Me and my trusty steed!

Just a quick note (will hopefully write at length when i can find better internet) to say I’M FINE, alive and generally fabulous! Argentina is absolutely wonderful – the house/casa is a lovely little place in the rural ‘pampas’ about an hour and a half south of Buenos Airies; I am sharing a room with two other lovely girls called Jemma and Imi (we three are the youngest at 19/18, however the whole group are gorgeous and I actually think it is nicer having a mix of ages).

The first morning we helped with the yearlings (horses of one year old) catching them and de-worming and cuddling them (the second morning we did the brood mares and their foals – so gorgeous! Foal wrestling is a new sport, they are so hard to catch.), also grooming and so on… Diego, our host is so relaxed, its funny he has all these ‘projects’ for ‘colonizing’ (aka doing up) the farm and we have to all be project managers – inevitably this has become a bit of a joke with a designated ‘lash manager‘ for party planning etc…

Another great lash!

Our 'swimming pool'

There is a converted-water-trough-pool which we spent our siesta at yesterday in the same field we’d turned the horses out in, so there we were swimming in the sun reaching out from time to time to stroke little Alfajor the Shetland pony (and mascot, he’s named after a chocolate). Blissful. We have had two ‘assados’, not sure I’ve spelt that right, essentially a barbeque, with the MOST INCREDIBLE beef and chorizo sausage. Oh and I haven’t even mentioned the polo!

Alfajor and his newest fans!

There are three of us who are completely new to it which was a bit of a relief so we’re all in the same boat but we’ve improved beyond recognition since the first day. The ponies we are riding are just amazing – a far cry from riding school ponies and difficult pets! The instructor has given us all nicknames which range from Spike to Britney to Squirrel and Butter (now there’s a story…). I’m Mini Cooper (also the name of one of his ponies). I think we’re going to get shirts made up. Also been practicing my ‘swing’ on the wooden horse we’ve christened ‘Senorita Woodita‘.

Imi demonstrates her new found Gaucho skills!

Sorry but I really have to go and join back in Gemma’s epic game of Pass the Pigs ‘Fuele la chancha!’ I keep getting called! We’re all wearing our polo helmets and drinking Fernet Branca (very Argentine!, also tried ‘Mate‘ earlier while cleaning tack with the grooms and Nano the farrier playing the tango on his guitar). I think the plan for tomorrow is Buenos Airies with some of the players from the polo club to show us around…
Update soon!
Hattie