Batak Pony
The
Batak is an Indonesian breed of pony, which originates in Central Sumatra and is
probably descended from ancient stock. Similar to other Indonesian breeds such
as the Sandalwood and Bali, the Batak probably has
Mongolian and Arab blood in its ancestry, and has for
many years been regularly improved by infusions of Arab blood. The Batak is
highly regarded among the Indonesian people and is selectively bred and used to
upgrade stock from neighboring islands.
The Batak has long been a central part of the life for the local people and at one time was commonly used for sacrificial ceremonies to the gods. Today's Batak is a popular riding pony, of the same class and spirit. It clearly owes a debt to the Arab and exhibits fewer Mongolian features than some of the other Indonesian breeds. It has an excellent temperament and is docile and quiet, thus suitable for children, while it can be lively and energetic on request. They are strong and sturdy, but often slender in frame. They are attractive ponies of reasonable conformation and their shortcomings and faults are probably largely due to the difficult and poor environment in which they are raised. They are second only to the Sandalwood among Indonesian breeds in terms of quality, conformation, and ability. The Batak is an obliging pony, economical to feed, and easy to keep. They are very popular among the local people as they are capable of an admirable turn of speed and are commonly used in local races. The other pony breed found in Sumatra is the Gayoe. The Gayoe is probably a strain of the Batak and the two have similarities, although in general the Gayoe is a more stocky pony with less spirit and quality.
In appearance, the Batak has a fine head with either a straight or slightly convex profile. Often the neck is short, thin and weak, and runs into fairly prominent withers for a pony breed. They are lightly build, slender, having a narrow chest and frame, and often a long back, and sloping quarters. The tail is usually set and carried high, which give the pony an attractive look. Conformation of the legs is not great and they are often long with poor muscle development and long, fine, cannon bones. The hooves are mostly hard, the breed can be any color, and they can stand at up to 13 hh.