The horse was introduced to South Africa in the seventeenth century with the advent of the earliest Dutch settlers. In time, horses became widespread in the region, used for both labor and recreation. This beautiful riding crop is reflective of the most decorative tastes in South African horse culture. It is lavishly beaded down its full length in an attractive palette of light blue, pink, black, white, and red, deployed in a variety of patterns. The handle and midsection of the crop show chevron and zigzag motifs, while the tapering end is wrapped with a helical pattern that is accented with light yellow beads. Just above the handle is a bulbous section with a number of spherical bead clusters attached with hide, which would provide the rider with a more stable grip.