Barb

The Barb comes from the coastal belt of Northwest Africa, countries such as Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, like the Arabian, have a tremendous effect on many breeds of horse that we see today. They are an extremely ancient breed, and little is known about their exact origins, although they do bear some similarities to the postulated primitive Horse Type 3. It has been the subject of great debate as to whether the Barb contains some Arabian blood, and it is testament to the dominance of the Barb's genes that they have maintained their characteristics. having said that, however, the Barb has been extensively crossbred in recent years and exists in slightly varying types across North Africa.

The Barb and the Arabian are both typical desert horses with fine skin and great endurance. However, the two breeds should not be confused. The Barb has very distinctive characteristics, such as their convex or Roman profile that is seen in many of the Iberian horses influenced by the Barb. In appearance, the Barb has a fairly narrow head, that tapers from the forehead to the fine nostrils. They have curved ears, which are also seen in the Arabian, and expressive oriental type eyes. They tend to have a muscular neck which curves gently from prominent withers to the poll. Often the shoulders are rather flat and straight, which is strange considering their speed and agility. The chest is deep, but can be quite narrow. They tend to be slender through the frame, but have a good depth of girth, and have sloping quarters with a low-set tail. Their legs are slender but extremely tough and strong, and the feet, although somewhat boxy, are very hard and rarely prone to lameness. Conformational faults appearing in the legs are sometimes cowhocks, and forelegs too close together; neither seen to affect their soundness.

Typically they are quite small, like the Arabian, and their height ranges from 14 hh to 15 hh. They are now generally gray, although this may be due to Arabian influence, but they can also be bay, brown, chestnut, and were probably originally mostly dark colors. They are incredibly hardy small horses which have great powers of endurance and stamina, as well as being resistant to extreme climate conditions. They lack the natural grace of the Arabian and don not move as freely but are equally fast, if not faster, over short distances. Barbs today, are still very much in evidence in North Africa, especially in Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, and are often clothed in decorative tack with semiprecious jewels as a demonstration of the owner's wealth.

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