About
Robert Painter
Robert Painter spent a lifetime carefully selecting and breeding horses that exhibited characteristics of the Barb horses of North Africa, before the Moors invaded Spain bringing their horses with them. Robert spent many hours among wild horses, and explored various ranges where wild horses, Barbs among them, lived. He searched the Book Cliffs of Utah, Oregon, Old Mexico, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Oklahoma for horses that exhibited the genotype of the pre-Spain Barb.
About the Horses
Originally the Barb was a war horse and as such needed stamina, endurance, and hardiness. It still has those traits and so is an excellent mountain and endurance horses. It's natural body and short back enable it to turn quickly and maneuver narrow trails. This, combined with strong bones and tough feet result in a fine riding and pack animal, especially in rough or mountainous areas. It is athletic and has been used successfully in cattle work.
Characteristics
- Alert and curious in demeanor,
- robust, spirited;
- hot blood
- tractable, unless abused
- high equine intellect
- 13.2-15 hands 875 - 950 pounds
- fully mature at 7-9 years old
- eyes perceptive and low set and wide
- nostrils elastic, crescent shaped, with roomy nasal cavity allowing for large extension and ample air intake
- ears small to medium
- neck muscular but not coarse or short
- back short with 5 lumbar vertebrae and 16 or 17 pairs of ribs
- loins deep and strong allowing for heavier muscling.
- barrel well filled, with long underline
- tail low set with long croup which his in equal balance between hip, pin bone and stifle
- legs well-boned with large, strong joints, tendons and ligaments, feet compact, comparatively rounded, elevated, with thick, dense walls
- Many colors including dun, black, blue corn, chestnut, palomino, bay, roan, etc.