The Spanish Barb was once one of the most sought after riding horses in the world. But now the true Spanish Barb is a rare nobility, and indeed less than 2000 have been registered. The name “Spanish Barb” was not used in America until the 20th century, but for convenience the name will be used throughout this article. Until the Spanish name Barb was used, horses were often called Spanish Jennets, Berbers, African Barbs or just Barbs.
There is some evidence that since many modern horse breeds such as the Paso Fino, the Peruvian Paso and the Kiger mustang contain Spanish Barb blood, the breed could be revived if it were truly extinct. Since there are only about 200 horses per year registered with the Spanish Barb Breeders Association, adding extra blood may be an option in the future but is currently not practiced.
A brief history
Around 711 CE, the Berbers of North Africa invaded Spain, bringing with them their agile and agile horses. The Berbers stayed in Spain for nearly eight hundred years and left a lasting impression on all the horses in the fields. By mixing the tougher Eastern horses with the heavy local war horses, the horse was not only used for the horse, but also for riding around and working with cattle.
According to Storey’s Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America (Storey Publishing; 2005), Spanish Barbs were the most common breed in the American West until 1803 when the fleeing country bought American territory from Spain. Also around this time Spanish Barb-type horses were popular with the Native tribes.
When the American national government began to systematically exterminate the tribes, this was also an extension to riding horses or being captured. removed into the wild. The Spanish Barb-type horse or any Barb breed was also systematically exterminated. But some shrewd ranchers recognized the small value of the horses and took care to save them for their own use.
In 1957, one person, Susan Field-Paulton, tried to save the race. By 1965, the stock was founded by a whopping two mares and two colts, one of which was a Medicine Hat pinto named Sun. The other shooter, Scarface, was brought up by the Romero family of Mexico, which was quietly born in Spanish Barbs after the 1800s. The names of the foundation mares were Coche two and A-Ka-wi. All known Spanish Barbs living today are traced back to these four horses.
General view
The Spanish beard has a straight or slightly curved shape, a broad, flat forehead narrowing to a small muzzle. They are often small in comparison with the rest of the head, but mares have ears about an inch longer than horses. Eyes are usually described as “expressive”, but when you look into them, you can almost see the wheels turning in your head as they check you out.
Their bodies are lean but muscular like the body of a marathon runner. They have high chests, short backs and strong legs. The claws work hard. The selection and the latter are well rounded to give power and ability in the book. Adults rarely taller than 14.3 hands high, 14 hands average height. Horses slightly taller than 14.3 can be described with the Association of Spanish Barb Horses, if they all meet the other physical requirements.
There is no limitation to the colors and markings that Spanish Barbs have, although dun maker colors seem to be the most common. Blacks, bays, roans, chestnuts, grays and pintos also appear. Blue eyes or horses with two eye colors (as seen in pints) are allowed. There will be many thick manes, ducks and tails.
Additional References
- International Dictionary of Horse Breeds Bonnie Hendricks. University of Oklahoma Press, 1995.
- Storey’s Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America. Judith Dutson. File Publishing, 2005.
- Official Book of Breeds of Latin Horses Fran Lynghaug. Voyageur; 2009.
Report:
- www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/ horses/spanishbarb/ index.htm
- www.spanishbarb.com/SBHA_Resources.html
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhHA3rfLSs0< /li>
