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THE CAPE HORSE INTRODUCTION
| DETAILED HISTORY OF IMPORTATIONS
| HISTORY OF THE BASUTO PONY 1ST
STAGE | 2ND STAGE | 3RD
STAGE
In
order to arrive at the origin of the renowned Basuto Pony it
is essential to trace the origin, development and subsequent
decline of what was known as the "Cape Horse", which
formed the foundation stock on which the once famous Basuto
breed was founded.
The history of the Cape Horse
may be conveniently divided into three periods:-
a) From the first importation
in 1652 - 1811. Throughout this period practically all the
animals imported were what has been described as oriental stock.
b) From 1811 - 1850 high class
Blood horses and Thoroughbreds were imported.
c) From 1850 and particularly
from 1870 - 1885, many inferior thoroughbreds were imported,
which was one of the causes, amongst others described later,
that brought about the decline of the Cape Horse.
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Horses were first sent out to
the Cape by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, but owing
to bad weather they were landed at St. Helena and only reached
the Cape in 1655. They were Java horses of a strong Persian
and Arab strain. The Aborigines of the Cape saw horses for
the first time in 1653, when four Java horses were landed after
and extremely dangerous voyage.
In 1659 the Government agreed
to Jan van Riebeck's request to send two horses from the East
with every home-bound fleet. These were of the same stock as
those previously imported in 1653 and 1655.
In 1689 Simon van der Stel imported
good stud horses direct from Persia, of which the farmers made
good use. By this date horse breeding was firmly established,
and we may claim for the Cape Horse an origin similar to that
of the English Thoroughbred, viz:- mainly from the noblest
strain of all warm blooded horses "the Libyan of North
Africa" - through its Arab, Barb and Persian types. The
animals were small but hardy and had excellent constitutions
and temperaments.
In about the year 1778 several
horses of Andalusian origin, a Barb and Arabian cross - were
imported from South America. This was only another infusion
of oriental blood from a different source; they were very good
specimens.
The first eight stallions were
imported from England in 1782, they were what was then known
as "English Blood Horses" descendants of renowned
oriental sires. In the same year five stud horses were imported
from Boston, U.S.A.; they were derived from the Barb through
the Andalusian horses of Spain, the English Blood Horse, Utrecht
and early Dutch horses.
From 1795 - 1803 several excellent
English stallions were imported and these brought improvement
and development to horse breeding at the Cape. In 1807 some
Spanish breeding horses were captured and land at the Cape.
They were described as blue roans and red roans of medium height,
broad chested and possessing great powers of endurance.
In 1808 a number of horses and
mares, said to be of good Eastern and Spanish blood, were imported
from the New England State of America. During the years 1811
- 1820 Lord Charles Somerset, the then Governor of the Cape,
purchased in England, for the Cape, eighteen stallions and
tow mares. The majority of these had lengthy pedigrees going
back to the great oriental founders of the Thoroughbred. Sic
died on the way out but many of the remainder and their progeny
became famous. The colonists were so pleased with the Governor's
excellent scheme of using the Thoroughbred to ennoble the Cape
country-bred that the importation of good stallions continued
and the decade 1820 -1830 saw many notable sires reach the
shores of South Africa.
During the years 1840 - 1850 several
stallions, which had stood at stud in England and are to-day
mentioned in the pedigrees of famous winners, were imported,
also several younger stallions and mares. Thus 1811 may be
said to mark the beginning of the reign of the English Thoroughbred
at the Cape which lasted for half a century, during which period
the Cape Horse reached its zenith.
It is necessary here to impress
the fact that up to 1811-1812 the Cape stock was almost entirely
of oriental origin, and that the importations to the Cape from
England prior to 1810, especially during 1770 -1790, included
many of the sons and daughters, descendants of the first three
great English sires bred from three great oriental sires viz:-
1) Herod (1758) best descendant of Byerly Turk (1689).
2) Matcham (1748) best descendant
of Godolphin Barb (1728).
3) Eclipse (1764) best descendant
of Darley Arabian (1706).
