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Nuestros Caballos is a national horse event that takes place in Palermo, Argentina. Organised by various breed associations, this event brings together breeders from across the country to showcase their horses and what they have to offer. Here the best breeders from all over Argentina meet, show and compete. Nuestros Caballos is an event that spans over 5-days where more than 1000 horses roam around in the heart of the capital. At the exposition you can find the following breeds: Criollo, Quarter, Petiso Argentino, Silla Argentino, Peruvian Paso and Appaloosa. But it isn't just a horse show. In addition to competitions in various disciplines, there are presentations on equine therapy, the Horseball World Cup, Monty Roberts' introduction to Argentina, and much more.
This blog is written by Stine Andersen. Check out her Instagram here.
The largest equine therapy foundation in Argentina is Equinoterapia del Azul in Salta, founded by Elena Cataldi in 2005. Today, the organisation has over 50 volunteers who assist with day-to-day operations. They primarily work with children who have cerebral palsy, autism, and other severe disabilities. Elena Cataldi has also brought members of her team to Nuestros Caballos to introduce visitors to the impactful work they do.
Nuestros Caballos invited Monty Roberts to demonstrate his techniques in horse training. Monty’s team first visited Argentina in 2017, and since then, they have returned several times, now introducing the Join-Up method across the country. They host clinics at Estancias for those interested in learning, and after each clinic, they show the gauchos working at the Estancia how they train the horses. At Nuestros Caballos, they brought in an untrained horse, and in just an hour and a half, a gaucho was riding it in the arena. The gaucho is an iconic figure for the locals, symbolising that anyone can succeed in this, not just "foreigners".
In Argentina, traditional doma (horsebreaking) is the most common method used to tame horses. It’s a practice passed down through generations of gauchos, and it remains rooted in their history. The traditional approach tends to be more brutal, focused on dominating the horse. In contrast, many other countries use methods centred on patience and desensitisation. Introducing a new way of training in Argentina hasn’t been easy, but interest in these alternative methods is growing rapidly.
Training centres, such as Los Cocos Doma, that have adopted this new approach are seeing better results and healthier, more well-rounded horses. As a result, there's been a noticeable increase in demand for training methods that prioritise patience over traditional, forceful techniques.
You may not have heard of it, but the 5th World Cup in Horseball took place for the very first time outside of Europe. Horseball originated in France and is a relatively new sport, first invented in the 1970s. International development began in the early 90s, with Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and Portugal joining in. Today, countries like Argentina, Uruguay, Japan, Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Kyrgyzstan, and Australia will all be competing in the World Cup 2025. Horseball combines elements of basketball and rugby. In Argentina, the game Pato is very popular, and Horseball is quite similar to it, though there are some differences in the rules and equipment.
Maria Pastrana, who played in the 2025 World Cup, invited me to meet the Argentine team and learn more about the sport. Most of the players are experienced in Pato and were invited to play Horseball because of that. While the men’s team had previous experience, this was the first year the women’s team participated in Horseball. Despite only having six weeks to prepare and get to know their teammates, they didn’t make it to the finals, but they still played exceptionally well together.
In horseball there are four players in the field and two extra. You can change whenever you want and make as many changes as you want. They only have the six horses that are playing, which is different from the Pato, where you have extra horses as the match is very tiring for the horses. To score, teams must complete three passes between teammates before attempting a goal, and a player can only hold the ball for a maximum of ten seconds. You play 2 x 10 minutes.
Horseball is a fast-paced and, at times, intense sport where opposing teams aggressively compete to steal the ball. While it is still relatively new in Argentina, having been played for only 4-5 years, it has gained significant popularity, particularly in the province of Buenos Aires. The sport utilises English saddles, which can be uncomfortable for players accustomed to the Pato style of riding. Unlike the Pato saddle, which features a front handle to help players bend down and grab the ball, the Horseball saddle has straps running from the cinch to the stirrups, offering greater stability for the rider.
A total of 280 horses participated in the World Cup, all from Argentina. These horses are specially trained for either polo or Pato, showcasing the country’s deep equestrian heritage.
