HORSE AND PONY BREEDS

13. THE NAMIB DESERT HORSE

Profile

Breed name: Namib Desert Horse (Afrikaans: Namib Woestyn Perd)

Size: 14-15 hands

Coat colour: Bay, chestnut, brown

Place of origin: Namib Desert, Namibia

Ancestors: Domestic horses abandoned in the area in the 1920s

Namib Desert Horses are the only feral horses living in southern Africa. They manage to survive the heat of the Namib Desert, where temperatures can often reach 45 degrees Celsius.

Despite these harsh conditions, the Namib Desert Horses are generally in good condition, except if there is a severe drought in the area.

History

The most likely ancestors of these horses are a mix of riding horses and cavalry horses, mainly from German breeding programmes, which were released from various farms and camps in the early 20th century, especially during World War 1.

Characteristics

The Namib Desert horse tends to be athletic in appearance with strong bones and clean limbs. They are short-backed and generally look ‘well bred’ in terms of their head, skin and coat. They are usually dark in colour.

Future

Sadly, today, there are fewer than 300 Namib Desert Horses left and many young foals are hunted and killed by predators such as hyenas and jackals.

Work is ongoing to ensure a sustainable future for this special breed.