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Blesfontein's AppaloosasWhen you visit the farm, perched on the high plateaus overlooking the remote Tankwa Karoo, you'll be privileged to see and meet a herd of beautiful "spotty horses", Appaloosas who freely roam the Karoo mountains. Blesfontein's Appaloosas are hardy, strong horses, much like their predecessors, the beautiful horses of the Nez Perce Indians.
Blesfontein Farm is situated 28 km south west of Sutherland in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. It covers 3060HA of land and is farmed together with Bo-Plaas (5023HA) and De Hoop (2217HA). |
The history of Blesfontein Appaloosa Stud Farm
Up until 2012 the van der Merwe family, owners of Blesfontein, were unacquainted with the Appaloosa breed. In 1987 Marina had to give up studying veterinary science at Pretoria University as a result of a sudden and severe allergy for animals. Over the years the van der Merwe family did own a couple of Boerperd geldings, but Marina stayed away from horses for 25 years… until Blitz, the family's favorite old Boerperd, came down with colic on a day when Marina was home alone. With no vet available, she struggled for the entire day to keep the horse from rolling over. She applied sunflower oil by means of a tube into the stomach and aspirins to reduce pain. By the end of the day, Blitz started getting better, the rest of the family arrived home and Marina knew that her allergy for horses had disappeared. And then, as Nicol humourously describes it, "horse madness set in!"
All of a sudden there was a whole new world of opportunity around horses on Blesfontein. The van der Merwe family started looking for suitable horses to take inexperienced visitors for game viewing on horseback. While looking at a picture of an old thoroughbred mare, a strange spotted horse in the background of the photo – coloured almost like a dalmation dog - drew their attention. Upon enquiry, Marina discovered the existence of the most wonderful horse breed: the Appaloosa. Her enthusiasm for Appaloosa horses developed "like a house on fire", according to Nicol.
Today a herd of 19 beautiful Appaloosa horses roam freely on Blesfontein Guest farm. Some are breeding stock, some are old favorites and others are ridden by the family and their visitors.
After initially buying every Appaloosa they could afford or lay their hands on, the van der Merwe family started buying more selectively from other breeders, and have started a solid well-researched breeding programme.
Today the Blesfontein Appaloosa Stud is recognised as a key South African breeder and has set its sights towards international recognition. Above all else, Blesfontein Appaloosa Stud aims to preserve this exquisite breed for future generations.
All of a sudden there was a whole new world of opportunity around horses on Blesfontein. The van der Merwe family started looking for suitable horses to take inexperienced visitors for game viewing on horseback. While looking at a picture of an old thoroughbred mare, a strange spotted horse in the background of the photo – coloured almost like a dalmation dog - drew their attention. Upon enquiry, Marina discovered the existence of the most wonderful horse breed: the Appaloosa. Her enthusiasm for Appaloosa horses developed "like a house on fire", according to Nicol.
Today a herd of 19 beautiful Appaloosa horses roam freely on Blesfontein Guest farm. Some are breeding stock, some are old favorites and others are ridden by the family and their visitors.
After initially buying every Appaloosa they could afford or lay their hands on, the van der Merwe family started buying more selectively from other breeders, and have started a solid well-researched breeding programme.
Today the Blesfontein Appaloosa Stud is recognised as a key South African breeder and has set its sights towards international recognition. Above all else, Blesfontein Appaloosa Stud aims to preserve this exquisite breed for future generations.
"There simply is
no horse
quite like an Appaloosa.
Come and see for yourself… and fall in love."
CONTACT BLESFONTEIN: Mobile: +27 83 633 4913 Email: [email protected]
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Please note: Blesfontein is a working farm with lots of farm animals and resident wildlife. We love to have you interact with them but please leave your dogs at home. Blesfontein is not pet-friendly. |
