“... the best were Rosa, Purita and Pureza...”
MG:“ Did you feel the three were different or were they alike?” APH:“ Yes they were alike, they were a part of my body. Rosa was so fast turning around, that she’ d gain 20 meters on the man coming up behind. Running in a straight line she was like any other good horse, but turning around she was very fast. I was familiar with this trait, so that I would wait for a backhander and turn around, losing the pack. I tried to preserve these traits; fortunately I was able to do so through Purita. An offer was made me for her when she was quite old, and I asked for three times the amount so as not to sell her.”
MG:“ What was Nevadito’ s dam, Violeta, like?” APH:“ Very good. I watched Adolfo Reumann play her, and she was very powerful. We were on the farm once and Gonzalo Tanoira and Gonzalo Pieres came to try her at Intendente Alvear. Tanoira put her through her paces first, got down, and handed her to Pieres, and they didn’ t buy. The following day I bought her. I figured that if they had come all the way to try her, there must be something to her. She was a mare that could play the Open and that you could mount without a halter. She was a part of my body and I played her for just over six years, after which she fractured her hind leg. But she was a mare that met every possible requirement; her only defect was that she would want to do some things and got annoyed if not allowed to. She would go one way and wanted to go another, but I knew her … She was very, very good.”
MG:“ Have you participated in‘ Jineteadas’( breaking-in contests) as well?” APH:“ I used to mount the young colts that we were breaking-in in summer, as, for example Cocotero, that a younger brother of mine who later died tamed, and also Ceniza, which Horacio tamed. I did actually take part in a“ jineteada” at the River Stadium. I lost a stirrup at the first leap, and continued thrashing and punishing in a flashy manner. My performance was terrible. The only thing to be proud of was that Garyulo, the famous side-rider, said to me:‘ good legs, kid”, but the‘ jineteada’ had been awful. The horse couldn’ t get rid of me, but as far as the show went, not good.”
MG:“ Did you meet famous“ jineteada” characters?” APH:“ Yes, I am proud to say that Jorge Aristegui one day turned up on my farm, and I said …‘ you’ re Aristegui!!!!’.‘ I came to see what you have on your farm’, he said. Fortunately we went in the truck to see the herd. I caught up the Stallion, it was Puripayo; I had Purita, Bamba and Violeta, the last of my good mares that were exceptional as regards management. I asked him for his waist band; took off my own belt, fastened it on to each one’ s muzzle and with just that, mounted them bare-back and put them through their paces … And I was able to satisfy Aristegui, who was the Maradona or Cambiaso among horse-tamers. I was able to show him something; and was flattered to be able to do so.”
MG:“ What about Cuevas, the Uruguayan?” APH:“ Yes, I became friends with him later, because he was down-and-out and sold tack plaited by himself at my auctions. He was not allowed into the SRA; he didn’ t have a permit to sell his wares.”
MG:“ And did you also meet Gato Lucero?” APH:“ Yes, I met Gato Lucero when he was an old man. I had no dealings with him when he was a‘ jinete’, but I have sat down to a mate and long chats with him. He was born in La Pampa, although he mounted a lot in San Luis; here; in Uruguay: he was a champion everywhere. He was born in Victorica, La Pampa.”
232