jennets

Jennets are a historical class of light riding horses of Iberian origin that appear in medieval and early modern European texts. The term is attested in English, Spanish, and other languages from roughly the Middle Ages through the early modern era. Jennets were valued for their combination of speed, endurance, and agility, making them suitable for long journeys, cavalry use, and sport. They were bred on the Iberian Peninsula, incorporating influences from early Moorish stock and local lineages, and were traded widely around the Mediterranean and into other parts of Europe.

Morphology and performance descriptions vary by period, but sources commonly describe jennet-type horses as small to medium-sized, refined in build with good endurance and adaptable gaits. They served as riding horses for travelers and soldiers and as a source of breeding for other horse lines. Through crossbreeding and selective-riding traditions, jennets contributed to the development of later Iberian breeds and riding stock.

In broader historical contexts, jennets are often discussed as part of the lineage leading to modern Iberian riding horses, including the Andalusian and Lusitano. Their influence is noted in discussions of cavalry, transport, and sport in medieval and early modern Europe. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the term fell out of formal use as modern breed categories and registries were established, and many historic jennet types were absorbed into other classes rather than recognized as a distinct breed.

Today, the term jennet is primarily of historical interest and appears in scholarly works on equine history. It is not a contemporary registered breed, but its legacy is recognized in the history of Iberian horses and in the record of medieval and early modern riding stock.