The blood of these sires and mares
made it possible for the Arab stock of the Cape to reach its
zenith under the patronage of Lord Charles Somerset and the
great Hantam breeders. There is no doubt that the blood of
these great progenitors of the Thoroughbred was possessed in
a large measure by the horses that entered Basutoland in 1830
-1850. We like to mention these illustrious ancestors and the
dates of the Thoroughbred, and through the Thoroughbred of
other famed breeds such as the Saddler and the Trotter, U.S.A.
and the Hackney because contemporaneously and from the same
sources were created the Cape Horse and the Basuto Pony, whose
achievements in trying campaigns as remounts, on race courses
and polo grounds, proved their relationship and equality to
the world's best light horse stock. From 1850 - 1860 the quality
of Thoroughbreds imported was not quite as good as that of
the former importations. From about 1860 a period of calamitous
decline set in due to a number of causes, amongst which the
principal were:-
a) The farmers in their zeal for
long pedigrees imported, particularly during the years 1870
- 1885, several hundred horses of poor type known subsequently
as "blood weeds".
b) Severe visitations of horse-sickness
which depleted the ranks of the original magnificent foundation
stock (1854 - 1870).
c) The advent of Angora goat farming
1840, ostrich farming in 1860 and a rapid extension of the
production of woolled sheep, had the effect of largely changing
the system of farming to the detriment of horse breeding throughout
the greater part of the settled area of South Africa.
d) The opening of the Suez Canal
(1868) resulted in a loss of trade - particularly the remount
trade. This factor tended to depress the horse market, with
the result that farmers had to reduce expenditure on horse
breeding and turned to other lines of farming, as mentioned
under (c).
The foregoing factors brought
about great deterioration, and the Cape Horse never again reached
the high, general standard that it attained in the years 1810
- 1870. Several good horses as well as the "blood weeds"
were imported during this period, amongst which were eight
very good Hackneys and one Norfolk Roadster landed in 1888,
but these had little of no effect in stemming the decline that
had set in. Efforts have since been made by successive governments,
private individuals and companies, to improve the general stock
of the country but lack of interest, unintelligent cross-breeding,
heavy losses incurred during the Anglo Boer War, and later
the arrival of the motor car and other factors, have, made
the attainment of this object on a general scale extremely
difficult. Having briefly recorded the ancestry of the Cape
Horse it is now necessary to trace the connection between this
type and what subsequently became known as the Basuto Pony.
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For many decades the tract of
land now known as Basutoland and the adjoining country now
the Orange Free State, was sparsely inhabited by bushmen, and
later more thickly populated by Suto-Chuana Bantu tribes from
the north, east and west of Southern Africa. The comparative
peace which these tribes had enjoyed for probably a couple
of centuries came to an end when the Zulu invasions began early
in 1822. It was during this period of invasions, wars and general
trouble, which lasted for many years, that the tribes saw and
procured horses for the first time, and it was the remnants
of these tribes which were later gathered together by Moshoeshoe
and welded into the Basuto Nation.
In 1825 the Bataung of Moletsane
made a successful counter attack on a band of roaming Griquas
who had come to raid them, and acquired, amongst other booty,
a few horses, as it is recorded that in 1827 they captured
much booty including horses from a band of Korannas who were
in search of plunder.
In 1828 a band of Korannas, in
an attempted attack on the stronghold of Chief Mohale in the
Maseru district, was defeated, and Mohale captured and retained
all their horses.
About 1825, Moorosi and his people,
the Baphuthi, with certain bushmen adherents, became vassals
to Moshoeshoe. The Zulus had captured all Moorosi's cattle
and destroyed his crops, and to replenish his herds he had
for some years afterwards to make repeated raids into Kaffraria
in order to acquire further cattle. His bushmen followers,
in a raid about 1829, stole two horses from a farm near what
is now the town of Dordrecht. One of these Moorosi presented
to Moshoeshoe. This was the first horse owned by the great
Chief, and history records the fact that, with little or no
equipment and after many struggles, he learned to ride. After
acquiring the art of managing and riding a horse he apparently
lost little time in securing further equines, as in 1830 we
hear of him going to see an old friend accompanied by twenty
three young men on horseback. In 1833 Moshoeshoe's eldest son
received with delight his first gift horse from his father.
About 1830 the aggressive Korannas,
previously mentioned, made an attack on a Mophuthi named, Lipholo
and on a Mosuto living on the site of what is now Masitise
Mission Station in the Quthing district. Moorosi counter attacked,
captured and brought back, amongst other plunder, sixteen horses.
Shortly after the attack on Lipholo, just mentioned, a band
of Korannas planned an attack on Chief Moorosi's stronghold
- Thaba Bosiu. The chief hearing of this forestalled them and
became the attacker, with such success that he killed practically
everyone and returned with much spoil including many horses.
After their encounter with the
Bataung in 1827 the Korannas, who were now raiding many parts
of the Suto-Chuana country, attacked the Zulu invaders, the
Amangwane, near Clocolan (Hlohloloane). The latter fought bravely
until they saw a Koranna on horseback - the first they had
seen - and they fled in abject terror. A similar misfortune
overtook the Baphuting. They had, many years before, moved
away from their homes in Wetsi's Hoek and after wandering long
and far afield attacked the Bahlaping near Kuruman. After a
time a mounted force of Griquas came to the aid of the almost
conquered Bahlaping and the Maphuting, seeing this fearsome
spectacle, fled.
