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From Buenos Aires to Patagonia: Horse breeder finds success and passion in Argentina's wild landscapes
🇦🇷 Argentina /Culture & Society

From Buenos Aires to Patagonia: Horse breeder finds success and passion in Argentina's wild landscapes

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Celina Cabezas discovered her passion for horses and rural life in Argentina's Patagonia region.
  • Despite growing up near Buenos Aires, she felt a stronger connection to the countryside and animals.
  • Cabezas developed a successful business breeding Quarter Horses in the Patagonian steppe, emphasizing a rational approach and a strong bond with animals.

Celina Cabezas found her life's calling not in the allure of theme parks like Disney, but amidst the windswept Patagonian steppe of Argentina, where she developed a profound connection with horses and built a thriving business. Her journey began far from the remote estancia Alinco, near Junín de los Andes, where she now oversees a herd of Quarter Horses.

Although it rains or doesn't rain, this is still beautiful. Autumn brings out the colors so nicely, it's impressive. The steppe doesn't have these trees and it doesn't rain much, but it's still wonderful.

— Celina CabezasDescribing the beauty of the Patagonian landscape where she runs her business.

Cabezas grew up spending holidays on her family's ranch in Cañuelas, a stark contrast to the urban environment she knew in Buenos Aires. While other children dreamed of amusement parks, her heart belonged to the fields. "I only went to the countryside, nowhere else, I didn't want to go anywhere else. They talked about Disney and I had no idea, because I wasn't interested," she recalls. Her childhood friends were the horses, and she formed an unusually close bond with them, a connection she felt others wouldn't understand.

My friends were the horses.

— Celina CabezasReflecting on her childhood connection with animals.

Her father, a cattle producer, instilled in her a deep love and respect for horses, teaching her the importance of communication with them. Despite numerous falls during her early riding experiences, Cabezas never developed a fear, quickly remounting after any tumble. Even a serious accident at age eight, which left her immobilized for 40 days with a fractured pelvis, didn't deter her; her first question to the doctor was about when she could ride again.

They talked about Disney and I had no idea, because I wasn't interested.

— Celina CabezasRecalling her childhood disinterest in typical entertainment, preferring the countryside.

After completing her studies, Cabezas pursued her dream, establishing a Quarter Horse stud farm in the challenging Neuquén steppe. Her venture focuses on imported genetics and rational training methods, aiming to foster a unique relationship between people and animals. Her story is a testament to finding purpose and success by following a deep-seated passion, even when it leads away from conventional paths.

My father always instilled in me the love for horses and above all respect. He told me: 'talk to the horse,' and I talked to him.

— Celina CabezasOn her father's influence in developing her relationship with horses.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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