Somali Pony

Intro

The Somali Pony is a country bred animal from Somalia and there are several varieties within the breed, although their numbers are very small. They are bred by a number of local tribes, the Dhulbahante tribe being the largest breeder.

Origins

While they are called ponies, the Somali is more of a small horse. There is not much documentation on their history, but they are likely a country bred strain of Barb. The climate and conditions of Somalia are difficult for horses and has contributed to their small stature. However, these difficult conditions has shaped an incredibly tough little animal that can carry loads over long distances. Their hooves are so hard they perform better without shoes and live for days with no water if they have grass.

Features

Average height 13 – 13.5 hands

Physique

Head is heavy
Neck is short and thick
Hooves are very hard

Traditional Colors

chestnut | grey

Use

Riding pony
Pack animal
Intertribal fighting

More Images

Somali Pony

Image from Dhawaaq under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license

Video