The Historic and Modern Day Skills of the Gaucho in Argentina!
The Traditional Gaucho = A nomadic and colorful horseman of the Argentine and Uruguayan grasslands, who flourished from the mid-18th to the mid-19th century and has remained a folk hero similar to the cowboy in western North America.
Today, many of the same traditions and talents are used by gauchos on modern day ranches. Gauchos are expert cattlemen and even more important, they are master horse trainers and riders.
The Pampas is the region of Argentina where the gauchos are most abundant. The Pampas cover one fifth of the country. The Pampas was named for an Argentinean Indian word that means, "level land."
There are still many Gauchos today, but their way of life has changed dramatically. Their lifestyle changes are because the large ranches they used to work on became fenced in. They work hard mending fences and branding cattle. They round up herds of cattle and tend sheep.
Gauchos must care for the health of the cattle. If a cow is sick or in need of care, they use their horses to steer the cow (or several cattle) to a location where the animal can be helped.
Today, a ranch requires one gaucho for every 400 cattle. Each gaucho requires a minimum of five trained horses to work on the ranch. Horses are used hard. They work one day and rest for two. The ranch horses are highly skilled and trained specifically for each need the gaucho has during his workday.
Gauchos enjoy meat and they during yerba mate which is the Argentinean tea-like herbal drink. The mate has historically been served in a gourd and sipped through a silver straw called a bombilla.
Gauchos carry one weapon, a single knife called a boleadora, which is bound with leather strips.
Many years ago, Gouchos traveled the grasslands and didn't have a specific home. Due to this traveling nature, they carried their wealth and status on their belts. Above you can see a beautiful antique gaucho belt with silver coins attached and a large buckle that is inscribed with the owner's initials.
Gauchos wore a unique style of clothing. They wore a fringed poncho which was a square of cloth with a hole for the head. They also wore broad-brimmed hats. They wore long-sleeved cotton shirts and loose baggy pants called, "bombachas." Gauchos wore spurs and had a long knife at this side. Today, gaucho apparel has changed some from the traditional dress. Sometimes now, gauchos wear jeans instead of the traditional bombachas.
These videos show Gauchos as skilled horse riders. Everything demonstratefor Dr. Patschke are skills actually used on the ranch to care for the animals. The cattle have a strong respect for the horses. You'll notice that the horses are specifically trained to "sandwich" the cow and guide him where the rider intends him to go. Pay attention to how the horses lean into the cow.
Pretty awesome!!!
What will we learn about next?
You'll find out soon!
Check back often and stay connected!
Dr. Patschke
