Fleuve
| Conservation status | [not recognized |
|---|---|
| Other names | |
| Country of origin | Senegal |
| Traits | |
| Distinguishing features | |
The Fleuve is a breed of horse from Senegal, in West Africa.[2] Its name is the French word for "big river"; it is named for the Senegal River (French: Fleuve Sénégal). It is one of four Senegalese horse breeds, the others being the Foutanké, the M'Bayar and the M'Par.[3]: 23
History
[edit]The origins of the horse in Senegal are not documented.[4]: 261 The Fleuve derives from Sahel-type horses from the Hodh and Kayes regions of modern-day Mauretania and Mali, to the north of Senegal.[4]: 262 Those in turn are descended from Barb horses from the Maghreb countries further to the north.[5]: 14 The Fleuve has been described as a "degenerate Barb".[1]: 37–38
In 1996, Senegal had a horse population of about 400,000 head, the largest of any West African country.[1]: 36 This was a substantial increase from the 216,000 reported in 1978,[5]: 10 and a much greater increase from the population after the Second World War, estimated at barely 30,000.[4]: 260 Population numbers for the Fleuve are not reported.[2] In 2007 the FAO did not have data from which to estimate the conservation status of the breed.[6]: 101
Characteristics
[edit]The Fleuve is normally grey. It is a well-made horse, with a fine head and slender legs; it is energetic, with lively gaits. Poor examples may be too narrow in the chest, or have insufficient bone in the legs.[5]: 37
Use
[edit]Horses play an important part in the social and economic life in Senegal.[1]: 52 The Fleuve was once the horse of chieftains; it is now used as a saddle-horse and for horse-racing.[5]: 15
It is also used in cross-breeding: a cross between a Fleuve stallion and an M'Bayar mare gives rise to the type called Foutanké.[5]: 15
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d J.-P. Dehoux, A. Dieng, A. Buldgen (1996). Le cheval Mbayar dans la partie centrale du bassin arachidier sénégalais[dead link] (in French). Animal Genetic Resources Information 20: 35–54.
- ^ a b c Breed data sheet: Fleuve/Senegal. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed March 2016.
- ^ [Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles] (2003). Rapport national sur l'état des ressources zoogénétiques au Sénégal[dead link] (in French); annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed March 2016.
- ^ a b c R. Larrat (1947). L'élevage du cheval au Sénégal (in French). Revue d'élevage et de médecine vétérinaire des pays tropicaux 1 (4): 257–265.
- ^ a b c d e Magatte Ndiaye (1978). Contribution à l'étude de l'élevage du cheval au Sénégal (doctoral thesis, in French). Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Médecine Vétérinaires de Dakar. Accessed March 2016.
- ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources[dead link], annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed March 2016.