Friesian Horse Breed | Information and Pictures | For | Horse Lovers

Introduction

The Friesian horse embodies powerful agility and elegance. If you've ever seen a muscular, yet graceful, black horse in a film or TV program, there's a good chance it was a Friesian. Recently they features in The Hunger Games and Catching Fire as part of the Tribute Parade.

History

The Friesian horse is one of Europe’s oldest breeds. It was developed in Friesland, a northern province of the Netherlands. Where a heavy horse has existed as far back as 1000 B.C. The Romans used these horses and brought some to Britain, where they have influenced some of our native breeds such as the Fell, Dales and Shire. Because of their courageous nature and great strength the Friesian horse was used in medieval times to carry Knights into battle.

In the 17th century as the need for heavy war horses finished, Andalusian blood was introduced to lighten the breed, making it more suitable for carriage work. In the early part of the 20th century the Friesian almost became extinct, until fuel rationing during World War II caused people to turn to the horse once more as a means of transport. Today Friesians are very popular as driving horses, dressage, showing and general riding.

Color

The Friesian is well known for its black coat with a long, thick mane and tail and plenty of feather. For purebred registration most official registries will only allow a small white star or a few white hairs on the forehead. Unknown too many people occasionally a chestnut Friesian is born but this is very rare.

Temperament

Gentle, docile, affectionate are just a few ways to describe the Friesian horses’ temperament. It is said that the Friesian is unique in the way it develops a great bond with its handler. They are also willing workers and make perfect family friends. The Friesian horse is a noble and elegant breed with great presence!

Height

I would say that the average height of the Friesian today is around 16hh, this can vary from 14.2hh (1.5m) to 17hh (1.70m), although it is becoming increasingly difficult to find Friesian’s under 15.1hh.

Appearance

Although the vast majority of Friesians are black (leading to their somewhat inaccurate nickname of Belgian Blacks). Very occasionally they are born chestnut, bay or grey although horses in these colours are not used for breeding. The registry requires Friesians to be 15.2 and upwards to be fully approved although again there are some smaller animals, which can be as small as 14.2. Although the Andalusian influence of previous centuries generally just made Friesians lighter rather than changing their physical appearance, modern Friesians do tend to resemble their Spanish ancestors in their heads. These are much more refined than would be expected from such a powerful breed and have short, pert ears. The Andalusian influence may also be partly responsible for the luxurious manes and tails typical of the Friesian breed. They also have the silky feathers associated with draught horses. Traditional Friesians, also sometimes called Baroque Friesians, have sturdy, muscular bodies with relatively short, thick legs. There is also a modern variation known as the Sport Friesian, which is lighter of both body and bone. Both types are currently considered acceptable. It's important to note that in this case “Sport” means dressage or harness activities. Friesians are only moderate jumpers and are unsuited to contests of speed or endurance.

Personality

Within the Friesian breed, there are some different personality types as there are with people. Friesians are described as being mischevious, loving, and playful. Horse lovers often describe them as being majestic with a commanding presence. It takes a handler with experience and patience to train Friesians since some of them have a tendency to be stubborn. Horses are beautiful, gentle creatures but like any other animal can be insecure at times or frightened, especially by sudden, loud noises. Friesians are brilliant animals, are sensitive, and have the ability to learn when handled by someone experienced with a genuine love for horses. One trait that many horse owners love about them is that they develop strong attachments to their owners.

Common Health Problems

Friesians are somewhat prone to a disease called Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) simply due to their size. OCD is a disease found in young, rapidly growing horses who will mature to be over 15 hands. It occurs when cartilage at the end of growing bones breaks down instead of turning into bone as it should. As a result of the break-down, small pieces of cartilage may break off and harden into bone cysts, causing inflammation and pain in the joint. Treatment includes joint injections and rest, and surgery is possible.

Dwarfism is a genetic disorder that can affect any breed and occurs the most in pony breeds, but is present in the Friesian breed. The disorder causes the body to be severely disproportionate and it is debilitating. Friesians are disposed to an infection called scratches, which is scabbing that appears on the back of the pastern and fetlock. It is thought to be caused by standing in wet areas and the ‘feathers' cause the area to stay wet for a longer period of time. It can cause discomfort to the affected horse, but can be easily cleared up by shaving the affected area so that it can dry out and scrubbing with a cleaning solution such as an iodine scrub for several days.

Availability

Friesians are fairly available in Europe and the United States due to their popularity. They are fairly expensive if they are flashy and have some training. If they are bought as yearlings, they are more reasonable.