Length of stay:
A minimum of 3 months for long-term volunteering and horse training.
In the months of sheep shearing and insemination extra hands are always welcome for the month.
Number of volunteers:
2 people - preferably a couple. One with knowledge and interest in training horses and one who isn’t scared of getting their hands dirty and hard work.
If you're a solo traveler interested in this volunteer experience, don’t hesitate to send a direct message to Estancia La Isabel for more information (link at the end of the blog). If there are no couples or friends volunteering, the Estancia can host up to two solo volunteers at the same time. You’ll be connected with the other volunteer before your arrival.
When:
All year around. Be aware of the rough winters in Patagonia (June - August).
Other requirements:
Previous volunteer experience is required.
Experience in riding and handling horses.
Comfortable riding out alone and tacking up horses.
Basic Spanish is required.
Age: 25+. Exceptions can be made depending on previous work experience
Please read the full blog to make sure you meet the criteria and you understand the work involved in the volunteer experience.
This blog is written by Stine Andersen. Check out her Instagram here.
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is a family-run estancia in Argentina, focused on livestock farming. They manage approximately 7,000 sheep, 600 cows, and 38 horses, which are either trained, in training, or yearlings. The estancia has been part of the family for generations. They now want to start working with volunteers as they need some extra hands around the estancia and wish to share the experience of rural life in the Argentine countryside. The estancia is located approx. 30 km from Coyhaique, Chile - a popular travel destination for tourists from around the world and the perfect place to spend your days off.
The family does not live at the estancia but instead resides by the coast. One or two family members travel to the estancia every two weeks, staying for a few days depending on the workload. The manager visits once a month and stays for a week. One of the gauchos lives right next to the main house and is available to help and answer any questions volunteers may have. In the summer (December to March/April), another gaucho lives at the far end of the property to care for the cattle. From April to November, he moves closer to the main house and the winter pastures.
When new volunteers arrive, a family member will always be there to welcome you, show you around, get to know you, and teach you the work at the estancia. If you ever need anything, you can always contact a family member by text or call.
It is very important that you speak Spanish, as the gauchos only communicate in Spanish. While some members of the family speak English, you will primarily be interacting with the gauchos, so Spanish will be essential for daily communication.
As a volunteer, it's important that you're comfortable working independently. While there will be two volunteers at the estancia, you won't always be working together. The estancia needs help with training their young horses. This process starts from scratch — handling the horses and gaining their trust. As you know, training a horse is a long-term commitment, which is why the volunteer position is designed for an extended period. This is a great opportunity to learn and immerse yourself in the experience of rural life in the Argentine countryside.
You need to have prior experience in horse training, both for your safety and the horses' well-being. The horses are trained in the Argentine style, and if you have experience with the "gaucho way" or Western riding, it will be a big advantage. The gaucho at the estancia will also assist with the first rides if needed. As you may know from past experience, it can be challenging to change the approach of a trainer who is accustomed to traditional methods. However, the gaucho at the estancia can teach you the Argentine way of riding, the tack, and answer any questions you may have. He works patiently and trains the horses from the ground — no fancy horsemanship techniques, but he is understanding and show empathy for the animals.
The second volunteer will be responsible for maintenance tasks, including cutting trees, clearing paths, fencing, and helping out wherever needed. Below, you will find a yearly plan for the estancia and the different work tasks involved. You won’t always be working “alone”. You will also be working together with the maintenance work and the horse training. It all depends on where help is needed.
Workdays can vary, sometimes requiring up to 12 hours of work, while other days may only be 2 hours. The workload depends on various factors, including the tasks at hand and the weather. Located in the south of Patagonia, in the Cordillera, the weather can range from sunny, clear skies to strong winds and rainstorms. Since it's in Patagonia, it's important to bring waterproof clothes and shoes. The weather can be unpredictable, shifting from a sunny summer day to thunderstorms and rain in no time. It is important that you are in good physical condition, as the work involves a lot of manual labor and hard physical effort. During the months when the sheep or cows need to be gathered for shearing or insemination, there is a significant amount of riding involved, assisting the gauchos and the family on horseback.
The estancia is looking for two volunteers, preferably a couple or friends who are comfortable living and working together for an extended period. You will have your own private cabin, which includes two bedrooms, one bathroom, and an open living room and kitchen. The cabin is fully equipped with everything you need for cooking and living. Generally, you will have the house to yourselves, but during busy months, you may need to share it with another volunteer who will be helping out for the month.
Food will be provided, but you will be responsible for cooking your own meals. You will generally work 5 days a week with 2 days off. However, days off can be flexible depending on the workload. You can take your two days off consecutively or save them up to take four days off in a row, as long as it is planned in advance.
January: Separation of sheep
February: Start of lamb and calf sales.
March: Preparation for winter begins. The estancia buys hay for the colder months. This is also the time when the forest is more accessible, and the roads are clear, making it the peak season for cutting trees, clearing roads, and preparing firewood.
April: The sheep shearing season begins, and the sheep receive their facial cuts. This is a lot of work, as all the sheep need to be brought down to the shearing shed and processed.
May: By the end of May, preparations for sheep insemination start. The vet injects hormones into the sheep to synchronise their heat cycle. The wethers are given testosterone and marked with red paint on their bellies so farmers can easily identify which sheep are in heat.
June: Insemination of the sheep begins. Additionally, the hay purchased in March needs to be moved to various storage sheds located at the different winter pastures, ensuring easy access when extra feeding is needed.
July - August: Official winter months, bringing cold weather! During winter, work focuses on going to the different pastures to feed the sheep and cows. Part of the routine includes checking water sources to ensure animals can access water.
End September - start October: Sheep shearing season begins! Shearing can take anywhere from 5 to 10 days, depending on the weather. If it's dry for several days in a row, shearing can be done quickly. However, during storms or wet weather, it can take much longer, as the wool must be dry to shear.
November - December: Cow insemination takes place during these months, following the same routine as with the sheep.
For the Busy Months
During the busy months, extra hands are always appreciated. If you're available for a month and want to lend a hand with tasks such as sheep shearing or insemination, feel free to reach out to Estancia La Isabel for more details and availability.
The easiest way to reach the estancia is by taking a bus from Coyhaique, Chile, and crossing the border into Argentina. The nearest town in Argentina is Dr. Ricardo Rojas. The bus goes to Aldea Beleiro, which is 10km away from La Isabel. Here someone from the Estancia or the family will pick you up.
You can contact La Isabel here. Please send a message including a brief resume with information about your previous work and volunteer experience, what kind of volunteering you would be interested in, when you'd be available to volunteer, and a little about yourself.
