Basuto-Pony

The Basuto pony, also Basotho horse is a South African horse breed that got its name from the tribe of pastoralists Basuto. änkt.

Background information on the evaluation and breeding horses can be found at: exterior, interior and horse breeding.

Exterior

The Basuto Pony reaches a height at the withers by up to 150 cm. Characteristic features are a long torso and short, stocky legs.

Interior

The Basuto is considered to be very sure-footed, conditional strong and healthy.

Breeding history

The Boers of the former Orange Free State paid by them preferably employed Basutos with mares, cattle and sheep. To the thus obtained from animals that were brought by the Basuto to Lesotho, came great herds of mares, which were brought from the Orange Free State and the Cape Colony in exchange for oxen to Lesotho. The so- together -down animals formed the basis for the Basuto, which was maintained throughout the year in the high plateaus of the Maluti mountains and Drake, which contributed significantly to the hardness of the race. The short growing season is probably responsible for the larger breeds originating consolidated to the small Basuto.

Its distribution is limited to Lesotho, South Africa and Namibia.