Urban draft horses in Senegal. Situation and economic value in the city of Thies

Abstract

The study describes the situation and economic value of draft horses in urban and suburban Senegal, with a focus on the city of Thies. One hundred horse cars (64 cabs and 36 carts) were randomly chosen and their drivers interviewed. The data were about drivers, horses, characteristics and management of carts and also economic results (costs and returns). For six working days a week, cabs and carts generated for their owners an average daily monetary net gain of about 61% (2202 CFA francs) and 66% (2779 CFAF) of their daily turnover (3600 and 4200 CFAF, respectively). Carts seemed slightly more profitable since their fares were higher. The economic worth of the horses is shown and recommendations are made to improve performances and to integrate them into the national economy.