An Impromptu Visit to El Relato
In April, Latin music superstar Shakira visited fellow artist Maluma’s equestrian estate, El Relato, located on the outskirts of Medellín, Colombia. Known widely for his career in urban music, Maluma maintains an extensive breeding project dedicated to the Caballo Criollo Colombiano, one of the nation’s most distinctive native horse breeds. During the visit, an impromptu riding session featuring a local Criollo horse was captured on video, subsequently generating millions of views across social media platforms and returning to public discussion when Maluma recounted the event during an appearance on television.
Breeding Operations and International Bloodlines
Maluma divides a significant portion of his time outside the recording studio between his musical endeavors and his equestrian operations at El Relato. The property functions as a specialized breeding facility focusing on the Caballo Criollo Colombiano. The breed is recognized across South America for its smooth gaits and innate movement patterns, which develop naturally through genetics rather than specialized training regimens. Within the stables of El Relato, these native Colombian animals are housed alongside European horses.
The facility also reflects Maluma’s broader engagement with international equine bloodlines; in 2022, his breeding interests extended to Spain, where he visited the SR4 stud farm in Seville, operated by professional football player Sergio Ramos, leading to the acquisition of a Pure Spanish Horse named Horizonte de Ramos.
Shakira Rejects European Mounts for a Native Criollo
Upon arriving at the Medellín estate following her collaboration on the “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran Tour,” Shakira declined the offer to ride one of the property’s European horses. According to Maluma’s recount of the visit, the singer specifically requested a native Colombian mount. Shakira selected a Caballo Criollo Colombiano, demonstrating familiarity with the breed’s handling and movement style.
Footage of the ride was shared widely online, prompting Maluma to praise her riding ability in subsequent interviews, noting that she handled the characteristic gait of the Colombian horse with ease.
Genetics, Champions, and the Future of the Breed
The Caballo Criollo Colombiano remains central to the identity of El Relato, where Maluma maintains a roster of named animals including Zeus, Megara, Poseidón, and Don Corleone. One of the estate’s most prominent earlier animals was Hércules, a black Friesian acquired in 2017 that frequently appeared in the artist’s digital media content.
The animals execute their smooth, rhythmic paces naturally, a biological trait that distinguishes the breed within international equestrian circles and anchors the breeding philosophy at Maluma’s Colombian facility.
