West African Barb or Arab-Barb Horse Breed

    
Countries of Origin: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania

The West African Barb is found in the western most regions of West Africa. It is a light horse used for both riding and as a draft animal. The foundation breed of the West African Barb is the Barb. Most West African Barb horses are gray and small. It should not be confused with the Algerian, Moroccan or Tunisian Barb horses. They resemble the Pony Mousseye of Cameroon. The West African Donoga breed descended from the Dongola breed. Several names apply to these strain of West African horses. Fulani (across North Africa), Bahr-el-Ghazal (in Chad), and Hausa and Bornee (in Nigeria) Bandiagara, Djerma, Mossi, Songhai and Yagha (in Niger Bend).

Note: "The Maghreb...also rendered Maghrib, refers to five countries located in North Africa. It is an Arabic word, literally meaning "place of sunset" or "the west" (from an Arabian perspective). The term is generally now used, mainly by Arabs, to refer collectively to the African countries of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania and the disputed territory of Western Sahara. However, before the establishment of modern nation states in the region in the 20th century, "Maghreb" signified the smaller area that lies between the high ranges of the Atlas Mountains in the south, and the Mediterranean Sea in the north, thus excluding most of Libya and all of current Mauritania. Sometimes, after Islam entered the region, the term has included the previously Muslim Andalusia, Sicily, and Malta." Maghreb

Uses

The West African Barb Horse is used for riding and draft purposes.

For More Information:

International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds