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| Friesian Information - The History of the Friesian Horse |
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As one of the world's oldest equine breeds, the Friesian is native to the northern province of Friesland in The Netherlands, where it is a national treasure. With powerful muscles beneath its lustrous black lacquered coat, and a gentle disposition that endears the animal to those of the two legged kind, the Friesian has enchanted Europeans for centuries. Experts suspect that the Friesian's most influential ancestor was the prehistoric Equus robustus, an enormous horse that once roamed the region now known as the Netherlands. |
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| The monks were well known for their horse breeding in the middle ages, and reputedly crossed the draft type Equus robustus descendents with lighter horse breeds. The result was the Friesian. A horse with incredible strength and agility, coupled with a willing, kind, yet lively disposition. These skillful monks created not only one of Europe's first pure horse breeds but also one of the world's first warm bloods. |
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| The Romans were among the first to acknowledge the Friesian as a powerful working horse. Despite being ugly in their eyes; the strength, docility and endurance was proved when carrying the German Knights to the Crusaders. Later the Friesian became better looking and contact with the eastern horses improved the Friesian, as did the infusion of the Andalusian blood when the Spanish occupied The Netherlands during the Eighty Years' War. The descendents of this heavy horse were valued as saddle horses by the medieval nobility and are portrayed by many of the Old Dutch Master-Painters. |
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| In turn the Friesian was used to improve other breeds such as the Oldenburg that was mainly founded on Friesian blood (and in later years Oldenburg blood was used to re-establish the Friesian breed). The New Forest, Dale, Fell Ponies, the Morgan Horse and from there the Standardbred, Orlov Trotter, Swedish Warm blood, Kladruber and the Norwegian Dole Gudbrandsdal were all influenced by the Friesian. Through its derivative, the Old English Black, the Friesian also influenced England's Great Horse, now known as the Shire. |
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| The Friesian Horse is always jet-black with a long flowing mane and tail, often to the ground. He carries his noble head on a crested neck. His action is flamboyant and eye-catching. He can be driven, ridden, jumped, likes working on the land or performing in the circus. He is one of the most versatile breeds of the world. |
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| The Friesian is a harmoniously and evenly built horse with a noble head and bright intelligent eyes, small attentive ears, slightly inclining towards each other. A neck that is not too short, slightly bent, a strong back, ending in a croup that is not too short and should not be too slanted. A powerful shoulder that should be long enough and slanting. With long enough ribs that are well-arched, strong legs and feet, a well-developed upper arm and a good position. |
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| Smooth, square, elegant and grand gaits, accentuated by sufficient growth of hair on the lower foot, a nice crest and a nice long tail. In short, a horse with a luxuriant and proud appearance, which is full of temperament and willing to work and is honest. The height at the shoulder at three years of age of 1.60 meter is considered ideal. |
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| The walk should be straight, powerful and supple with sufficient power from the hindquarters; the hindquarters should be swung forward with power. The trot should have a roomy forward action, feet lifted highly, with good power from the hindquarters, the trot should be light footed with a floating movement and enough flexion in the hock. The canter is cheerful and sustained with enough power from the hindquarters and flexion in the hock. |
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