n the sprawling traditional estancias
(ranches) of Patagonia, gauchos and other
hired hands keep things running in winter and
summer for the "Patron", or landowner, who
usually lives for most of the year in a distant
town, in Buenos Aires or even abroad. The
Gauchos, however, heirs of a great Argentine
tradition of expert horsemen, often live alone
for months at a time at these remote
estancias, without telephone or transportation
other than their horses. They have their
hands full keeping track of the herds of sheep
and cows and moving them from one pasture
to the other, caring for the other animals on
the estancia, breaking and training horses,
cutting and stacking hay and firewood, and
doing constant battle with the ferocious
Patagonia weather.
