Estancia El Ombu de Areco and the horse whisperer...

We headed out early to San Antonio de Areco.  Before we went to the El Ombu de Areco ranch - we visited the Draghi Cultural Centre and Workshop where they explained the silversmith history and skills especially highlighting the buckles, knives, saddles and stirrups of the gauchos. Juan Jose Draghi learnt silversmithing via correspondence courses and he did beautiful work.  His family continues his work and is known nationally and internationally for their silver pieces. The daughter designs and creates beautiful jewelry pieces - yup - you guessed it - we could not resist - I bought some lovely ear rings.
After the shopping we headed out to the ranch where we went horseback riding and had a delicious BBQ lunch on the front veranda. Here are a few photos. The lasts ones are of a gaucho working with a horse - really a horse whisperer - fascinating the trust between horse and rider.

Marc getting ready to ride

Dana

Dana and Marc in the distance taken by me on a horse

My horse kept wanting to trot but managed this one before things got shaky.

This is the gaucho with his horse who he just asked to lay down

then he laid down with the horse and then rolled the horse over and kissed her

this horse stood perfectly still as the gaucho crawled under and between her legs

amazing and then he invited the guest to sit with the horse on the ground