SALAS CROSSING PAMPAS ON HORSEBACK; HORSE GRAZING; SALAS ENTERS BUENOS AIRES WITH MOUNTED POLICE ESCORT; VET EXAMINES HORSE; SALAS GREETED BY FRIENDS.




Initials PW/VS/CR/SC



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Background: ARGENTINE HORSEMAN JORGE MOLINA SALAS, AGED 53, COMPLETED AN ARDUOUS 1,860-MILE (3,000 KMS) RIDE ON HORSEBACK FROM CHILE TO BUENOS AIRES ON HIS 4 1/2-YEAR-OLD HORSE "SURENO".

THE JOURNEY TOOK HIM 59 DAYS, AND WAS A RE-ENACTMENT OF A FAMOUS RIDE MADE IN 1892 BY A FRENCH EXPLORER. THE HAZARDOUS FEATURE OF THE JOURNEY WAS A CROSSING OF THE ANDES MOUNTAIN RANGE.

SALAS SET OFF FROM CHILE ON THE LAST DAY OF 1967 AND ARRIVED IN BUENOS AIRES ON TUESDAY, TRIUMPHANTLY LED INTO THE CITY BY A MOUNTED ESCORT OF THE BLUE SQUADRON MOUNTED POLICE CORPS.

THE INTREPID ARGENTINEAN WALKED OUT OR RODE SIXTEEN HOURS EVERY DAY. IN ORDER TO LESSEN THE STRAIN ON THE HORSE, HE ADOPTED THE SYSTEM OF RIDING FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES, THEN WALKING FOR FIVE MINUTES BEFORE MOUNTING AGAIN AND REPEATING THE PROCESS. EVEN SO, HIS HORSE SURENO LOST 170 POUNDS (80 KILOS) IN WEIGHT DURING THE JOURNEY.

SALAS' TREK ENDED OUTSIDE THE NATIONAL CONGRESS IN BUENOS AIRES, WHERE HE WAS WELCOMED BY A BIG CROWD OF FRIENDS AND ADMIRERS - AND BY A VETERINARIAN FOR THE HORSE.