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GESKIEDENIS - HISTORY


Vreemd soos dit mag lyk, het die Vlaamperd (Vlaamse perd) nie die ontwikkeling in Vlaandere, maar in Suid-Afrika. Tydens die 19de eeu het 'n kenmerkende tipe perd tot stand gekom in die voormalige Kaap Provinsie, naamlik die "Hantam Perd", wat deur die gebruik van goeie gehalte Arabiese en van volbloed hingste ingevoer is en ontwikkel is deur Lord Charles Somerset in 1820.

Na die einde van die Anglo - Boere-oorlog in 1902, was 'n paar Fries hingste na Suid-Afrika deur 'n Kaapstadse begrafnisondernemer. Blykbaar was daar 'n verbod op die uitvoer van Friesperde van Holland deur die Nederlandse owerhede in die tyd. Om hierdie regulasie te ontduik, is die Friesperde verskeep van die Belgiese hawe van Antwerpen. As 'n gevolg, is hierdie Friesian hingste genoem "Vlaamse perde", met verwysing na die hawe van hul vertrek. Die naam word algemeen aanvaar in die gemeenskaplike taal en het ook die voorkeur-term om te verwys na die nageslag van hierdie vroeë ingevoerde hingste. Hierdie Friesian hingste is gebruik om op die Hantam en ander plaaslike merries en die nageslag het uiteindelik die fondasie voorraad van 'n nuwe Suid-Afrikaanse ras.

Dit moet egter beklemtoon word dat die Friesian was nie die enigste ras wat 'n rol gespeel het in die skepping van die SA Vlaamperd nie.
'N ingevoerde East-Friesian/Oldenburg hings met die naam "Kemp" het 'n groot invloed op die teel van die Vlaamperd in Suid-Afrika. Daar was ook 'n toevoeging van 'n paar Cleveland-baai Bood en selfs vandag nog, 'n paar van die Cleveland-baai kan nog steeds waargeneem word in sekere Vlaamperd perde.

'N bekende hings, "Scheepers", geteel en in besit van die familie van der Merwe van Kwaggasfontein, Sutherland (1930's) en verkoop in 1942 aan mnr H. Serdyn van Riebeek-Wes in die Boland, het die grootste invloed op die teling en ontwikkeling van die Vlaamperd.

Die Vlaamperd ras het sy oorsprong in die Wes-Kaap, wat beskou word as die mekka van hierdie ras.

Die Vlaamperd is 'n ware dubbeldoel-perd. In die tuig is dit byna ongeëwenaard, met sy grasieuse optrede en stylvol hoë trap aksie, terwyl as 'n Saalperd sy voorrang is goed bekend aan die mees kieskeurige ruiters.

Die Vlaamperd is uiters aanpasbaar in enkel-en dubbel tuig, as 'n span van vier en 'n span van agt. Sy pragtige voorkoms en mak geaardheid, saam met ander eienskappe maak van die Vlaamperd 'n baie gewilde ras, vir die vertoon sowel as vir feeste, troues en toerisme. Die hoof kleur in hierdie ras is swart, maar vaal-swart en donker bruin word toegelaat met merries. Die ideaal bly egter 'n swart perd. Die Vlaamperd se hoogte is tussen 14,2 en 15,2 hand. Dit is 'n liggewig perd met 'n fyn beenstruktuur.

Die SA Vlaamperd Breeders 'Society is gestig in Bloemfontein in 1983. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Vlaamperd is 'n gevestigde, onafhanklike ras en word beskou as 'n kosbare bate van Suid-Afrika wat groter erkenning verdien.



Strange as it may seem, the Vlaamperd (Flemish Horse) did not develop in Flanders but in South Africa. During the 19th century a distinctive type of horse came into being in the former Cape Province, namely the "Hantam Horse", which was developed through the use of good quality Arabian and Thoroughbred stallions imported by Lord Charles Somerset in 1820's.

After the end of the Anglo - Boer war in 1902, some Friesian stallions were imported to South Africa by a Cape Town funeral undertaker. Apparently there was a prohibition on the exportation of Friesian horses from Holland by the Dutch authorities at the time. To evade this regulation, the Friesian horses were shipped from the Belgian harbour of Antwerp. As a consequence, these Friesian stallions were called "Vlaamse perde", referring to the port of their departure. The name became generally accepted in the common language and also became the preferred term when referring to the offspring of these early imported stallions. These Friesian stallions were used on the Hantam and other local mares and the progeny eventually became the foundation stock of a new South African breed.

It must however be stressed that the Friesian was not the only breed to play a role in the creation of the SA Vlaamperd
An imported East-Friesian/Oldenburg stallion by the name of "Kemp" had a great influence on the breeding of the Vlaamperd in South Africa. There also was an infusion of some Cleveland-bay bood and even today, some of the Cleveland-bay can still be observed in certain Vlaamperd horses.

A famous stallion, "Scheepers", bred and owned by the family van der Merwe of Kwaggasfontein, Sutherland (1930's) and sold in 1942 to Mr. H. Serdyn from Riebeek Wes in Boland, had the greatest influence on the breeding and development of the Vlaamperd.

The Vlaamperd breed had its origin in the Western Cape which is considered to be the mecca of this breed.

The Vlaamperd is a truly dual-purpose horse. In harness it is almost peerless, with its graceful conduct and stylish high stepping action, while as a saddle horse its eminence is well-known to the most fastidious riders.

The Vlaamperd is extremely adaptable in single and double harness, as a team of four and a team of eight. Its beautiful appearance and docile disposition, together with other qualities make the Vlaamperd a very popular breed, for showing as well as for festivals, weddings and tourism. The main colour found in this breed is black, though pale-black and dark brown are allowed with mares. The ideal however remains a black horse. The Vlaamperd's height is between 14.2 hand and 15.2 hand. It is a lightweight horse with a fine bone structure.

The SA Vlaamperd Breeders' Society was formed in Bloemfontein in 1983. The South African Vlaamperd is an established, independent breed and is considered a precious asset of South Africa that deserves greater recognition

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