Hooves

One of the lasting impressions I have of Argentina and Chile are horses. Everywhere I looked there were horses. They pulled carts through the town of Mendoza, stepped quickly for merry, weathered gauchos, and shouldered food and supplies for the many mountaineers ascending high Andean peaks. I took photos of these horses with (Great) Aunt Darlene in mind. As always, click on the photo to enlarge.

Mural of a native on a horse, Puerto Natales, Chile.


Horses in a riverbed, Torres del Paine, Chile.


Pack horses being herded along a mountain valley, Parque Nacional Aconcagua, Argentina.



Pack animals ascending a trail, Parque Nacional Aconcagua, Argentina.


Pack animal at the base of the trail, Parque Nacional Aconcagua, Argentina.


Horses in a pirca, a hand-made stone fence, Alpa Corral, Argentina.

Horses awaiting riders, Alpa Corral, Argentina.


Dead mare, Alpa Corral, Argentina.

Horse near Alpa Corral, Argentina.

Gauchos breaking horses by tiring them out, Alpa Corral, Argentina.


Mules and saddles with built-in chaps to protect riders from the thorny desert, near Anquincila, Argentina.


Horses at dusk, Farellones, Chile.



Horses being herded at dusk, Farellones, Chile.



Horses at the refuge of Penitentes, Argentina.



Dead horse near river at Penitentes, Argentina.


Rider at Penitentes, Argentina.