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The Friesian Horse

As well as being a very old breed, the Friesian horse has to be seen as the only surviving indigenous breed in the Netherlands.

Originally, the Friesian horse was favoured for military service. Roman historians recorded mounted Friesian troops at Hadrian's wall in around 150 A.D. and Anthony Dent describes the presence of independent Friesian troops at Carlisle in the 4th Century which probably related to mercenaries with Friesian stallions. Dent also mentions that Friesian horses were probably the foundation for the "Old English Black", the ancestor of the Shire horse and of the Fell Pony. The latter shows a remarkable resemblance.

During the 17th Century, Friesian horses were found amongst Spanish breeds at various riding academies where the art of classical riding was practised. Even then, the Friesian horse was very much in demand as a carriage horse as well as being a popular high-school dressage horse.

In the course of the 18th and 19th centuries the Friesian horse became restricted to the province of Friesland where the horse was used for pleasure purposes such as trotting races. Some of these trotting horses were quite famous and almost certainly the Friesian horse was used for breeding Russian Orlov and American trotting horses. Finally, at the end of the 19th century, the start of the 20th century the Friesian horse with "the blood of a nobleman and a talent for dancing" had to be used on the farms and compete with the heavier horse-breeds, the so called Bovenlanders. This competition almost proved fatal.

On 1st May 1879, the first horse studbook of the Netherlands, the Friesian Horse Studbook was established aimed at saving the Friesian horse from apparent doom. After a short revival it decreased rapidly and in 1913 only 3 old studbook stallions remained. The breed was almost extinct.

After the all time low of 1913, there was no other choice: the Friesian horse would have to be able to compete with the Bovenlanders on the farms. So the unwelcome change in breeding policy was an unavoidable adaptation to the demands of the times. Some luxury had to give way and additional power added resulting in a smaller and heavier type of Friesian horse which is no longer desirable. Today the demand is for luxurious and long lined horses.

In the 60s the Friesian horse was hit by a worse crisis than even that of 1913 with the world-wide abolition of horse-power on the farms and the introduction of mechanisation. Most farmers lacked the money and time to keep their horses solely for pleasure.

The situation was worse than ever and in 1965 only 500 mares remained in the Studbook registers. However, just in the nick of time, the unstoppable influence of an improving economy came to the rescue of the Friesian horse and it was rediscovered for leisure activities. Again it was its fabulous exterior and its superb nature characterised by kindness, intelligence, adaptability and tremendous willingness to work that proved so well suited to those who were not familiar with horses.

Within a short period the Friesian horse proved itself as a driving horse, even competing at top international level with drivers like Leo Kraayenbrink and Tjeerd Velstra; as a dressage horse, as well as in ….the circus!

At long last the Friesian horses were allowed to dance again.

BREED PROFILE

If we were to ask one of the inspectors of the FPS what a Friesian horse should look like, the first answer would be "Black!" As well as being black, the luxurious mane, tail and "feathers" on the feet are the most important exterior characteristics of the breed.

The head should not be big nor long and the eye should be clear and kind, with small attentive ears, with tips pointing slightly inwards. The head should be noble and expressive.
The neck should not start too low from the chest, and should be sufficiently long and not too heavy. The upper line of the neck should show a graceful elevated curve, the "crest", and give the appearance of a swan's neck. The withers should be well developed and blend into the back. A height of between 1.58 m and 1.65 m is a good size for a Friesian horse.

The shoulder should preferably be long and not steep. The back well muscled, very strong and not too long. The connection between the back, loins and croup is very important. This part must be strong enough to pass the energy from the hindquarters to the forehand. The croup should be slightly slanted and sufficiently long. The bone structure is very important and must be correct in all aspects, sufficiently hard and clean.

In the past few years much attention has been given to the quality of movement in breeding Friesian horses. It is very important that a Friesian horse has a good walk; it must cover the ground and show sufficient suppleness. The movement at a trot is characterised by an elevated and forward movement of the front legs with room in the shoulder, and knee action, which is made possible through sufficiently strong, driving and bearing hindquarters. A great deal of ground should be covered at the trot.

Through hundreds of years of severe selection these movement characteristics are deeply rooted in the genes of the Friesian horse. This also goes for the unique nature of the Friesian horse: lively, intelligent, honest and loyal, always willing to work, but proud like the Friesian people themselves.

A Friesian horse is one which has an original Registration Certificate issued by "Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek" from their offices in Drachten, the Netherlands. Registration Certificates issued by any other Breed Society will not be recognised.

The information and photographs in this article are kindly provided by The Friesian Horse Association of Great Britain & Ireland Ltd.
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