Scientific name Equus caballus Rank Breed | Higher classification Horse Country of origin South Africa | |
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Similar Basuto pony, Boerperd, Eriskay Pony, Taishū horse, Welara | ||
The Nooitgedachter is a South African breed of riding horse. It derives from selective breeding the Basuto pony with the addition of some Arab and part-Arab blood. The Nooitgedachter is a rare breed, with only about 400 purebreds in existence.
Contents
History
Development of this breed began in 1951 when the South African Department of Agriculture bought a nucleus group of Basuto-type ponies. In 1952 a breeding project began on the Nooitgedacht Research Station. This was done primarily to save the famous Basuto from extinction but also because South Africa needed an indigenous farm and riding horse adapted to conditions of the region.
Due to large-scale inbreeding in the past, the breeders at Nooitgedacht had to use extreme care. For this reason, a Boer stallion and a partbred Arab were used to a limited extent in addition to Vonk, a stallion selected from a departmental committee to be the founder of the breed. The progeny of Vonk dominated the breeding project to such an extent that nearly every member of the Nooitgedacht breed today is a descendant of Vonk through the sire, dam, or both. The foaling percentage was very high, ranging at 90 percent. So strict was the selection that only one in four ponies were kept.
Systematic breeding resulted in the gradual crystallization of a recognisable and uniform type, and breeders were able to start talking about a "breed". In 1967, breeding stock of these horses were supplied to eight studs, and they were established as part of the project.
In 1968, the Nooitgedacht Breeders' Association was formed by participants in the project. Breeding standards were established as guidelines for breeders and judges at shows. Satisfied that the development task had been completed, the Department of Agriculture Technical Services sold all of its horses by public auction in March 1977. The breeding project was then in the hands of the breeders' association, which had some sixty members in 1979.
In 1976, the Nooitgedachter was affiliated with the South African Stud Book Association as South Africa's first indigenous pony breed.
Characteristics
According to the standards set by the Nooitgedacht Horse Breeders' Association, the Nooitgedachter should ideally be a good riding horse with outstanding stamina. It should be of a compact build, with a short back, and a well-sloping shoulder. The animal should be good natured and intelligent. It is extremely hardy with good bone structure, good joints, and excellent hooves which seldom require shoeing. Bay, brown (a variant of bay) and chestnut roans are the most common colours. Spotted, skewbald and piebald coats are not permitted. Height at the withers is from 138 to 163 cm (13.2 to 16.0 hands; 54 to 64 inches).
Uses
The Nooitgedachter may be used by both children and adults. It is a good jumper, and it is becoming more popular as a show horse. It excels in gymkhana, polo, endurance riding and hacking.