canter. Bryan was fine but Jody was on the Peruan horse and her prancy stride made it very very bouncy on top. Actually Jody wonders how on earth she stayed on - you couldn't sit in the saddle and standing in the stirrups was even harder. Having said that, the horse was so pretty to watch as she ran that Jody went back up the lane and cantered back again just so bryan could try and get some of the horse on video. Jody is the second rider in this clip. We had a really lovely day out with Roddy & Reecey. This was a new business for them and we are sure this will really take off for them. They have a beautiful spot and lovely gentle horses and a wonderful picnic to offer people. (This is starting to feel like a Trip Advisor review now). We shall remember this as one of the nicest things we did in Argentina.