Jennet
AjennetorSpanish jennetwas a smallSpanishhorse.[1]It was noted for a smooth naturallyamblinggait,compact and well-muscled build, and a good disposition. The jennet was an ideal light riding horse, and as such spread across Europe and provided some of thefoundation bloodstockfor severalhorse breedsin theAmericas.
Spanish origin of the term
[edit]According to the1911Encyclopædia Britannica,"jennet" referred to a small Spanish horse. The 2000 edition of theAmerican Heritage Dictionaryalso defines "jennet", with the alternative spellinggenet,as a small Spanish saddle horse. The "jennet" described a type, rather than a breed of horse, and thus is not used today; the term was in regular use during theMiddle Agesto refer to a specific type ofhorse,usually one ofIberianorBarbextraction, oftengaited.
In theetymologyprovided by the 1911Encyclopædia Britannica,"jennet" is derived from theFrenchgenet,fromSpanishjinete,a light horseman who ridesà la jineta,explained as "with his legs tucked up." This referred to their style of riding with shorter stirrups, which they preferred for closercollectionof the horse. The term is taken to be a corruption ofZenata,aBerbertribe famed for itscavalry.In English and French, the word came to refer to the horse rather than the style of riding.[2]In Spanish, that meaning has developed in modern times. TheAmerican Heritage Dictionary's etymology is similar, citing theMiddle Englishgenet,from Old French; from theCatalanginet,ofArabicand, ultimately, ofBerberorigin.[3]
Modern descendants and recreated breeds
[edit]The modernSpanish Jennet Horse,Paso FinoandPeruvian Pasobreeds probably most closely resemble the original jennet. In the treatiseIl Cavallarizzowritten by Claudio Corte in 1562, three years after the end of theGreat Italian Wars,the author describes at length the qualities of theginecti(jennets) as horses useful for war. According to Corte, the jennets were one of the most commonly used horses by the Spanish light cavalry. Spanish heavy cavalry used a different breed which Corte refers to as "Villanos". However, there is no mention of the Andalusian as a war horse in Corte's book, indicating that that breed either did not exist or was not used for war during the rise of Spain as a major European Power in 1494–1562.[4]The castle of Venafro in the Italian region of Molise (which was under Spanish rule in the 1500s) has numerous frescos portraying theginecti(jennets), which seem to closely resemble a modern-dayCriollo horseor a Peruvian Paso[5]
See also
[edit]- Horses in the Middle Ages
- Spanish Jennet Horse(modern breed)
References
[edit]- ^Bennett, Deb. "The Spanish Mustang: The Origin and Relationships of the Mustang, Barb, and Arabian Horse"Archived2008-05-06 at theWayback Machine
- ^One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Jennet".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 321.
- ^"jennet",American Heritage Dictionary
- ^"A ancient horsemanship Italian book. Original title: Il Cavallarizzo di Messer Claudio Corte di Pavia, nel quale si tratta della natura de' Cavalli del modo di domargli, e frenarli, e di tutto quello, che à Cavalli, e à buon Cavalerizzo s'appartiene".1562.
- ^"I cavalli di Enrico Pandone nel Castello di Venafro".
