Fleuve

The Fleuve is a Senegalese breed of riding horse.Template:R Its name is the French word for "big river"; it is named for the Senegal River (Template:Langx). It is one of four Senegalese horse breeds, the others being the Foutanké, the M'Bayar and the M'Par.Template:R

History

The origins of the horse in Senegal are not documented.Template:R The Fleuve derives from Sahel-type horses from the Hodh and Kayes regions of modern-day Mauretania and Mali, to the north of Senegal.Template:R Those in turn are descended from Barb horses from the Maghreb countries further to the north.Template:R The Fleuve has been described as a "degenerate Barb".Template:R

In 1996, Senegal had a horse population of about head, the largest of any West African country.Template:R This was a substantial increase from the reported in 1978,Template:R and a much greater increase from the population after the Second World War, estimated at barely .Template:R Population numbers for the Fleuve are not reported.Template:R In 2007 the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations did not have data from which to estimate the conservation status of the breed.Template:R

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.Template:R

Use

Horses play an important part in the social and economic life in Senegal.Template:R The Fleuve was once the horse of chieftains; it is now used as a saddle-horse and for horse-racing.Template:R

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.Template:R