Our animals

At Las Loicas we try to find a balance between using the land and allowing nature to regenerate. That is one of the reasons why we keep only a limited number of animals at the estancia. We share the farm with a few horses, sheep, chickens and of course Sarah’s two cats.

The horses have slowly become an important part of our lives. Hernán grew up as an experienced gaucho, while Leentje and Sarah are still learning, but enjoying every step of the journey. Over the past months we have become increasingly inspired by the connection with our horses and by everything they can teach us about trust, communication and being truly present.

Earlier this year we spent time with the Scarpatti family in San Luis, Argentina, where we were introduced to a way of working with horses based more on communication and trust than on control. It was a meaningful experience for us and something we hope to continue developing at Las Loicas in the coming years.

We also visited Dutch systemic coach Marion Latour, whose work with horses opened another perspective on the relationship between humans and animals. These experiences continue to inspire the way we spend time with our own horses at the estancia.

The land around us is also full of wildlife and birdlife. Because the estancia is located between forest, river, coast, ocean and steppe, it attracts many different species throughout the year.

Birdwatching here can be surprisingly rewarding. Around the estancia it is possible to spot cormorants, bandurrias and many smaller Patagonian birds. And behind our kitchen and in the forest we have often the Magellanic woodpecker visiting us.

Behind the house, across the river in the trees, a small colony of cormorants has made its home. The sounds they make are unexpected, many guests first think they are hearing pigs hidden in the forest.

And sometimes, when the tides and winds align, a lone penguin appears on the beach near the Desdémona shipwreck. They come ashore to molt, resting quietly for a few weeks before returning to the ocean.

Then there is the loica, the small red-breasted bird that gave the estancia its name. Seeing one land near the house or on one of the fences always feels special to us.

Our most curious neighbors are the guanacos. Elegant and alert, they are almost always somewhere in the distance, watching from the steppe. If you are lucky, you may see them suddenly running across the landscape at incredible speed.

We also regularly spot foxes around the estancia, usually trying to steal something from the compost and occasionally beavers searching fro a place to settle along the river.

Life here is a constant reminder that this land is shared. Between the domestic animals, the wildlife, the ocean and the forest, Las Loicas is a place where nature is still very present in everyday life.