Horse
Pronunciation:
Speh'-nish Jenn'-ette
Breed Description:
The Spanish Jennet breed of horse is a descendant of an ancient Iberian breed. Today's Spanish jennet, like its ancestors, shows a pinto (pintado) or appaloosa or leopard (Atigrado) coloring, and must exhibit a natural Paso ( lateral 4 beat running walk) gait. Closely realated to other Iberian breeds such as the Paso Fino or Peruvian Paso, today's Spanish Jennet is similar in appearance. The horses have elegant heads on a high set neck, a short back, with the hind legs set well underneath.
Temperament:
The Spanish Jennet breed of horse is very intelligent, and has a calm and trainable temperament.
Height:
The Spanish Jennet breed of horse stands 13.2 to 15.2 hands.
Weight:
The Spanish Jennet breed of horse weighs between 650 and 950 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Spanish Jennet breed of horse has no specific breed-related health problems.
Living Conditions:
The Spanish Jennet breed of horse is fairly hardy, but being of Mediterranean ancestry it appreciates stabling in cold or wet weather.
Exercise:
The Spanish Jennet breed of horse enjoys regular exercise.
Life Expectancy:
The Spanish Jennet breed of horse lives into its late twenties, with individuals commonly reaching over thirty years of age.
Grooming:
The Spanish Jennet breed of horse should be kept with a natural appearance. It has a fine coat, but a very thick mane and tail which needs regular grooming.
Origin:
The Spanish Jennet breed of horse originated in medieval Spain where appaloosa patterned horses (called 'tigre' or 'tiger') were prized by the Spanish nobility. Many horses were exported in the 16th and 17th centuries to the New World, from which today's Spanish Jennet descends. Today, the Spanish Jennet is often an outcross of spotted horses with Paso Finos, although there are strict breed requirements on color, ancestry, and movement before a horse is eligible for registration as a Spanish Jennet. 