Today’s rare breed for this week is native to an enclave of South Africa called Lesotho. The Basotho Pony or Basuto is the product of an inhospitable climate, high altitude & steep terrain have created an incredibly tough little animal.
South African Descent
This breed comes from the Cape Horse of South Africa which are of Java pony ancestry. They do display influence of old Persian, Arabian & Thoroughbred blood, although it is unclear if it was introduced to the animals prior to being imported to the area or later to enhance bloodlines. Read more
Today’s rare breed for this week comes from faraway Japan & like many breeds of island nations, they are very rare indeed. The Ban-ei horse is a blend of Percheron, Belgian & Breton blood, specifically bred in Japan for a unique type of racing.
That’s Some Big Racehorse
Draft racing or ban-ei keiba is a race in which a draft horse pulls a heavy sled over hills for a total of 200 meters. The weight of the sled is the handicap which (like weights in standard racing) varies based on the age & track record of each animal. Read more
Today’s rare breed for Monday comes from Pakistan, the Baluchi Horse & they are among the more rare of the bunch. While their type may not be rare, a constant influx of outside blood has left their pureblood numbers almost extinct.
Riding Mount Lineage
Thought to be of Barb descent, this breed is known for its strength, endurance & their fine confirmation. They are used for light riding & pulling tongas. Similar to the Marwari & Kathiawari breeds of India, their ears grow deeply turned in. Read more
Today’s rare breed for the week comes from the island of Majorca off the southern coast of Spain. Unfortunately very few formal records have been kept on the Balearic Horse, they were geographically isolated & poorly managed.
Ancient but Ignored
One of the rarest breeds still alive today, the Balearic horse is of unknown, but ancient origin. The breed is distinctly different from other Iberian breeds, even those on neighboring Belearic islands. Some believe that the breed is descendant of the horses of Ancient Greece because of their likeness to the animals portrayed in Greek artifacts & art. Read more