Nooitgedacht pony
Encyclopedia
One of the few indigenous breeds in South Africa
, the Nooitgedacht pony is the only true descendant of the better-known Basuto pony
. The Nooigedacht is a rare horse breed, with only about 400 purebred
s in existence.
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 Nooitgedacht pony was affiliated with the South African Stud Book Association as South Africa's first indigenous pony breed.
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. It usually stands between 13.2 (138 cm) and 15 (153 cm) hands high.
, and it is becoming more popular as a show horse
. It excels in gymkhana
, polo
, endurance riding
and hacking
.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, the Nooitgedacht pony is the only true descendant of the better-known Basuto pony
Basuto pony
- Characteristics :The Basuto is considered a small horse, since it possesses horse-like characteristics, such as an exceptionally long stride. Basutos have a rather heavy head, a long neck and long, straight back, a straight shoulder, and a muscular, sloping croup. They have very tough legs and...
. The Nooigedacht is a rare horse breed, with only about 400 purebred
Purebred
Purebreds, also called purebreeds, are cultivated varieties or cultivars of an animal species, achieved through the process of selective breeding...
s in existence.
History
Development of this breed began in 1951 when the South African Department of Agriculture brought 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 extinctionExtinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
but also because South Africa needed an indigenous farm and riding horse adapted to conditions of the region.
Due to large-scale inbreeding
Inbreeding
Inbreeding is the reproduction from the mating of two genetically related parents. Inbreeding results in increased homozygosity, which can increase the chances of offspring being affected by recessive or deleterious traits. This generally leads to a decreased fitness of a population, which is...
in the past, the breeders at Nooitgedacht had to use extreme care. For this reason, a Boer
Boer Pony
The Boer Pony is a calm, tough pony originating from South Africa. It is often referred to as the Boerperd. Two varieties exist, the Boerperd, a general breed, and the more refined Cape Boerperd.- Characteristics :...
stallion and a partbred Arab
Arabian horse
The Arabian or Arab horse is a breed of horse that originated on the Arabian Peninsula. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in the world. It is also one of the oldest breeds, with archaeological evidence of horses...
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
Stallion
A Stallion is a male horse.Stallion may also refer to:* Stallion , an American pop rock group* Stallion , a figure in the Gobot toyline* Stallion , a character in the console role-playing game series...
, dam
Mare (horse)
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
, 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
Stud farm
A stud farm or stud in animal husbandry, is an establishment for selective breeding of livestock. The word "stud" comes from the Old English stod meaning "herd of horses, place where horses are kept for breeding" Historically, documentation of the breedings that occur on a stud farm leads to the...
, 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
Public auction
A public auction is an auction held on behalf of a government in which the property to be auctioned is either property owned by the government, or property which is sold under the authority of a court of law or a government agency with similar authority....
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 Nooitgedacht pony 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 Breeders' Association, the Nooitgedacht pony 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 extremely hardy with good bone structure, good joints, and excellent hoovesHorse hoof
A horse hoof is a structure surrounding the distal phalanx of the 3rd digit of each of the four limbs of Equus species, which is covered by complex soft tissue and keratinised structures...
which seldom require shoeing
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
. Bay, brown (a variant of bay) and chestnut
Chestnut (coat)
Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...
roans
Roan (horse)
Roan is a horse coat color pattern characterized by an even mixture of colored and white hairs on the body, while the head and "points"—lower legs, mane and tail—are more solid-colored. The roan pattern is dominantly-inherited, and is found in many horse breeds...
are the most common colours. Spotted
Leopard (pattern)
Leopard is a term used to describe a spotted color pattern, particularly in the hair coat or skin of animals, but also used to describe spotting patterns in plants and fabrics...
, skewbald
Skewbald
Skewbald is a color pattern of horses. A skewbald horse has a coat made up of white patches on a non-black base coat, such as chestnut, bay, or any color besides black coat. Skewbald horses which are bay and white are sometimes called tricoloured...
and piebald
Piebald
A piebald or pied animal is one that has a spotting pattern of large unpigmented, usually white, areas of hair, feathers, or scales and normally pigmented patches, generally black. The colour of the animal's skin underneath its coat is also pigmented under the dark patches and unpigmented under...
coats are not permitted. It usually stands between 13.2 (138 cm) and 15 (153 cm) hands high.
Uses
The Nooitgedacht pony is tall enough to be used by both children and adults. It is a good jumperShow jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
, and it is becoming more popular as a show horse
Horse show
A Horse show is a judged exhibition of horses and ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrian disciplines hold competitions worldwide, from local to the international levels. Most horse shows run from one to three days, sometimes longer for major, all-breed events or national and...
. It excels in gymkhana
Gymkhana
Gymkhana is a typical Anglo-Indian expression, which is derived from the Hindi-Urdu word for "racket court," is an Indian term which originally referred to a place where sporting events take place. The meaning then altered to denote a place where skill-based contests were held...
, polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
, endurance riding
Endurance riding
Endurance riding is an equestrian sport based on controlled long-distance races. It is one of the international competitions recognized by the FEI. There are endurance rides worldwide....
and hacking
Trail riding
Trail riding sometimes called horse or pony trekking is riding outdoors on natural trails and roads as opposed to riding in an enclosed area such as a riding arena. The term may encompass those who travel on horses, on mountain bikes, or on motorcycles and other motorized all-terrain vehicles...
.