Boerperd
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The Boerperd or officially known and registered as a S.A.Boerperd is a South African breed. It is
History
In the beging of the Cape colony
Horses do not occur naturally in Southern Africa. The history of the Boerperd began when white settlers first came to South Africa and the first importation of horses date back to 1963 when the Dutch East Indian Company imported the first 4 horses to the Cape. These horses were mainly stock from Java. Slowly but surely more horses were imported some from Persia and Europe.
In 1700 there were 928 horses in the Cape settlement. By 1715 2325 horses were owned by the "Vryburgers" while 396 were owned by VOC. These horses became known as the Cape Horse or Caper.
Over years various horses were imported into South Africa which fused into the Cape horse or Capers as they were also known. These included Javanese ponies, Persians, North and South American Stock, English Thoroughbreds, Arabians and Spanish Barbs. In this time the Cape Horse developed into a type of its own. Horses were exported to among others India and Australia and some joined their owners on the big migration inland known as the "Groot Trek".
The Boerwar
In the war the stamina and hardiness of the local horse, that then became known as the Boerperd, were highly praised. The horses had to live of the veld in harsh circumstances and many died.
During the war huge shortages of horses were experienced and they were imported in thousands from countries around the globe, from among others: Austria, USA, UK, Australasia, South America and Canada.
Die climate and circumstances in Africa didn't suit a lot of these imported horses and many died of the dreaded African Horsesickness, Tickfever, Sleeping Sickness (trypanosomiasis), exhaustion, the elements, dehydration or simply hunger. "Gesoute" horses were South African horse that had some sort of resistance to the local diseases and conditions that so many imported horses lost their lives to, these horses were of high value during the war, a horse like that sold for 50 pounds or more in those years. On Commando being without a horse meant almost sure capture or even worst. A good, hardy horse were of utmost importance during the war. Genl. de Wet stated that a man without a horse were only half a man.
After the war very few of the imported horses were returned to the countries were they came from. The Brith force still had 131 000 horses on their records and another 28 700 sick or wounded recouperating at their untis. About 9500 of therses were euthansed for being suspected of having contagious illnesses but even after that they still had 120 500 horses from all over the world. The remainder of horses were sold to local farmers between 1 Junie 1902 and 28 Februarie 1903. In this manner horses used to the pampas and plains of the Americas, the green pastures of England and Ireland or the steppes and graslands or Asia and Sentral Europe made their home on African soil.In this manner the whole genepool of the South African horse recieve a methamorphasis.
After the World War up to the modern era
The first World War and the arrival of the the motorcar both contributed in the decreased numbers of the Boerperd. The era of the horse like we knew it was a thing of the past. The number of horses that was used for everyday use dropped drastically in the mechanical age.
In 1949 a breed societies were formed to centralize breed management as well as to keep the breed alive and keep breed standards in place, In 1955 the first Boerperd trails were held and the breed gained popularity and the movement grew slowly slowly. The Boerperd Society was created in 1973 and for the first time a breed standard were set for this breed that was a fusion of a couple breeds over 3 centuries which included: Javanese ponies, Arabs a couple of American breeds like the Saddler and Mustang etc, Cleveland Bays, South American horses, Hackneys, Andulsians, Friesians, Vlaame, Persians, Brabs and the English Thoroughbred. These breeds all had a role in the development of the Boerperd of today.
There were however two types of breeders with different ideas: The breeders that tried to breed the true South African horse and the breeders that wanted to improve the breed by adding American Saddler blood ( Mainly 5 gaited horses from Tennessee and Kentucky). As a result of these different view point the Society divided into to seperate breeding Societies in 1977 that became known as the Kaapse (Cape) Boerperd( which were accepted as a breed in 1981) and the Historiese (Historical) Boerperd that later became known as the S.A Boerperd.
Breedprofile of the SA Boerperd
Height
Minimum height requirements for mares is 13.3hh and for stallions 14.2hh. Some grow to 16hh+
Colour
Mostly Bay, Grey, Chestnut and black but also Dun, Buckskin, Palimino and Roan. Lots of white markings are not favourable. Cremello's, paints, spotted horses or horses with blue eyes are not allowed.
