Jennet
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Capitalizing proper noun, tossing unsourced bit on mules
{{otheruses4|the small medieval Spanish horse|female donkey|Jenny (donkey)}}
[[Image:Jennet.jpg|thumb|A medieval jennet.]]
A '''Jennet''' or '''Spanish Jennet''' was a small [[Spain|Spanish]] [[horse]].<ref>http://www.frankhopkins.com/mustangsA.html Bennett, Deb. "The Spanish Mustang: The Origin and Relationships of the Mustang, Barb, and Arabian Horse"]</ref> It was noted for a smooth naturally [[ambling]] [[horse gait|gait]], 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 the [[foundation bloodstock]] for several [[list of horse breeds|horse breeds]] in the [[Americas]].
== Spanish origin of the term ==
According to the [[Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition|1911 Encyclopedia Britannica]], Jennet referred to a small Spanish horse. The 2000 edition of the [[American Heritage Dictionary]] also defines ''jennet'', with the alternative spelling ''genet'', 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 the [[Middle Ages]] to refer to a specific type of [[Horses in the Middle Ages|horse]], usually one of [[Iberian horse|Iberian]] or [[Barb (horse)|Barb]] extraction, often [[ambling|gaited]].
In the [[etymology]] provided by the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, ''jennet'' is derived from the [[French language|French]] ''genet'', from [[Spanish language|Spanish]] ''jinete'', a light horseman who rides ''a la jineta'', explained as "with his legs tucked up." The term is taken to be a corruption of the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] ''[[Zenata]]'', a [[Berber people|Berber]] tribe famed for its [[cavalry]]. English and French transferred the word from the rider to the horse, a meaning which the word has only acquired in Spain in modern times. The American Heritage Dictionary's etymology is similar, citing the [[Middle English]] ''genet,'' from Old French, from the [[Catalan language|Catalan]] ''ginet,'' of [[Arabic language|Arabic]] or [[Berber languages|Berber]] origin.[http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=jennet]
Jennet is also an old-English girl's name, derived originally from John. Jennet Device was the name of the younger daughter of Elizabeth Device, one of the [[Pendle Witches]].
==Modern descendants and recreated breeds==
The modern [[Spanish Jennet Horse]], [[Paso Fino]] and [[Peruvian Paso]] breeds probably most closely resemble the original jennet.
== See also ==
*[[Horses in the Middle Ages]]
*[[Iberian horse]]
*[[Paso Fino]]
*[[Peruvian Paso]]
*[[Spanish Jennet Horse]] (modern breed)
==References==
<References/>
== External links ==
*[http://www.frankhopkins.com/mustangsA.html Bennett, Deb. "The Spanish Mustang: The Origin and Relationships of the Mustang, Barb, and Arabian Horse"]
*[http://www.thegaitedhorse.com/spanish_jennet.htm Sponenberg, Phillip, DVM, PhD. "Spanish Jennet: Living in the Past" ''The Gaited Horse'' web page accessed January 26, 2008.]
{{1911}}
{{Equidae}}
[[Category:Types of horses]]
[[Category:Horse history and evolution]]
[[Category:Extinct horse breeds]]
[[sv:Spansk Jennet]]