The Battle of Los Horcones, part of the Admirable Campaign, was a military conflict in Venezuela during the Spanish American wars of independence fought on 22 July 1813 between the pro-independence forces led by José Félix Ribas and Spanish Royalist troops under colonel Francisco Oberto at the plain of Los Horcones.

This was largely thanks to sub-lieutenant Gabriel Picón González, who then aged 14 years old and became a hero by rushing and taking a Spanish cannon despite getting his right femur shattered due to shrapnel.

[citation needed] When the battle was lost for the Royalists, Oberto and Cañas fled with 15 soldiers through San Felipe, with Ribas chasing them with 50 horsemen and finally capturing them at Cabudare.

Both sides suffered heavy human losses,[2] but otherwise Ribas achieved a complete victory for the Patriots, capturing all four artillery pieces as well as other weapons, medical supplies, transport vehicles and over 300 prisoners.

Afterwards, Bolívar kept Picón under his protection, who wouldn't be able to pursue a military career and instead focused on politics, and later would become the governor of Mérida.