Moorish culture represents a rich blend of Islamic, African, and European traditions, creating a unique cultural tapestry that flourished in the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. The Moors began their conquest of Spain by overthrowing the harsh and barbaric Visigoths in 711 AD. This was when an African army, under the command of Tariq ibn-Ziyad, traversed the Strait of Gibraltar from Africa and launched an invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, then known as 'Andalus' under Visigothic dominion. After a grim and extended resistance to the Arab invasions of North Africa, The Moors joined the triumphant surge of Islam. Following this, they crossed over from Morocco over to the Iberian Peninsula where their swift victories and remarkable feats soon became the substance of legends.
In July 710, Tarif, with over 400 foot-soldiers and 100 horses, all Berbers, successfully carried out a mission in southern Iberia. Tarif, an important port city in southern Spain, is named after him. It is evident that Tarik ibn Ziyad initiated the conquest of Spain. He commanded an army comprising at least 10,000 men mounted on swift horses.
"The reins of their Moorish horses were as fire, their faces black as pitch, their eyes shone like burning candles, their horses were swift as leopards and the riders fiercer than a wolf in a sheepfold at night . . . The eyewitness Roderick proclaimed that the Goths "were broken in an hour, quicker than tongue can tell." Roderick was a son of Theodefred, himself a son of king Chindaswinth, and of a woman named Riccilo."
Between about 500 and 1500, the genetic influence of Central Asia in the global horse population gradually waned as the influence of North African horses increased. The African horse became a central driver of progress. Using these stronger fleeter horses for food, transport and warfare provided mobility and an edge over others. There was nearly a world without horses the Asian horse the last remnants of the horses of the Americas. At the end of the last ice age warming temperatures turned the grasslands where horses roamed into swamps and forests. Humans hunted them heavily for meat. Wild horses did, in fact, go extinct in North America around 7,600-12,000 years ago it was the African bred horses that returned over a millennia later to the land of their early genetic ancestors!
Over time, genetic contributions from African breeds helped shape the physical characteristics and abilities of Andalusian horses. This includes features such as their strong build, intelligence, docility, and versatility in various equestrian disciplines. It was the African breeder and trainers that made these the most coveted animals in the world. The Moors (Meaning Blacks) brought advanced equestrian techniques of training to backward Spain, which influenced local breeding practices. They valued qualities such as temperament and performance in warfare or agriculture, which led to selective breeding that emphasized these traits in Andalusian horses.
It was the breeding genius of ancient Kemet that first gave rise to the breed that would one day become known as the Arabian horse. Its distinctive silhouette is first seen in the art of ancient Egypt more than 3,500 years ago, but it was the nomadic peoples of the Arabian desert, known as the Bedouin, who refined the pure breed that exists today. Horses were rarely employed for labor in Ancient Egypt but instead were viewed as a symbol of royal authority and heroic acts in times of upheaval. Rameses II‘s two horses were named “Victory in Thebes” and “Mut is pleased” on the Kadesh Inscription, a hieroglyphic depiction of the Battle of Kadesh.
Horses were advantageous in battle, especially on flat terrain. The invading Hyksos from Western Asia, with their lightweight and fast chariots, found them dangerous on uneven ground. In response, Kemet (called Egypt by the Greeks) bred a sturdier horse that could maneuver and pull heavier, more stable chariots, gaining a strategic advantage in chariot warfare. The Qays nomads, ancestors of the Bedouin, recognized the value of this breed. With their profound understanding of horses and through meticulous care and centuries of selective breeding, they developed a breed that could endure the extreme conditions of the desert, surviving on minimal water and the food shared by their handlers. These horses also needed to have exceptional lung capacity, endurance, and stamina for a nomadic lifestyle.
It was the dark and formidable Berbers of Africa who shaped the evolution of this breed into a symbol of speed and agility. The term "Berbers," not self-appointed but assigned to certain tribes within the ancient Roman territories of East Africa, referred to groups that were heavily influenced by external cultures. Although nomadic in reputation, most Berbers during the Ottoman Empire era were actually farmers. Despite the rise of two notable Berber dynasties, the Almoravids in the eleventh century and the Almohad in the twelfth century, ethnic divisions prevented the Berber tribes from uniting to expel the myriads of invaders that sought their lands. One of the most notable contributions to the equine lineage in Andalusia was from North Africa, specifically through the Berber horses. Indigenous to North Africa, the Berbers have been horse breeders for millennia. Their horses, celebrated for their endurance, agility, and ability to thrive in severe conditions, were coveted by the Moors for hundreds of years of rule and eventually European aristocracy.
Africans played a pivotal role in bringing horses to Andalusia primarily through Berber and Arabian breeds during periods of trade and conquest. These interactions not only enriched the genetic pool of Spanish horse breeds but also influenced equestrian culture in significant ways. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the Moors, as early as the Middle Ages and as late as the 17th century, were “commonly supposed to be black or very swarthy, and hence the word is often used for the term Negro meaning Black."
Due to the influence of Islam and the Moorish expansion in Africa In West African societies, particularly among groups such as the Wolof and Serer in Senegal, horses held significant cultural importance. They were used not only for transportation but also played a crucial role in social status and warfare. This existing equestrian culture made Senegalese individuals particularly valuable as horse trainers.
During the late 15th century and into the 16th century, Spanish colonizers began to recognize the skills of African horse trainers. They did not have the skills of the Moors they had defeated. As Spain sought to improve its own equestrian practices—especially with regard to breeding and training horses for military purposes—Senegalese trainers were brought to Andalusia. This region was already known for its rich equestrian traditions due to its historical connections with the Moors and North Africa and Moorish horse breeding programs.
Once established in Andalusia, these skilled trainers were often sold or transported as slaves to Spanish colonies in South America. Their expertise was essential for developing strong cavalry units and improving local horse breeds through selective breeding practices. The knowledge they brought with them significantly influenced horse training techniques across various regions in South America.
Senegalese horse trainers came to Andalusia primarily through mechanisms related to the transatlantic slave trade, where their unique skills were recognized by Spanish colonizers who then transported them to South America to enhance local equestrian practices. The legacy of these Senegalese horse trainers can still be seen today in certain equestrian traditions within South American countries like Argentina and Colombia, where specific riding styles and techniques like use of the lariat have roots tracing back to African influences, these were the first so-called "Cowboys" of the Americas!
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