From the foregoing account it
will be seen that the majority of the horses, procured by the
tribes living in what is now Basutoland and the Free State
up to the year 1835, were taken from the Griquas and Korannas
in turn had obtained these by raids and thefts from the Cape
Farmers (on the borders of the Orange River), aided by their
allies, the bushmen, who had become expert thieves and raiders
as they resented European farmers settling at their fountains,
thus driving away the game. For these thefts and other reasons
the bushmen were hunted in much the same manner as wild animals
by the farmers.
At this point int he history of
the Basuto Pony it is necessary to refer back to the history
of the Cape Horse, from which it will be seen that up to 1811
the Cape Horse may, for practical purposes, be regarded as
for purely oriental descent, and that the Thoroughbred
importations from 1821 - 1835, for which Governor Somerset
and private individuals were responsible, were splendid animals
with a very large admixture of oriental blood. the foundation
Basuto stock was, therefore, almost, if not entirely, purely
oriental, and it is doubtful whether even the later introductions
up to 1835 carried much thoroughbred blood, as it must have
taken many years after Governor Somerset imported this Arab
foundation Thoroughbred, for the blood of theses animals to
have reached the horses taken from the Korannas and Griquas
by the Basuto. It may, therefore, be fairly safely assumed
that up to 1835 about 90% of oriental blood flowed in the veins
of the Basuto Pony.
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The Maphetla and Mapolane, two of the
earliest tribes to inhabit South Basutoland - related to the
Baphuthi who gave Moshoeshoe his first horse - suffered many
and various disasters as a result of war and famine; and finally,
towards the end of 1822, the survivors journeyed to the Cape
Colony, as far south as Somerset East, for protection and to
secure a livelihood by taking service with the farmers under
the supervision of Sir Andries Stockenstroom. After some years
they returned to Basutoland in 1836 with the stock they had
earned, which it is said included a number of horses.
The Batsueneng, after a fierce
battle with the Griquas, were slaughtered to such an extent
that they ceased to exist as a corporate tribe like the Maphetla
and Mapolane already mentioned. Most of the survivors went
to work in the Cape Colony but returned to Basutoland in 1836
and 1837 with horses and other stock. In the early part of
the nineteenth century the great Zulu Chief, Moselekatse, exiled
from Zululand and subsequently the founder of the Matebele
Nation, with the aid of his regiments (impis) over-ran and
laid waste a great part of what is known as the Orange Free
State. He attacked whoever opposed him, including later on
the Boer Farmers. In a counter attack against the forces of
Barend, Barend composed of Bergenaars, Griquas, Korannas, Barolong
and Bahlaping in 1830 Moselekatse recaptured all stock etc,
which had been taken from him and also secured many horses.
This state of affairs naturally led to ever increasing trouble
as the Boers, who had begun to appear in the country in 1835,
captured many cattle form Moselakatse’s people, with the result
that he attacked them twice in great force in 1836 on the banks
of the Vaal. On these occasions the Boer farmers suffered many
casualties, and Moselekatse captured horses and other spoil.
It is thought that many of these horses came into possession
of the local tribes during this period, which was one of raids
and counter raids between these tribes and Moselekatse before
he departed for the North with his marauding impis. He also
attacked Chief Moshoeshoe at Thaba Bosiu in 1831, but was worsted,
and that great Chief, who was also a great Statesman, treated
Moselekatse so generously on this occasion that he was never
again molested by him.
In addition to the attack on Thaba
Bosiu just mentioned, the local tribes, many of whom were vassals
of Moshoeshoe, had for some years been invaded and attacked,
again and again, by the Zulus, Korannas, Griquas etc., and
in 1835, to add to their difficulties, Boer farmers began to
arrive amongst these much harassed people. At first these farmers
came for short periods only, but later their visits became
prolonged. They brought with them their flocks and herds which
included numbers of horses. These newcomers, unlike the Zulus
who were marauders and a passing phase, had come to stay. This
occupation resulted in further wars, raids and counter raids,
in which much stock, including horses, changed hands. Later
on, after the Orange Free State had become finally occupied
by these European emigrants from the Cape Colony, and particularly
after the wars between the Europeans and Basuto ceased, the
local people were, as is the case to-day, largely employed
by the emigrants as farm labourers and were paid for their
labour in stock. Many horses were acquired by the Basuto in
this manner.
