Horse Riding Trails Tour - Pony Trekking Tour

Maseru - Morija - Malealea

After breakfast, the group will take a 45-minute drive to the Morija Museum (where cultural items, historical artifacts, and archives are kept). The tour will then continue to Malealea (a pony trekking center in Lesotho). On arrival at Malealea, the group will embark on the day village activities such as visiting the local school and taking a tour through the village where they will interact with the local villagers.

The famous traditional Sangoma (traditional healer/herbalist) will also be visited for consultation. Basotho ponies will be on standby for those who want to explore the nearby waterfalls on a horse ride. A local band can also be arranged for entertainment.

The Nooitgedachter is a South African breed of riding horse. It is the result of a selective breeding program established in 1952 to preserve the Basutho Pony of Lesotho. It was later decided to give it a different name; it was at first called the Nooitgedacht Pony, named for the Proefplaas Nooitgedacht, the research station near Ermelo in Eastern Transvaal (now Mpumalanga) where it was bred; it was later called the Nooitgedacht Horse until the present name was chosen.  It is a rare breed, with only about 400 purebreds in existence.

History

The Nooitgedachter was created in the mid-twentieth century by the Department of Agriculture of the Union of South Africa, which established a program of selective breeding at the Proefplaas Nooitgedacht, a research station near Ermelo in Eastern Transvaal (now Mpumalanga). The project was initially called the Basutho Pony Project and had two aims: to preserve the Basutho Pony of Lesotho, which had been in decline since the time of the Anglo-Boer War of 1899–1902; and to create a breed of hardy riding horse for South Africa.

The name was later changed, first to Nooitgedacht Pony, then to Nooitgedacht Horse, and finally to Nooitgedachter. Although the Afrikaans word nooitgedacht means roughly "never imagined", this is not the origin of the name of the breed, which derives from that of the research station. 

Characteristics

The Nooitgedachter was bred to be a sturdy and compact riding horse capable of carrying a heavy adult rider over difficult terrain for extended periods, with good stamina, a good temperament, and hooves so strong that it does not normally need to be shod. Height at the withers ranges from 138 to 163 cm (13.2 to 16.0 hands).

In the early years of the breeding program grey – in all its shades – was the preferred coat colour. Under the 2015 breed standard, the horses may be of any solid color; patterned coats – such as spotted, skewbald, or piebald – are disallowed, as are blue eyes and de-pigmented skin.

The horses commonly have five gaits. In addition to the usual walk, trot, and canter they may also have an ambling gait, known as strykstap, and a rack, which in South Africa is called "triple".

Uses:

The Nooitgedachter is a strong and hardy riding horse, well adapted to the environmental conditions of South Africa, and suitable for use as a working horse in the management of farm livestock.

Highlights of the Tour:

Museum and Archives

Morija Church

Scott Hospital (birthplace of the reigning King of Lesotho)

Dinosaur footprints

Cultural artifacts (Basotho hat, traditional attire)

Pony trekking

Visit Bushmen paintings,

Rock pools,

Waterfalls and gorge walks are plentiful.

Inclusive in the Tour:

Transport

Tour Guide

Lunch

Pony trekking

Entrance Fees

Exclusive in the Tour:

Items of personal use

Hotel expenses

Breakfast & Dinner

** A minimum of 2 people for the tour to take place