Friesians

Friesians and Gypsy Cob Horses

Friesian draft breed is rooted in Friesland, Northwestern Europe, which is now a part of the Netherlands. The original stock was descended from the order of Equus robustus (the big horse).

Friesians today are still used for working on the land, and have become increasingly popular as carriage and harness horses where their flowing mane and tail and flashy leg action make them a popular sight in the show ring.

Friesians were used in medieval times to carry knights to battle. In the 12th and 13th centuries, some eastern horses of crusaders were mated with Friesian stock. Sometime after the Middle Ages came to an end, the Friesian breed was dying out.

Friesians have been bred for many centuries in Holland. They are descended from the Andalusian, the Barb, and European draft breeds.

The Friesians originate from Holland and Germany with the studbook now kept in Germany, the FPZ. They are mildly temperamental growing to a huge size of 17 hands.

Uses: Friesians today are generally used for general riding and as circus horses. Because of their dramatic black coloring and strong looks they are popular in the film industry.

Legacy Friesians
East Bay Ranch
Friesian Studs
Friesian Harts of Texas & Colorado
Friso Stud ...

Uses: Friesians make impressive harness horses, being big, black and enthusiastic workers. They may also be ridden for pleasure and dressage.

Friesians can be expected to live to 22-25 years of age.
Health Issues
Friesians are generally a healthy breed though can be prone to any of the normal equine related diseases and health issues.

friesiansspectacular.com
Exhibitions of Friesian horses by Clay Maier. Breed information, gallery of Friesian horse pictures by Gabrielle Boiselle and list of Friesian Spectacular performances and events.
The North American Friesian Journal ...

Crossbreeding of Friesians with other breeds is also popular, although the resulting offspring are not always considered Friesian Sporthorses (see Friesian cross.)
Characteristics
Friesian Sporthorses can come in a variety of colors and sizes.

when the Friesians settled along the cost of the North Sea. They were tradesmen, seafarers, farmers and horse breeders. The Friesian horse descends from the Equus robustus.

Ancestors of the modern Friesians were used in medieval times to carry knights to battle. In the 12th and 13th centuries, some eastern horses of crusaders were mated with Friesian stock.

Today's Friesians are always black, and stand at around 1.52 m (15 hh). They are able to cope with a heavy workload, on moderate rations, without losing condition or the cheerful willingness inherent in the breed's lovable character.

In the middle ages Friesians were the favorite horses of the knights, because of their ability to carry them in full armour.

Although the breed's conformation resembles that of a light draft horse, Friesians are graceful and nimble for their size. During the Middle Ages, the ancestors of Friesian horses were in great demand as war horses throughout continental Europe.

Early on there were Bay and Grey Friesians, but these days the only Friesians recognized are the ones that are pure black, although a small star on the forehead is allowed.

1993 marked the milestone in the US that the Purebred Friesian would be considered a serious open dressage competitor against the finest warmbloods in the country, even though Friesians had been used in Dressage in Europe since 1939.

Thedemand for horses in agriculture rose sharply; Friesians were particularlysuited to adapt to any kind of work required of them, and so their numberswere quickly increased.

Through the centuries, and especially after Peru's independence from Spanish rule in 1823, there were various breeds imported into the country, among which were Thoroughbred, Hackney, Arabian, and Friesians.

Their suppleness and agility made Friesians sought after in the riding schools of Paris and Spain in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Apart from their black coat, Friesians have many more distinct qualities. Their mane and tail should be long and wavy and as with Shire horses, their legs have 'feather" socks. They usually do not have any white markings.

The horses were Andalusians, Barbs, Friesians and Spanish Jennets. The unique mixture of these breeds was produced in relative isolation over a period of centuries.

Breeding horses and dealing in them was very important for the Friesians. The monks in the many monasteries in Friesland before the reformation did a lot of horse breeding.

The Shire was developed in England first to be used in war and later to work in farms as a draught horse. Friesians and Flanders horses were taken to England by the Dutch and were bred with local specimens.

Size: Friesian Arabs: 155 to 160 cm, other East Friesians 175 cm and more. Character: Well tempered Usage: Hanoverian type: good sport horses Friesian Arabs: used as pleasure horses (2) ... Ostfriese: located in Germany's East Friesland region.

Friesians were imported from the Netherlands to increase the size of the native stock. Other importations of various saddle breeds were made but the larger draft breeds were excluded from the importations.

It is likely that the Friesian played a part in the breeding of the Døle due to the similarity between the two. The Friesians traded heavily with Britain, Norway and the Rhine Delta during the period from 400 to 800 A.D.

There is a "Sport" predicate available for competitors in dressage and driving, who have achieved acceptable scores in multiple events. The "Sport" title is highly sought after in many countries where Friesians are raised.

See also: Friesian, Black, Stallion, Dressage, Friesian Horse