Dongola horse explained

Dongola
Country:	Sudan
Use:	riding
Height:	152–157 cm
Status:	not at risk

The Dongola or Dongolawi is an African breed of riding horse. It is predominantly of Barb type, though there may have been some Arab influence in the past. It originated in the Dongola province of Sudan, for which it is named. In eastern Africa it is distributed in the northern part of Sudan and in western Eritrea; it is also present in several West African countries including Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic. A number of local West African breeds or types derive from it; they may be regarded as sub-types, or may be reported as separate breeds.

History

Regional variants of the Dongola include:

• the West African Dongola in Cameroon and the Central African Republic, usually dark or black with extensive white markings to the legs and sometimes to the belly
• the Bahr-el-Ghazal or Dongola breed of the Bahr-el-Ghazal region of Chad, which stands about, weighs some, and is usually dark with extensive white markings to the legs and sometimes to the belly; it may also be called the Kréda or Ganaston
• the Bornu of north-eastern Nigeria
• and the Haoussa or Hausa in northern Nigeria and parts of Niger.

A number of local West African breeds or types derive from cross-breeding Dongola and Barb stock; they may be regarded as sub-types of the Barb or of the Dongola, or may be reported as separate breeds. They include:

• in Burkina Faso, the Mossi and, in the northern part of the country, the Yagha or Liptako
• in Mali, the Bandiagara or Gondo, a light horse of about, normally either bay or grey, and the Songhaq or Songhoï
• in central Niger, the Djerma, a light horse seen in dark coat colours
• in Nigeria, the Nigerian, which stands about and is used for riding, for light traction and for pack work.

Characteristics

The Dongola usually has a convex profile.