Spain

    Horses were in use in Spain as early as 1000 B.C., and Spanish breeds have influenced Continental and American horses.
    Barbs and Oriental types, introduced with the Muslim conquest of the 8th century, bred with the characteristically large-headed native stock, and later crossings produced the beautiful and docile Spanish Jennet of the Middle Ages--named more for their ambling pace than as a specific breed.  The jennet, a small Spanish horse bred in Granada by Berber peoples from the upland regions of Andalusia, and very popular in the Middle Ages, is said to descend from the Andalusian.  There are also many fine strains of the original type of Arabian horse in the country.
    The native pony of Spain is called the Sorraia, but it has not become as domesticated as the native ponies of other countries.  It has remained true to the original type and shows a remarkable similarity to the Przewalski--with the same characteristic stripes on its legs, a dorsal stripe and pale dun in color, but its conformation is more like that of the Tarpan.  I believe the Sorraia ponies are also sometimes called Garranos.
    In addition to the above-mentioned breeds, Spain is or was also home to the Tarbenian horse, the Majorca pony, and the Pottokak or pony of the Pyrenees.
    The so-called Spanish horse is a breed dating from the time of the invasion of Spain by the Saracens in 711 A.D.  The Arab and Barb horses brought in by the invaders were crossed with indigenous Spanish horses.  From this came a new breed which was called the Gineta (Jennet).  This horse was characterized by a Roman nose (convex facial profile), a "mule-like" croup, and extravagant (high_ leg action.  The horses of Andalusia in particular were the ones most valued.

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