forth great strength, endurance and stamina, weed out the weakly- 

 ones and only the fittest survive for a foundation stock on which to 

 graft any qualities we desire. 



The public sale of horses in 1665 markes the year when horse- 

 breeding was taken up by farmers as part of their agricultural 

 pursuits. The animals were small yet efficient enough to supply 

 all their needs in ploughing, transport and military exploits. The 

 Commandos (light cavalry) then formed, played a great part in all 

 their warfare and developed to v/orld-wide fame during the last war 

 when British troops ' ' with double teams could not keep up vf ith the 

 boer commandos. "^^ With the exception of a few "fine stallions" 

 (schone hengsten) among the early imporations further breeding 

 was carried on by selecting the most efficient young stallions re- 

 gardless of beauty of form, making the highest amount of good 

 qualities the qualification for selection. In 1689 the year Byerly 

 Turk first attracted attention to the breeding from Oriental sires 

 in England, fresh blood was introduced by the importation of sev- 

 eral stallions from Persia; this was a wise step for the "breed of 

 horses has deteriorated very much in size."^^ 



At the end of the 17th century horse-breeding was firmly estab- 

 lished and the farmers complimented themselves on possessing an 

 animal of "general utility," hardy, self-supporting and of good 

 constitution and temperament. The settlement counted about 1000 

 souls, and owned 261 horses, 4189 cattle, 48,960 sheep ; while the 

 company possessed 140 horses, 1164 cattle and 9218 sheep on their 

 farms.^" 



In the following century rapid strides were made into the in- 

 terior. New and extensive pastures were found beyond the first 

 mountain ranges and the foundations of the great pastural com- 

 munity with larger flocks were laid. Except a probable importa- 

 tion of a horse or two by the returning fleets, the breed of horses 

 received no additional foreign blood for the better part of a cen- 

 tury. During those eventful days amid hosts of barbarians and 

 wild animals the best that was in horseflesh was appealed to, and 

 this established a foundation stock that would yield wonderful re- 

 sults when mated with animals that could make up such qualities 



(51) B. Bromley — Spealcing of 30 years' experience in Ag. Jour, of Cape Col- 



ony Vol. XXXIII. 



(52) ArcJiieves of Cape of Good Hope 1652-1795- 



(53) George McCall Theal. History of South Africa 1652-1795. 



27 



