South Africa

    The ability of a relatively few Dutch farmers in South Africa to withstand the might of the British Empire from 1899 to 1902 came as an incredible surprise to the whole world.  But the British troops, mounted on unacclimatized, overweighted horses, weak from a long sea voyage, were quick to realize the main source of the Boers' strength.  It lay with the sturdy little Basuto ponies they rode.
    Because the veld was their own familiar homeland, the Boers were able to rest and graze their horses by day, their commandos moving quickly by night to harass the British troops.  The high reputation of the animals they rode remains, even though true Basuto ponies--first acquired in Basutoland around 1822 by Zulu raiding--are hard to come by today.

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