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The Basuto is one of the most well-known pony breeds of
South Africa, although it is not indigenous to the country. The Basuto achieved
its fame during the 19th century as a warhorse. Although it is small in
size, the Basuto is considered a small horse, because it possesses
horse-like characteristics, such as an exceptionally long stride.
The
first horses arrived in South Africa in 1653, when four horses were
introduced to the Cape area by the Dutch East India Trading Company. The
exact breed of these horses is unknown, but they may quite likely have been
Arabian and Persian. They were likely similar to the
Java
pony, and they were upgraded later with Arabian and Persian blood. These
original imported horses became the founders of the Cape Horse, which
became extremely popular and especially gained an admirable reputation
during the Boer War. The Cape Horse and the Basuto probably were originally
the same horse, and then with continual Thoroughbred and
Arabian
blood, the Cape Horse became a larger, more quality animal, with the Basuto
remained smaller and stockier.
Lesotho, formerly known as
Basutoland, acquired the Cape Horse as a spoils of war between the Zulus and
the settlers. As a result of harsh conditions and interbreeding with local
ponies, the Cape Horse lost much of its height and nobility, and the Basuto
pony largely took its place. Due to the rocky and hilly terrain that the
Basuto ponies were continually ridden over, oftentimes at great speeds, they
developed into tough, surefooted animals with incredible stamina and
bravery. These excellent qualities were very nearly the undoing of the
breed. The Basuto became so popular that thousands upon thousands of them
were exported, and then many of the best horses were killed in action during
the Boer War at the end of the 19th century. There is now a concerted effort
to re-establish the commendable Basuto breed.
Basuto ponies
are often used for racing or polo now. These have a rather heavy head, a
long neck and long, straight back, a straight shoulder, and a muscular,
sloping croup. They usually have very tough legs and they have sound,
incredibly hard hooves. They stand at any point up to 14.2 hands high, but
are rarely any taller. They can be
chestnut,
brown,
bay,
or
gray, and
have white
markings.
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