Escape

The Pandemic may have brought the world to a standstill, but that doesn’t mean that we had to be.

So when we got the call from an old friend of ours down in Lesotho in need of our help, it was a no-brainer. Lekena Bereng is a wonderful character. He lives in a most breath-taking part of Lesotho, in a tiny village in the Senqu Valley as the road soars and plummets through the countless mountain ranges from Semonkong heading east to Qacha’s Nek. Apart from the friendship formed by years of assisting us with Lesotho production, Lekena is, by day,  a qualified Farrier who does fantastic work looking after the iconic Basotho ponies – both health and hoof.

When we got the call from Lekena – in desperate need of horseshoes  – we were more than happy to help out. Besides the altruistic nature of the project – and the fact that Lesotho just happens to be one of our favourite destinations – we jumped at the chance to escape the shackles of lockdown.

ABOUT LESOTHO

Lesotho is one of the smaller countries enclaved in vast mountain ranges within South African borders – one of our favourite locations with vast biodiversity ranging from rocky terrain to rolling green hills with rich soil. It is also home to beautiful valleys and mountain ranges such as Maseru and Semonkong. The weather – which we have always enjoyed on every shoot – is pristine for about 300 of the  365 days in the year. Mind you – the winters are brutal, and summers are thunderous. All in all, it makes for an epic getaway location.

We made a call to the ‘horsies’ out there to donate whatever they could to a noble cause. The Western Shoppe had already made a generous donation – courtesy of the World Horse Welfare organization  – of a ton of horseshoes – and the response was amazing, with saddles, blankets, medication and ointments, helmets and other accessories came rolling in. Soon the vehicles were packed to the brim (with space for the mountain bikes of course – and we took to the road with hungry expectation.

This was an old fashioned road-trip – a time-honoured tradition of Film Fixers – with the classic open roads, sandstone mountain formations and beautiful (but freezing) evening constellations. The rapid metamorphosis from urban lockdown to being back in the mountains was spectacular. Time to run, cycle and appreciate this land-locked gem.

The appreciation from the rural recipients was very evident. Besides being iconic, the Basotho pony is an integral part of their lives, providing transport and income.

THE BASOTHO PONY

The renowned Basuto pony in integral to the culture and history of Lesotho and the Basotho nation; very unique and indigenous to the region. What makes them so special is that over the years, they have developed into a tough, sturdy breed built for the mountains with incredible stamina. The locals use them for transport and trekking through the wild and rough countryside. Basuto ponies have heavier heads, longer necks and straighter shoulders giving it strength to its back – making it possible to transport people and items across the country. A powerful and fearless beast; they are a well-respected animal in Lesotho.

And then, with the itch duly scratched, it was time for the long trip back to Johannesburg. It was amazing how different we felt, and driving back into the Johannesburg traffic, how alien it felt, even though it had only been 4 days.

A heartfelt shout-out to The Western Shoppe and World Horse Welfare, as well as the incredible people who donated equipment – and time – to this worthy cause. And a special thank you to Vikki Richardson for coordinating the project. A massive shout-out to Lekena and his team for the splendid work they do in really challenging conditions.

Last, but not least, a big thank you to Lesotho for recharging our souls – till next time!