Dating back to 1924, Argentina formed The Asociación de Fomento Equino with the purpose of maintaining a registry for high-quality SPC mixed breeds. Initially named Anglo Argentino, the breed ceased to be categorized as a type in 1941 and was officially recognized as a breed by the AAFE (Argentine Association for Equine Promotion). In 1982, the breed was renamed Silla Argentino. This breed is very similar to the Thoroughbred racing horses, though it is more robust, making it ideal for show jumping.
The Asociación de Fomento Equino is focused on improving the Silla Argentino for export, and last year, they invested one million Euros toward this goal. In Argentina they have all the good conditions for breeding. They have the climate and space but they are missing the genetics. They import semen from Europe and inseminate Argentine mares. When the foals are born, they are considered Silla Argentinos, as they are born in Argentina. Currently, Argentina exports around 800 horses per year, primarily to Brazil, the USA, and Mexico.
The Petiso Argentino has been in Argentina for about 50 years. It is a cross between the Criollo and either the Welsh or Shetland pony. Laureano Oliver, Secretary of the Argentine Petiso Argentino Breeders' Association, imports Welsh ponies and crosses them with the Criollo. Due to the larger Argentine campo, the Welsh ponies have more space, which leads to a different temperament compared to their European counterparts. Argentina exports its Petisos to Chile and the United States. In Chile, they are used for jumping and polo, while In the United States, they are used for hunting.
The maximum height for a Petiso Argentino is 1.37 meters. Any ponies taller than this do not qualify as Petiso Argentino. These ponies are excellent for children, offering a gateway into the world of polo and show jumping. It is common for children to begin riding Petisos and, as they grow, transition to riding polo ponies or Silla Argentinos. The interest for the Petiso Argentino has increased a lot in the last few years. This growing interest can be attributed to both a shift toward more "modern" horse training methods in Argentina and the Petiso's temperament, particularly when it is a Criollo-Welsh cross. It makes for an ideal first pony and a great teacher for children.
The approach to training horses in Argentina has also evolved. Gauchos are now embracing a more respectful and patient training style, inspired by practices in other countries. This shift has fostered mutual respect between horse and rider, moving away from traditional training methods. At Nuestros Caballos they competed in Prueba de Doma which is a competition where you show easy control of your horse, it’s responsive and tame. You show the horse ridden in walk, trot and canter. The horse needs to stand still when you jump on and off. Allow you to lift all four legs, crawl underneath the horse and stand on top, as demonstrated in the photo underneath.
The appaloosa has been in Argentina for about 20 years. It was imported from the US and in Argentina it’s commonly used in polo, jumping or working in the countryside. You have endless variabilities for crossbreeding depending on what kind of horse you wish. For a horse with excellent stamina and speed, the Appaloosa can be crossed with an Arabian. If you're looking for a strong, durable working horse, crossing the Appaloosa with a Criollo is an ideal choice.
The Quarter Horse has been in Argentina for 45 years. Known for its great temperament and versatility, this breed is highly valued in the country. When breeding Quarter Horses, there are typically two types: working horses and racing horses. In Argentina, they are primarily used as working horses, especially for activities like cutting and reining. In Argentina the Quarter horses are mostly exported to Chile.
The Argentine Association of Peruvian Paso Horse Breeders was founded in 1980. The Peruvian Paso horse, originally introduced from Peru, has been in Argentina since the 16th century. The association was created with the goal of expanding knowledge and awareness of the breed beyond the province of Salta. It also provided a platform for breeders to collaborate more easily. In the 1990s, the association began participating in exhibitions outside of Salta, and today, Peruvian Paso breeders can be found in provinces like Buenos Aires. This breed is highly versatile, often used for both countryside work and tasks traditionally performed by Criollo horses.
The Argentine Criollo has been in Argentina since 1918 and is the most common horse breed in South America. It is widely used in the Argentine countryside and is known as the gaucho's loyal companion. With its strength and courageous personality, the Criollo is an exceptional working horse, adept at handling both cattle and sheep. Despite its robustness, it remains quick and highly responsive. In 2017, the Criollo horse was declared the national horse and cultural heritage of Argentina.