Conformation
The SA Boerperd is a quality, balanced, allert animal with a royal apperance. The head should have some quality and have a big liquid eye, mid length sharp ears, a prominent jawline and chin and elastic nostrils. The neck should be of a good lengnht that is placed well of the whither, the shoulder should be sloping, the back realitively short with well sprung ribs. The mane and tail is wavy. The legs is dry and strong with hard hooves and horses should move straight and track up.
The SA Boerperd can be schooled to preform 5 gaits: Walk, trot, canter and slowgait and rack
The mark of quality
To register a foal at studbook both parents must be fully registered. From the age of two and a half years horses are brought before a panel of inspectors where horses are inspected to see if they meet the minimum criteria in terms of conformation, height and movement to be fully registered as a S.A Boerperd. On the achievement of this selection the horses are then branded with the Boerperd brand on the Right thigh. The selection criteria on stallions do require slightly higher marks than that of mares and geldings, DNA tests are performed to make sure that the breeding is order and horses have to be either tatooed on the upper gum or micro-chipped. On the left thigh the stud were the horse is bred normally apply their brand for easy identification of the stud where the horse comes from for example: ELC is Lang-Carel stud, PG is Hoefstraal stud and RG is Rooigras stud etc.
The SA Boerperd of today
The days where the SA Boerperd was mainly used as workhorses is something of the past. The breed have recieved a lot of popularity over the last couple of years as a sport and pleasure horse. It is a very versitale breed that is seen in almost every form of equine discipline as sport horse.
The Society's annual National Championships are held at the Afridome in Parys, Free State. There is also regional shows country wide in Ermelo, Mpumalanga, at the Royal Show in Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu Natal, at Riversdale, Western Cape, at the Bloemfonteinshow in the Free State and in Pretoria, Gauteng. Except for these shows, Boerperd classes are also hosted at some other shows like the prestigious Horse of the Year show and Swellendam show for instance.
At these shows the horses are divided into two divisions: Universal and Traditional.These include Inhand, Harness and Ridden classes, there is also sub divisions for junior and senior horses. Universal horses have low to medium high movement and are judge on the criteria of the South African Showing Association. There is among other classes for mares, geldings, stallions, children and juniors aswell as Working hunter and Working riding championships. Traditional horses have medium to high animated movement and class procedures are similar to the Saddler or South African Riding horse Classes. The Traditional division is split into 3-Gaited and 5-Gaited horses. Here is also a variety of classes detrmend by the gender of the animal or age of the riders. Saddleseat Equitation is now being introduced aswell. There is also harness classes: Single harness in the Universial and Tradisional side, Fine harness in Traditional as well as these classes for junior drivers aged 12 to 19 years old. At the National Championships and some regional shows there is also Championships for Showjumping and Dressage.
The breed is also seen excelling in multi-breed shows in Eventing, Dressage, Equitation, Endurance, Western, Showing, and Showjumping. They are also a familiar sight at SANESA shows (South African National Equestrian Schools Association). In 2014 and 2015 were the overall Victor Ludorms S.A Boerperde. They are how ever not only seen in the children and junior classes are also seen in a lot of affiliated shows where they are ridden by adults were they are a common sight among the prizewinners. There were also SA Boerperde that have taken part in the prestigious Young Horse Performance Series, hosted by the Warmblood society, here excellent places were achieved in both Dressage and Showjumping.
Besides their achievements attained in the various forms of competition the breed is also very popular as pleasure horses for every member of the family, There is also various pleasure rides that is arranged by the clubs, sometimes in the most breathtaking places in the country; be it in the mountains, in the bush or on the beach. This normally ends up in a "braai" or a jollification of some sort in the way only South Africans can.
The SA Boerperd is surely have something to offer for every rider and the horse for every horse enthusiast. LOCAL IS LEKKER!!
Sources
- SA BOERPERD The ideal sport and pleasure horse. Joernaal 2009. 92-97. Keiafa Knowlege works
- Boerperd Die geskiedenis van die SA Boerperd. Kobus du Toit,531-534pp.
- www.saboerperd.com
- Riding High - Horses, Humans and the History of South Africa Sandra Swart