Barb Horse Breed 

Country of Origin: The Barb is an ancient breed originating from the coastal belt of Northwest Africa. This region was once known as the Barbary Coast and is now Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.  

Blood Type: The Barb horse is in the hotblood group. 

History: The Barb is such an ancient breed that little is known about their exact history and it is often debated whether the Barb or the Arab came first. The Barbs have similarities to the postulated primitive Horse Type 3. One theory suggests that the Barb traces back to an isolated group of wild horses that survived the Ice Age; another theory links the Barb to the Akhal-Teke horse breed. Either way, we do know that the Barb has had much influence in equine breeds throughout the world from the 8^th century onwards – the Andalusian, the Thoroughbred, the American Mustang, the French Camargue and the Limousin horse breeds, the Argentinian Ciollo, the Spanish horses, the Irish Connemara, and many other American and European horse breeds. 

A horse called the Godolphin Arabian was a Barb and is one of the three founding sires of the Thoroughbred. He was small (15HH) with a beautiful head and crested neck. The Earl of Godolphin owned him and in 1731 the Godolphin Arabian sired the most famous race horses of the day, Lath. 

Height: The Barb stands 14HH to 15HH.  

Colors: The Barb horses today are often gray but can also be bay, brown, or chestnut. 

Description: The Barb is a typical desert horse with fine skin and great endurance. The Barb’s appearance is very distinctive with a Roman nose; a fairly narrow head; curved ears and expressive oriental type eyes; an arched neck and prominent withers; the shoulders tend to be flat and straight but they still have speed and agility; a deep chest but often narrow; a slender frame with a deep girth; sloping quarters; a fairly low-set tail, and strong, slender limbs.

What we consider conformational faults do not seem to affect the Barb in soundness or ability. They are incredibly hardy horses with great stamina and endurance, and have impressive speed over short distances.They are not as refined as the Arab and not as well known but are very important as a progenitor of other breeds.  

Temperament: The Barb is known to be lively and temperamental.  

Uses: The Barb is seen today in festival regalia recalling the military pasts of the Algerian and Tunisian cavalry.