Located half an hour north of Puerto Natales, Galope Austral is very accessible. Run by Charlotte and Enrique you are in safe hands during your stay and it’s the perfect place to learn about the Chilean horse culture, riding and life in the countryside. Charlotte began her Patagonia adventure working at different estancias for 4 years before starting her own horseback rides. Besides offering rides, she also sets time aside to train horses for the regional endurance horse races found in Chilean Patagonia. Galope Austral offers rides from half-day to multi-day rides.
Book now: horse riding holiday in Chile
Horse riding holidays in Argentinian Patagonia:
12 Day Horse Riding Tour in the Magical Atlantic Coast of Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina
6 Day Intermediate to Advanced Horse Riding Holiday in Northern Patagonian Andes, Argentina
4 Day Horse Riding Holiday in Northern Patagonian Andes, Argentina
Length of stay:
Minimum one month – the full season.
Number of volunteers:
1 person
When:
October – April.
Other requirements:
Previous volunteer experience is needed.
Experience in riding and handling horses.
Comfortable riding out alone and tacking up horses.
Basic Spanish is required. English is required.
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 reel from this experience here.
They currently have 12 horses which, consists of purebred Chilean horses and Criollos, but you can also find part-Quarter and Arabian horses. The horses are trained for any level of rider and are the perfect tour horses, whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider. Apart from 12 horses, they also have five dogs and one cat. Enrique trains his dogs to work with cows and horses, and it is very impressive to watch as the dogs herd them.
And even though they are working dogs, they also love attention and pets.
All their horses get along. They can walk side by side as well as in a line. They are not nose-to-tail horses. On the rides, you will ride in a line when on narrow paths, but in big open fields, you can ride next to each other. During their day rides, I was amazed that complete beginners, who had never even been standing next to a horse before - let alone touched one - got the opportunity to trot and canter. And everyone always loved the ride, and the horses. As you are riding with guests, you will need to the tell them during the ride to shorten their reins, how to trot and canter, lean forward when going uphill and back when going downhill, and sometimes even remind them to breathe. The guests usually have lots of questions about horses and riding, as well as the differences between trot, canter and gallop.
Charlotte and Enrique have a great understanding of horses and you can learn a lot about the Chilean countryside and the gaucho lifestyle. It is a very authentic experience, as you will also be introduced to the local gauchos and some very interesting personalities. Their neighbour is a true gaucho, and when he is working at the Estancia you have the chance to talk to him - if you speak Spanish. Maybe he will even invite you to share a mate (the drink of choice for the gauchos). Enrique has endless stories about capturing wild horses, taming horses, and he can teach you everything you need to know about the gauchos and their culture.
Charlotte speaks English, French and Spanish, while Enrique speaks Spanish and English. In the house, the preferred language is Spanish. The guests usually speak English, but sometimes only Spanish or French.
Charlotte and Enrique need help wherever it’s needed. In the morning, they ride out to look for the herd and then bring them back down to the corral. Afterwards, the horses need to be tacked up for the day’s ride and when the guests arrive, you help with instructions, helmets and chaps. Once riding out, you need to either guide at the front or supervise in the back. Chat with guests and make sure everyone is comfortable. The majority of guests are absolute beginners and some are intermediate to experienced riders. The guests come from all over the world.
It’s important that you are comfortable talking to new people every day and that you are an extrovert. You need to be a confident rider, comfortable riding different horses, and able to react before an accident happens. It is very common for guests with no riding experience to lean to one side, and you need to make them aware of this. When they get on the horse for the first time, they are usually nervous and you need to talk to them and help them steer their horse until they feel comfortable.
There is no set schedule for working. It depends on the day and what time of the day they have trail rides. Some days the rides are in the morning, and others in the afternoon. When the rides are in the morning, you need to go out early to look for the horses, but when it is in the afternoon, it is calmer and you can ride out later.
On the days they have full-day rides, it’s about 6-7 hours of riding and before that, you need to help tack up the horses and get them ready. Even though it’s full days of working it doesn’t feel like work.
A day could look like this: tack up the horses, guide the 3-hour horse ride activity, come back for lunch, and in the afternoon, clean out the stall, grease the tack or clean the saddle pads.
In exchange for volunteering, Galop Austral will provide food and accommodation. You will be staying in a small house together with Enrique and Charlotte. You have your own room and the freedom to close the door when you need to. Staying with Enrique and Charlotte is like being part of a family. You are around each other every day, working and living together. Everyone helps out where needed. One cooks, the other cleans. One goes to get the herd, while the others tack up the horses or guide the ride. Everyone helps out where they can.
It is rural and there aren’t unlimited amounts of water. During the day, they use energy from their solar panel, and you can charge your phone and smaller devices. In the evening, they turn on the generator, and you can shower, wash clothes and anything that needs a bigger power source will be switched on. There is no phone signal, but they have Wi-Fi.
During your time off, you have endless options for exploring. Galope Austral is 30 minutes outside of Puerto Natales and you can take a bus or taxi right out front. Torres del Paine national park is about an hour away, and you can plan your days off and go overnight hiking in the park. Patagonia is famous for their endless outdoor activities, and they have hundreds of hikes and experiences. Enrique and Charlotte are also more than happy to give you tips on where to go.
It is very important you bring warm clothes. The summers are windy and can get cold. The weather in the mountains change very quickly, and rain gear is a must! Hiking boots are great for both riding and hiking. They will definitely come in handy for both traveling and working.
Also read: What to pack for a horse riding holiday in Patagonia
You can check out Galope Australs Instagram and see more photos and videos from their rides. Galope Austral will only respond to serious inquiries and people who meet the criteria.
