The Barb or Berber is a North African breed of riding horse with great hardiness and stamina. It is closely associated with the history of Berber or Amazigh peoples of the Maghreb. It has influenced a number of modern breeds, including many in northern and western Africa.
Etymology
The first recorded use of the name "Barb" appears in the translation of the work Description of Africa by Hassan al-Wazzan (better known as Leo Africanus), which predates its adoption across Europe.. The Barb horse breed derives its name from the Barbary Coast states, according to French historian Jean-Marie Lassère, who attributes the name to the tradition of naming animals based on their geographical origin. Jean-Louis Gouraud, on the other hand, connects the Barb to the Berbers (the European name for the Imazighen), stating that "their histories and fates are inseparable". European sources also referred to this regional horse as "Berber," in reference to a region known under Roman rule as "Berberia" or "Barbaria". The term "Berber" is rooted in the ancient Greek word barbaros, a label the Romans used for non-Romans, especially the Numidians. Before this distinction, the term "Barb horse" was often synonymous with the Spanish Jennet or Zenata horse, referring to horses bred by the Moors (the European term for the conquerors of Al-Andalus) in the Iberian Peninsula.
History
The Godolphin Arabian, one of the foundation sires of the Thoroughbred, was often referred to as the "Godolphin Barb" due to his origins in Tunisia, though his actual breed remains debated. Some sources argue that his conformation more closely resembled a high-quality Barb horse rather than an Arabian.
In 2014, the International Equestrian Federation recognized the Barb horse as its Horse of Honor at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy.
Influence on other breeds
right|thumb|With a [[Spahi harness|alt=A grey horse with a military-style saddle]]
The Barb may have had more influence on the racing breeds throughout the world than any other horse except the Arabian. Berber invaders from North Africa took their horses, the forerunners of today's Barbs, to Europe from the early eighth century onwards. Once established with settlers on the Iberian Peninsula, the Barb horse was bred with Spanish stock under 300 years of Umayyad patronage to develop the Andalusian (and the Lusitano).