Estancia Los Potreros

After what has been an unusually cold winter, we have been delighted to see this week the first signs of spring. The first blossom has appeared and all of the trees are now in bud.

We have bought and planted another 30 fruit and nut trees, and Teleri and Lou are also busy setting about the vegetable gardens, although there is no sign of our first spring rains as yet. Other than that, we are waiting expectantly for the first foal to be born, we think in the next week or so, and there is also one very pregnant fluffy cat wandering around . . .!

1. Take one ‘pato’ or duck . . .

2. Find a great horse to ride . . .

3. Then add a few more at speed . . .

4. Mix in a bit of Argy-bargy . . .

5. Always keep your eye on the ball . . .

6. It is all about scoring goals . . .

7. And always remember to keep at least one toe in the stirrups!

 

Pato - coming to an estancia near you soon! 

 

 

. . .it´s Harry Bullivant and his hydrofoil kite!

 

We were sorry to say goodbye this week to Gordon and Tracy, two of our volunteer guides, who have headed off on their continuing travels this week. ‘Gordo y Crazy’ as they were affectionately known, were with us for 6 weeks as part of an epic (but rather belated given their age!) gap year. We were very lucky that they came by us on their way round to help us out, and we would like to thank them and wish them all the best for their adventures from all of us here.

Today we brought in all of our pregnant mums from their field to check them over and make sure all was well for their impending foaling. We have 20 mares in foal this year - twice our normal number. This is mainly due to the recent addition of a thoroughbred stallion to our herd, who has been busy and is expecting to be a father to 10 of our newcomers! The rest are to Paso Peruano stallions - both our own and from the local stud. It´s going to be busy in the creche this year . . .

2 years young today . . .

 . . .of our new round corral . . .

Robin and Teleri have just bought 100 new trees for the estancia, as part of our ongoing commitment to protecting natural resources and responsible tourism. With the wetter than usual summer that we had this year the trees should do well, and will be in the ground just in time for the first rains of spring.

Our latest acquisition is ‘Esperanza’, a sweet strawberry roan mare with a white ´pampita´face which is very typical colouring for criollo horses. She is 7 years old and has just had a foal, and so just returning to work. She has only been ridden lightly so far, and the poor thing finds the countryside a little spooky . . .so many scary blades of grass and shadowy twigs!

She has been turned out in a field with a couple of new friends to help her settle, and we are sure it won’t be long before she is entertaining our guests . . .