Basque / Pottok Pony
The Basque Pony, or the Pottock, which in Spanish means "small Horse", is a breed with ancient origins. They are a mountain breed from the Basque provinces, Navarra, and Southwest France, although they are now found throughout France. The Pottock is an ancient breed of small horse found in the Basque region of Spain and France. It is believed that the Pottock descended from the prehistoric horse of Solutre and it also exhibits an Arab influence.
Many of the ponies live in a wild or semi-wild fashion in the inhospitable areas of the Basque provinces and are extremely tough and hardy, having adapted well to their environment. Although originally wild, today all Pottock have owners. Traditionally they are gathered on the last Wednesday of January, branded for identification and either sold or returned to the hills as breeding stock. During the winter they often resort to grazing on the prickly, spiny plants of the area, and grow thick whiskers on their upper lip to protect them from the spikes. In the summer months, when food is again plentiful, they shed the whiskers. As the qualities of the breed have been appreciated, it is likely that fewer of them exist in the wild now and they are more commonly tamed and trained for riding, pack, and draft work. Their powers of endurance are legendary and their relative lightness of frame and stature belies their strength.
The Pottock is considered a tough animal with considerable endurance. They are an
integral part of traditional Basque life. In the past they have been used
primarily as pack animals and to work in the mines. Since the late 1970s, they
came into demand as riding animals, particularly as children's mounts due to
their calm disposition.
There are three groups recognized within the Pottock breed - The Standard
Pattock, which varies from 11.1 hh to 13 hh; the Double Pattock, which varies
from 12.3 hh to 14.2 hh; and the Pinto Pottock, which has the same height limits
as the Standard. They were typically used for pack and light draft purposes but
more recently have become valued as children's riding ponies; they have a
natural jumping ability. They have excellent temperaments, being gentle, quiet
and willing, which again make them suitable for children. Recent infusions of
Arab and Welsh blood have improved their quality and conformation.
In appearance, the head is in proportion to the body with a straight profile, or sometimes a concavity through the forehead, long ears, large eyes, and an occasional overhanging upper lip. They may be ewenecked, with a straight shoulder, long straight back, wide chest, and rounded ribcage. The legs tend to be clean and fine in bone, with small strong hooves, although they are sometimes cowhocked behind. Typically, they are bay, brown, chestnut or pinto, and stand between 11.1 hh and 14.2 hh.
Today it is bred out of its native mountain region and has found considerable
acceptance as a dressage mount. In 1983, a purebred Pottock named Kuzko was
French National Champion in a discipline combining dressage and show jumping.
The Pottock has also been found to be an outstanding harness animal.