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July 1, 2015

1704 EAST TIMOR - A boy riding a Timor Pony


Strong, frugal, agile, and intelligent, the Timor Pony have a quiet and willing temperament, and is used by the local people for cattle work, as well as riding, driving, and light farm work. It has elements of two ancient horse breeds: the Tarpan, or Eurasian wild horse; and the Przewalski, or Asiatic wild horse. It has a narrow frame, short back, muscular neck, prominent withers, and a sloping croup. The shoulders tend to be straight, but the legs and feet are strong. It usually stand 10 to 12 hands high (102 to 122 cm), and is usually brown, black, and bay, less often gray.

The Timor Pony was developed on Timor Island, likely from Indian breeds of horses and ponies that were imported, and is thought to be closely related to the Flores Pony, which was developed on nearby Flores Island. During the first half of the 19th century, a number of these ponies were imported into Australia, where they have had considerable influence on the development of Australian breeds, such as Walers and Coffin Bay pony. During the WWII, Australian and Dutch commandos of Sparrow Force used the ponies in operations against the Japanese.

About the stamps
The first stamp is one of the two released in 2000 by East Timor and UNTAET (United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor), actually the first issue of East Timor.

The second stamp is part of the series Independence 2002, released to celebrate the gaining of the independence from Indonesia (May 20, 2002), the first issue of independent East Timor:
• a traditional crocodile design
• ceremonial palm wreaths - It's on the postcard
• the coffee harvest
• the flag of East Timor
Stamps and pack designs incluse Tais weavings made by the women of the Murak Rai Foundation.

References
Timor Pony - Wikipedia
Timor Pony - National Museum Australia official website

Sender: Tanig Koban
Sent from Dili (East Timor), on 22.01.2015
Photo: Josh Trinidade

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