The Gauchos of Estancia La Fortuna, Argentina

Old gaucho

La Fortuna French villa

Gauchos ride a breed called the Argentina Criollo or creole. The horse is fast, short legs and wide body. It was bred to handle the cattle of the pampas.

This guy could star in any spaghetti western.

A gaucho's belt not only holds up his baggy pants, it also holds his knife and becomes a status symbol with the coin decorations.

Gaucho's warm smile made everyone feel welcomed

The old gaucho changed hats for the race.

This young gaucho was trying to be so serious, smiled after my wife told him that he was the handsomist gaucho there.

Gauchos typically wear two types of hats, the leather brim hat and the beret. This gaucho wears the beret. I liked this photograph because all you can see under his beret is the catch light in both eyes.

Two young gauchos

Argentina folk dancers

Singing gaucho

This young gaucho looked so serious but my wife got him to smile after she told him that he was the handsomest gaucho there.,

Coals from a wood fire were picked up with a shovel and placed under the meat.

In addition to beef, we were also served roasted chicken.

These ribs were so juicy and tasty. They were cooked just like you see them.

Sortija

This gaucho game is called sortija. It consists of a metal ring, which is placed high on an arch suspended on a string. Gauchos have to catch the small ring with a long wooden lance about the size of a pencil all the while at a full gallop on horseback. This game takes great horseman skills as well as a steady arm and sharp eyesight. The reward is always a kiss from a girl he chooses among the spectators. This old gaucho caught the ring and then gave it to my wife, Mary Alice, along with a kiss on the cheek. I think it was because of her excellent Spanish and good looks. His horse is a Criollo breed (in Spanish), or Crioulo (in Portuguese). It is the native horse of Uruguay (1910), Argentina (1918), Brazil (1932) and Paraguay brought to South America by the Spanish conquistadors. The horse breed has a reputation for long-distance endurance linked to a low basal metabolism. The breed, known for its hardiness and stamina, is popular in its home countries. This is the breed horse of the gauchos. Distinguishing features: Compact and strong, straight or convex head, broad chest, well-developed joints, small in stature. The gauchos are superb horsemen and take pride in their animals. I caught the old gaucho giving his horse a shower after the games. Check out the gallery: https://birdshooter.smugmug.com/SouthAmerica/The-Gauchos-of-Estancia-La/

Gauchos wear a long knife on their belt called a "facon". It is primarily used to butcher beef cattle, their main staple.

Gauchos wear a silver belt to hold up their pants (bombachas). The belts are often decorated with silver and coins and are a status symbol with other gaucho and the girls.

This guy was the enduring image of the gaucho that stayed with us.

These gauchos and chinas performed traditional Argentina folk dances.

He drove one of the buggies.

Wife's horseback ride

Dancing with the bolleros

Cooling the horses down after the race

The gaucho's wife is known as a "china". I'm not sure if this girl was married but she could really dance.

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Gaucho taxi