Fleuve

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 

For the Pierre Favre album, see Fleuve (album).

Fleuve
Conservation status[not recognized
Other names
  • Wolof: Naru Gor
  • Narugor
  • French: Cheval du Fleuve
Country of originSenegal
Traits
Distinguishing features
  • Height: over 1.44 m[1]: 37 
  • Weight: 325 kg[2]

History

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

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

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
  1. J.-P. Dehoux, A. Dieng, A. Buldgen (1996). Le cheval Mbayar dans la partie centrale du bassin arachidier sénégalais (in French). Animal Genetic Resources Information 20: 35–54.
  2. Breed data sheet: Fleuve/Senegal. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed March 2016.
  3. [Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles] (2003). Rapport national sur l'état des ressources zoogénétiques au Sénégal (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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, 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.
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