Batak Pony
Encyclopedia
The Batak Pony is a pony
breed from Indonesia
. Originating in Central Sumatra
, it is thought to have descended from Mongolian Horse
and Arabian blood, and has continually been infused with additional Arabian blood to improve its quality. The Batak is selectively breed by the Indonesians, and is often used to upgrade the quality of the horses and ponies on nearby islands.
. The ponies have a fine head with a straight or slightly convex profile. The neck is short and thin, the withers are prominent. The chest and frame are narrow, the back is usually long, and the quarters sloping. The tail is set and carried quite high. The Batak pony is considered a very willing breed, and is quite hardy. They usually average about 11.3 hh but may stand up to 13 hands
, and are generally brown, but can be any color
.
The Batak pony was once used as sacrificial animals for the gods, but is now employed in a less-gruesome occupation as a riding
pony. The Arabian blood makes it spirited when needed, but the pony is generally quiet enough for children to ride, with an excellent temperament. Their speed also makes them popular for racing
among the local population.
The Batak pony is one of eight breeds native to Indonesia, the others are the Gayoe
, Deli pony
, Bali Pony
, Java Pony
, Sumba and Sumbawa Pony
(and closely related Sandalwood Pony
) and Timor Pony
. The Batak pony and the Deli pony are the most closely related.
Pony
A pony is a small horse . Depending on context, a pony may be a horse that is under an approximate or exact height at the withers, or a small horse with a specific conformation and temperament. There are many different breeds...
breed from Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. Originating in Central Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, it is thought to have descended from Mongolian Horse
Mongolian horse
The Mongol horse is the native horse breed of Mongolia. The breed is purported to be largely unchanged since the time of Genghis Khan. Nomads living in the traditional Mongol fashion still hold more than 3 million animals, which outnumber the country's human population...
and Arabian blood, and has continually been infused with additional Arabian blood to improve its quality. The Batak is selectively breed by the Indonesians, and is often used to upgrade the quality of the horses and ponies on nearby islands.
Characteristics
The ponies are slender, but still strong and sturdy. In general, they are well-conformed, and most of their faults are partly to blame on the poor forage to which they have access. The only other breed of the country which is of better quality is the Sandalwood PonySandalwood Pony
The Sandalwood Pony originated in Indonesia, on the Sumba and Sumbawa Islands. It is named after the Sandalwood trees, which are a major export of the country. The Sandalwood pony is one of the finest in the country, partly due to the great amount of Arabian blood. They make suitable children's...
. The ponies have a fine head with a straight or slightly convex profile. The neck is short and thin, the withers are prominent. The chest and frame are narrow, the back is usually long, and the quarters sloping. The tail is set and carried quite high. The Batak pony is considered a very willing breed, and is quite hardy. They usually average about 11.3 hh but may stand up to 13 hands
Hand (unit)
The hand is a non-SI unit of measurement of length, now used only for the measurement of the height of horses in some English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. With origins in ancient Egypt, it was originally based on the breadth of a human hand...
, and are generally brown, but can be any color
Equine coat color
Horses exhibit a diverse array of coat colors and distinctive markings. A specialized vocabulary has evolved to describe them.While most horses remain the same color throughout life, a few, over the course of several years, will develop a different coat color from that with which they were born...
.
The Batak pony was once used as sacrificial animals for the gods, but is now employed in a less-gruesome occupation as a riding
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
pony. The Arabian blood makes it spirited when needed, but the pony is generally quiet enough for children to ride, with an excellent temperament. Their speed also makes them popular for racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
among the local population.
The Batak pony is one of eight breeds native to Indonesia, the others are the Gayoe
Gayoe
The Gayoe, also known as the kuda-Gayo is a pony from the island of Sumatra, found near Aceh. The name is derived from the Gayoe hills in the north of the island....
, Deli pony
Deli pony
The Deli pony is native to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Closely related to the Batak Pony, both breeds developed in the Batak hills. The name of the breed most likely came from the large numbers of ponies exported from the port of Deli...
, Bali Pony
Bali Pony
- Characteristics :The Bali ponies are quite hardy and self-sufficient, surviving with little outside care. They are tough animals that are not shod and are remarkably sound, with hard feet, and strong legs...
, Java Pony
Java Pony
The Java pony is a breed of pony developed on the island of Java in Indonesia. It is thought to have descended from wild forebears of Mongolian Wild Horse ancestry...
, Sumba and Sumbawa Pony
Sumba and Sumbawa Pony
The Sumba Pony and Sumbawa Pony are named after the islands on which they are bred -- Sumba and Sumbawa Island respectively. However, the two breeds are very similar. The ponies descended from Mongolian Horses and ancient Chinese stock...
(and closely related Sandalwood Pony
Sandalwood Pony
The Sandalwood Pony originated in Indonesia, on the Sumba and Sumbawa Islands. It is named after the Sandalwood trees, which are a major export of the country. The Sandalwood pony is one of the finest in the country, partly due to the great amount of Arabian blood. They make suitable children's...
) and Timor Pony
Timor Pony
The Timor Pony was developed on Timor Island, likely from Indian breeds of horses and ponies that were imported to the island. The Timor Pony is thought to be closely related to the Flores Pony, which was developed on nearby Flores Island. Both breeds are used by the local people for cattle work, ...
. The Batak pony and the Deli pony are the most closely related.