Owing to the more settled conditions
now established, European livestock speculators came into the
picture of the Basuto pony for the first time. These men, knowing
even at this early date, that the Basuto, were a sporting race
and consequently anxious to acquire as many good horses as
possible and prepared to pay handsomely for them, obtained
droves of horses which they took to Basutoland and exchanged
for cattle. In this way large numbers of horses found their
way into the Territory, amongst them many good stallions which
it is thought were not always acquired in an honest manner.
The horses which entered Basutoland
from 1835 to 1840, during the second period of the origin and
history of these animals, were mostly of excellent oriental
blood with possibly a slight infusion of Thoroughbred from
the earlier Thoroughbred importations into the Cape. From 1840
to 1870, by fair or foul means, horses continued to find their
way into Basutoland, and these later importations must have
had a greater proportion of Thoroughbred blood in their veins
than was the case of the 1835 to 1840 importations. But whatever
the proportion of Thoroughbred in these later importations
it could not, diffused as it was, have made a great deal of
difference to the preponderating oriental blood already in
the country. By 1870 it is recorded that practically the whole
Basuto nation was mounted. This fact, as will be shown in the
third stage, is thought to be the most important in the history
of the rise to fame of the Basuto Pony.
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It is a peculiar point of interest
in the history of Basutoland and its people that the unfortunate
war of 1879, between the Allied Cape Colonial and Basuto troops
against Chief Moorosi, who lived in the Quthing district, arose
out of Mr. Hope’s judgement on Chief Moorosi’s son for the
theft of some horses.
The year 1870, as previously mentioned,
is regarded as the most important int he history of the Basuto
Pony. Practically the whole Nation was mounted, and, for this
reason, the tide turned from import to export. Mr. W.H. Surmon
in his report dated 6th July 1885, mentions the fact that in
1875, when a census was taken, the horse population int he
southern part of Thaba Bosiu district was 8,000 and that the
numbers increased considerably during the succeeding 10 years.
There are two reasons fro regarding the turning point from
import to export as the most important in the history of the
Basuto Pony. It will be remembered that in the history of the
Cape Horse the year 1870 marked the beginning of the decline
of those renowned and valuable animals, due to the importation
and use of large numbers of :blood Weeds" and the other
causes mentioned int he notes given earlier on the Cape Horse.
Had Basutoland at that time not reached saturation point in
imports. this detrimental blood would have entered Basutoland
and caused a similar decline. This purely fortuitous coincidence
of the importation of :blood weeds" to the Cape, and import
saturation in Basutoland in the year 1870, cannot, therefore,
be too strongly stressed, as it marked:-
a) Practically the cessation of
import, which fact prevented the entrance of the "blood
weed" stock.
b) The commencement of export,
which fact brought the merits of the Basuto Pony to the notice
of Europeans.
From 1870 onwards the Basuto Pony
as a type or breed began to be known amongst Europeans, and
as export grew, its fame spread throughout South Africa and
finally, during the Anglo Boer War, throughout the Empire.
Another cause of the decline of
the Basuto Pony, reported during this period, was intense jealousy
amongst the people. A man it was said would often castrate
his best colts rather than stand the risk of his neighbours
deriving benefit from them as stallions. It is not thought,
however, that this could have been a serious obstacle to improvement,
otherwise the improvement and maintenance of the breed at a
high standard in the earlier stages of horse breeding would
have been impossible. It will thus be seen that the Basuto
Pony was steadily rising to fame during the period 1870 to
1903, and that during the same period the fame of the Cape
Horse was steadily declining. There is no doubt that the Basuto
Pony, like the once famous Cape Horse, became a definite
and well established type due to it’s origin. Its conformation,
character, paces, action and high powers of endurance were
typical of its Eastern ancestors. In the case of the Basuto
Pony certain characteristics became accentuated due to the
nature of the country in which it was bred and the manner in
which it was handled by its owners. Basutoland is the most
mountainous and coldest part of South Africa. The Basuto are
fast and fearless riders but may be described as poor horse
masters: shelter and food other than that supplied by nature
are seldom considered. A Basuto pony was and is galloped up
and down precipitous mountains where any other horse and its
rider would fear to proceed at a walk. This treatment, together
with the climatic and topographical conditions, tended to increase
and accentuate the inherited characteristics, viz:- the small
six, endurance, etc of these animals, which were already fearless
and surefooted of any known type of breed; in fact even the
mountain bred mule, known the world over for surefootedness,
can hardly be compared with these pinies, because the mule,
unlike the horse, lacks courage and trust in its owner to face
almost impassable conditions, viz:- rivers in flood, rock ledge
trails etc.
The Basuto Pony, as previously
stated, rose to the zenith of its fame during the Anglo Boer
War (1900).
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