Clockwise from top left: Ortiz had to match pace with the horses he photographed because the
Rolleiflex shoots too slowly—1/500 second—to capture clear images from a standstill. Like in polo,
pato players generally use several horses throughout one match. Unlike most sport horses, pato
mounts often earn their keep as ranch horses. Riders use sheepskin-covered saddles with a
hook up front, which they grab with their left hand while dipping down to grab the pato.
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