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Island Survivor - The Abaco Barb

Published by GHC • Jul 28th, 2007 • Category: International Horse, Junior Bloggers, Take a Stand, by Syd

by Syd, age 12

Far away in the Bahamas lies an island called Abaco, home to one of the most endangered and beautiful horses in the world — the Abaco Barb! Or as I like to call them, island survivors.

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The Abaco Barb is actually the most endangered breed alive. Today the herd is made up of just four stallions and four mares — that’s only eight total! There used to be around two hundred of these magnificent beauties, until the 1960’s when a road was built across the length of the breed’s island home. With that road came more humans, not a great thing. Some horses were captured for work or pleasure riding or racing.

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The Abaco Barb’s number plummeted more when dogs killed some foals, but what really diminished the breed was the death of a child trying to ride one of the wild horses. After this child’s death many people were angry and it resulted in great killing of the breed. Yes, I know it sounds extremely stupid that one child’s death almost cost the breed their existence. Many children and adults die on horseback, but you don’t see those people trying to make the breed extinct!

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Now these horses, living free on their island habitat, are nearly gone. But not all hope is lost. The horses now live on a preserve in Abaco set aside by the government.

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So what are you waiting for? Go out there and help save this breed! Don’t just sit there and say, “What can I do — I’m only a kid!” There is plenty you can do! I recently started a club to help all endangered breeds of equines. You can do the same, or go to the Abaco Barb Wild Horse Fund and find out more ways you can help this magnificent fighting, but (barely) still surviving breed!

A Note from Girls Horse Club: Many thanks to Milanne Rehor, founder of the Abaco Barb Wild Horse Fund, for her input on this article and the use of her beautiful photos. Milanne has a fascinating life and her dedication to the Abaco Barb breed is an inspiration. And she can assure you — kids DO make a difference. Just check out the Abaco Barb Youth Project.

Also thanks to the people at Arnd Bronkhorst Photography who gave us a one-time use of their stunning photos to help Milanne and her preservation effort.

And last (but not least), thanks to Syd for taking a stand *and* taking action. Her article, Milanne’s efforts, and the generosity of Arnd Bronkhorst Photography have inspired us to make a donation on behalf of the herd at GirlsHorseClub.com. Hopefully others will follow to help preserve this island survivor.

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  1. Animalsrkool on July 28th, 2007

    Those poor,beautiful horses. i never knew they existed! thanks Syd for telling me about them. They’re really beautiful.

  2. Julia on July 28th, 2007

    They are some of the most extraordinary horses I’ve ever seen! I just don’t see the logic in killing all the horses when it’s pretty stupid for a litle child to ride a feral horse… :-S

  3. Marisa on July 28th, 2007

    Wow! There’s only 8 left! We need to help them! And why would someone just try to hop on a wild horse thinking they would react like a domestic horse! Pretty stupid! I’m going to that Abaco Barb Wild Horse Fund website!

  4. jothehorse on July 28th, 2007

    wow, thats amazing! Thanks for sharing this with us, your really helping out those 8 horses!

  5. Madelaina on July 28th, 2007

    That’s pathetic. The child should have known better, and just because of him or her an entire breed of horse might have been wiped out! Just the same, if a child was killed on a wild Mustang or any other wild horse breed then does that mean they will be wiped out as well? It’s amazing how unlogical people can be! Thanks Syd for this blog! :))

  6. Marisa on July 28th, 2007

    I agree with you Madelaina, all those horses died because of a child who acted stupid!

  7. risingrainbow on July 29th, 2007

    I have heard of these horses before. There is another blog that has written about them and visited them, can’t remember the name right now. Your pictures are amazing.

  8. Horsecrazzz on July 29th, 2007

    Syd,
    you are amazing! Thank you for writing this! Now that we all know, we have to do something! O:-) We should be like their gardian angels!

  9. Marisa on July 29th, 2007

    We can join the club you said that you started!

  10. Horsecrazzz on July 29th, 2007

    This is horrible!

  11. Horsecrazzz on July 29th, 2007

    I mean the things that are happening not the blog!

  12. LeadMare on July 30th, 2007

    Syd: We’ve had people contact us wanting to reprint your article on their site to help the Abaco Barb. Please let us know if that’s OK with you.

    Also, the Abaco Barb Youth project would like to send you a certificate. If that’s OK with you and your parents, you can contact the project coordinator, Susan Dudasik, through their site.

    http://www.geocities.com/smh4hc/abyp.html

  13. ponyprincess on July 30th, 2007

    Thank You Syd for bringing these horses to our attention! What can I do to help :-?

  14. Horsecrazzz on July 30th, 2007

    If you go to the site Pony Princess, they have lots of ideas

  15. ponyprincess on August 1st, 2007

    Thank you Horsecrazzz! The Cash For Critters idea is pretty neat!

  16. Tori on August 4th, 2007

    Ill ask my parents if I can join!

  17. Syd on August 5th, 2007

    ya u guys can join my club! just go to my website: http://www.freewebs.com/equinelifestyle oh and LeadMare it is ok for them to reprint my article as long as they give me credit! As for the child i think this Abaco Barb was domesticated but I’m not sure! but i do agree the child was stupid! Also thanks everyone for wanting to help!