Hacienda La Alegria - the first day

Our first full day at the hacienda and we weren't sure what to expect.  Breakfast was a large affair with cereal, yoghurt, pineapple (yum!), croissants, bread, scrambled eggs, coffee, tea . . . Mindfull that lunch had been at 2pm the day before we ate a lot - and just as well.  The weather was again bitterly cold and on and off rainy.  Our minimalist selection of travel clothes did not seem up to the task . . .

First up - horse riding!  We were to be in the photos so the chagras (cowboys) saddled up the horses.  We were issued with ponchos, helmets and Ben had the priviledge of wearing Gabriel's chaps - seriously heavy leather with some kind of animal fur outer.  Ben looked a little concerned by the whole thing, but at least he looked the part, the horses were little and it wasn't far to fall :-)

We mounted in the little ring to have a quick practise.  The horses are well looked after and beautifully trained, though Ben's one quickly realised who was in charge.  After a short while we'd got the hang of neck reining, the chagras mounted up, complete with their own woolly chaps, and we set off to pose for photos.

An hour later we had posed, walked and trotted around the hacienda in the rain.  Ponchos are fantastic things - not only are they warm, but they keep the rain off most of you.

Then it was time for something new for me - vaulting!  I certainly didn't expect to be vaulting in South America. The horse was a lovely Percheron cross and it was all done at a slow trot.  Before I started Ben had a practise at riding on the lunge - with photographic evidence!

Vaulting (haha, not really sure that what I did could be termed that) was a total blast - I'm very keen to have another go at it.

After that we drove a couple of minutes down to the cave to pose for wine and cheese tasting.  This whole area is volcanic, hence the name The Avenue of Volcanos,so there are a number of natural caves, including one with bats.  This one is a combination of a natural cave with water flowing through it and a hand carved cheese  room.  It is quite beautiful with the layers of rock and pumice clearly visible.

Some quick photos then back to the horses - this time to watch the chagras demonstrating their skills with los toros (the bulls).  They are small but extremely feisty little animals.  The chagras use a rolled leather rope and it doesn't stay in an open loop like the rope the American cowboys use.  There is enormous skill involved to throw it round a quickly moving bull, then daly it round the horn and have the horse take the strain.  The speed with which they ride, handle the rope and know what the other rider is doing is truly impressive.

The first toro went well, but trouble started with the second one.  Firstly, he refused to come out of the yards and as there wasn't an easy chute and no-one was going to get in there with them it was quite a challenge.  Secondly, once he was finally out, he proceeded to show us all how unimpressed he was with the whole affair by repeatedly charging the horses.  Luckily he only had little stubby horns, so no damage was done.

The helpers on the ground had to get involved at different times and I'm afraid all of us found this incredibly entertaining as he would charge them as well.  When he was finally roped by both chagras the second rope then broke, so another entertaining interlude followed.  And all the time everyone was helped by a black and white heading dog, who also got charged on occasion.

I was a little sad when it was finished - not only had the speed and skill of the chagras been amazing to watch, but as entertainment on the farm it was quite unmatched :-)  (Neither horses, bulls nor people were harmed in the process :-))

The biggest news of the day - Ben declared that he actually liked riding!  Once he got the hang of the neck reining he thought it was quite easy, especially with a very well trained horse.  When in a group he could switch on autopilot and the horse would follow the others.  Of course he then proceeded to assure me that this did not mean he is going to take up horse riding when we return to NZ!