Category Archives: Friesien Horse Facts

Friesian Horse Facts

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  • Friesian stallions used for breeding have to meet strict requirements established by the breeders’ union. At the age of three, the stallion must stand at least 59-63 inches (about 1.58 meters) high. If they meet this requirement, they then must undergo various performance tests for both riding and driving. Theya re also judged on their character and training capacity. Even if the stallion passes all the tests, he still receives just a temporary breeding license, valid for only one year. At the end of the year, the stallion’s offspring are examined. If the foals appear to have inherited good genes, then the stallion is granted a license for breeding that is valid for several years. The goal of Friesian breeders is to rear a strong horse with an elegant, arched neck; a broad chest; a slightly divided croup; and muscular hindquarters. Equally important are the long mane, thick tail and glossy coat. Today’s thoroughbred Friesians are completely black.
  • There are three different types of Friesian horses. The most heavily built and stocky type has very pronounced joints and is well muscled overall. This type is an ideal carriage horse and suited for heavy farm work. It is distinguished from the other types by its high knee action and energetic gait. The mid-weight type represents the ideal goal for most breeders. This type has a small head, glossy coat, wide chest, and high, arched neck. This horse is ideal for both carriage driving and riding. The third type of Friesian is lighter and has longer legs. It is very fast and light on its feet, making it the perfect horse for competitive sports.

Friesian Horse Facts

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  • Horses have been bred in Friesland, a province in northern Holland, for over two thousand years. Today’s Friesians were influenced by crossbreeding with Andalusian horses in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, at the time of the Spanish occupation of the Netherlands. During that time, Fresian horses were gaining a reputation not only as ideal dressage horses, but also as war horses. in the seventeenth century, there were strict rules for breeding Friesians, and the horses flourished. But around the middle of the nineteenth century, Friesians began to lose the value they had once known. Buyer requirements at that time were for heavy horses to work the land. The Friesian, therefore, seemed doomed to die out.
  • In 1878, a group of Friesian horse breeders formed a society with the aim of preventing the original Friesian race from dying out. The original breeding records of this society listed 8 Friesian stallions and 10 mares. By 1896, the stock had grown to 133 mares and 7 stallions. In 1913, the horses took a downward with only 3 stallions. To save the race, another society was formed to monitor the quality of the horses. As a result, the Fresians today are popular leisure horses, well suited to both riding and driving in harness. Many breeding areas throughout the world have been added to the original one in Friesland, particularly in the United States, Australia and Germany.