| THO PONY* | | | | areas. Belgium was not one of the areas needing |
| Found in a South African enclave called Lesotha, the | | | | imports. In fact, this is the ancestral home and the only |
| Basotho Pony is primarily used as a riding horse. | | | | one to date for the Flemish horses. |
| Developed after 1825, the Basotho Pony is an | | | | The Belgium government was at the forefront of |
| offspring of the Cape Horse. Crossing with other | | | | maintain the genetic material of the great horse. They |
| horses such as the Thoroughbred and Arab breeds | | | | organized and created the Brussels national show, in |
| and exportation caused a near extinction of the | | | | which generous prizes were given for breed winners. |
| Basotho Pony in the early part of the twentieth | | | | Belgium began to treasure these draft horses and in |
| century. In the late twentieth century, efforts to | | | | 1891, the government beings of Autria, France, |
| strengthen the breed once more was strong thanks to | | | | Germany, Italy, and Russia made use of these horses. |
| the formation of the breed society. | | | | The Belgians became a very large financial aspect for |
| The Basotho Pony is well-know for its distinctive gaits, | | | | many breeders. |
| not only with the canter, trot, and walk, but also the | | | | In early 1887, in a town in Indiana, the American |
| pace and the triple. The Basotho Pony was | | | | Association was created. Still in existence today, this |
| responsible for the development of the Nooitgedacht | | | | association was responsible for the promotion of |
| Pony. | | | | many breeds of horses which includes the Belgian, |
| *BELGIAN* | | | | Shire, Clydesdale, and Percheron. The Belgians were |
| The Belgian – A History | | | | the subject of an exhibit, placed by the Belgium |
| A native to Belgium, the Belgian horse is derived from | | | | government, in the World Fair held in St. Louis in 1903. |
| the fertile land and thrifty farmers that Belgium is | | | | The popularity of the breed soared from that day |
| well-known for. The powerful, heavy Belgian feeds on | | | | forward. In 1910 registrations soared to 1773. In 1913, the |
| the hearty grain, hay, and pastures in the Belgium area. | | | | records were the same, memberships continued to |
| A European country, Belgium is in the heart, which | | | | grow on a yearly basis as new breeders were |
| makes it a prime breeding spot for the great horses | | | | established, this was until World War I began. In 1914, at |
| known as Flemish horses. Medieval writers dubbed | | | | the start of the war, imports were stopped. |
| these horses as such because they were in the | | | | This left all Belgian breeds to fend for themselves, |
| center of battles carrying armored knights. These | | | | which was not altogether bad, since they were able to |
| horses were also in existence during Caesars ruling. | | | | create Belgian horses of their own styles. For several |
| Flemish horses were directly responsible for all draft | | | | years during the depression Purebred Belgians were |
| breeds of the modern day. | | | | rare, however, in 1925 the numbers began to increase |
| Exported to various European areas, stallions were | | | | once again with record setting registrations. In 1937, |
| used to breed draft type horses of the larger kind, | | | | more than 3,000 Belgians were registered. |
| these were typically used for farming and industrial | | | | |