Friesian

The bend at the poll, feathering, and elevated leg action mark this stallion unmistakably as a Friesian. Cindy Bellamy/Friesian Heritage Horse & Sporthorse International

The Friesian Horse Society, Inc.

17670 Pioneer Trail

Plattsmouth, Nebraska 68048

www.friesianhorsesociety.com

Despite all the adversities and changes the Friesian has faced over the centuries, it will always be viewed as one of the most mystical and magical horses. The Friesian is a magnificent and noble animal with an ancient heritage dating back to knights who proudly rode it long ago. With its dramatic and stunning looks, it strikes the beholder as a breed apart. Its extravagant beauty is breathtaking and the impression it makes is profound to those observing it. With its lofty stance, striking black coat, and draping mane and tail, the Friesian exudes a persona that sets it apart from all others. Though quiet and reserved, its presence incites awe.

The Friesian’s trademarks are its overall distinctive exterior, especially the high-set neck with outstanding crest, broad chest, lightly accentuated croup, and relatively small head and ears. Most noticeable is the impressive stature, luxuriant mane, and the extra long tail. During performances, these features combine with the leg feathering and low tailset to emphasize the breed’s powerful and elastic gait. Athletic ability, strength, loyalty, and elegance are its other outstanding gifts.

Beyond its fantastic exterior, the Friesian’s versatility brings lasting appreciation, being equally skilled at multi-level dressage, trotting, and driving, singly or combined. Its high step and superb natural movement are the result of favor by breeders throughout northern Europe.

The Friesian beauty and attributes are more than skin deep. Its character is marked by friendliness, intelligence, adaptability, and an enormous willingness to work. It is this character especially that has drawn people to it throughout history and caused them to go through extreme trials for it. The Frisian is a gentleman: kind, honest, willing to please, well mannered, and a pleasant companion for riders of all ages and every level. Whether competing in upper level dressage tests, performing on the carriage driving circuit, or just going for a trail ride, the Friesian quickly becomes a member of the family.

The Dutch consider the Friesian to be “the Black Pearl of the Netherlands” and truly a treasure to cherish.

History

The Friesian is the only horse breed native to the Netherlands, where it has been known since as far back as the thirteenth century. At the start of the Christian era, the Friesian was used in battle¹ and Friesian troops were documented in Britannia. In the fourth century, English writer Anthony Dent¹ wrote about the presence of Friesian troops and their horses in Carlisle. Both cases probably involve Friesian mercenaries mounted on Friesian stallions. Anthony Dent and other writers’ works indicate that the Friesian horse is the ancestor of both the Shire breed and the Fell pony.

In the eleventh century, William the Conqueror (Willem de Veroveraar)¹ used horses that had a remarkable resemblance to the Friesian breed. From this period, there are many illustrations of knights riding Friesian-looking horses. During the crusades and later, through the course of the Eighty Years’ War, it is very probable that the Friesian breed was crossed with Arabian and Andalusian horses.

The first written evidence of use of the name “Friesian horse” was an announcement in 1544 that German Elector Johann Friedrich von Sachsen came to the Reichstag in Spiers riding a Friesian stallion.² Three years later, he rode the stallion in the Battle of Muhlberg and was recognized from afar by Emperor Charles V. Also an etching dating from 1568 of the stallion Phryso¹, belonging to Don Juan of Austria, in Naples is very well known. During the seventeenth century, the Friesian horse was well represented at the various riding schools where the haute école of equitation was practiced.

Use of the Friesian Horse, however, became increasingly limited to the current Dutch province of Friesland during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Toward the end of the nineteenth century, the presence of the Friesian Horse in the countryside of Friesland became an expression of the owner’s wealth, with the breed used mostly to bring upper-class farmers to church. The horse was additionally used for entertainment in the form of ridden short-track trotting races.³ In these races, the horse was traditionally ridden with just a small orange blanket on its back. During this period, the Friesian Horse was very likely used in the breeding of the Orlov Trotter, as well as American trotting horses.

On May 1, 1879, in Roordahuizum, the Friesch Paarden-Stamboek (FPS), which is the stud book of the Friesian Horse, was established, and it has registered Friesian Horses ever since. Registration of the limited number of Friesian Horses remaining proved somewhat of a stimulus for the breed, but the popularity of the heavier breeds, the so-called Bovenlanders, continued to undermine the Friesian. Supporters of the Bovenlanders were often unnecessarily harsh in their judgments of the Friesian horse, criticizing that it would “dance” too much in front of the plow and therefore waste useful energy. There was some truth in what they said, but they failed to appreciate the history of the Friesian Horse and the profound affection between master and horse that is so often seen with the Friesian breed.²

At the end of the nineteenth and the start of the twentieth century, a very difficult period ensued during which the Friesian had to struggle to compete with the heavy breeds. The dancing show horses of the landed farmers were in fact less suited for heavy work. Farmers finally switched over to the heavier breeds or crossed the Friesian Horse with them, which proved almost fatal for the breed. By the start of the twentieth century, Friesian numbers had dwindled rapidly. In 1913, there were only three older stud book stallions available for breeding.⁴

Fortunately there were people in Friesland who wanted to save the native Friesian Horse breed from extinction. They bought the remaining quality purebred colts and saved the Friesian from disaster.⁴ Among others, the royal stables in Borculo and the De Oorsprong breeding farm, which had been established by the family Van Eysinga at Huis ter Heide in 1885, played a role in its preservation.³

After 1913 and the Friesian’s competition with heavier horses, some of its luxuriance was compromised for more horsepower. The Friesian therefore became a little smaller and heavier. As a result, a type of Friesian Horse emerged that was different from the type that is more desirable today, which has the original long lines of its forefathers.⁴

By the 1960s, the crisis resulting from farm mechanization made the agricultural horse redundant. Most farmers lacked the money to keep a horse for pleasure only, which meant that the horse disappeared from the farm yards. In 1965, only some five hundred mares were registered in the stud book.² Fortunately, there were now also great lovers of the breed who brought the horse to the attention of others. In 1967, the national riding association, De Oorsprong, began a crusade through the Dutch province of Friesland to promote the Friesian horse. From March 28 to April 1, a parade of lovers of the breed traveled with their Friesian horses from Huis ter Heide to Workum (towns within the Netherlands).³ The impact of the promotion campaign was evident in the rapid expansion of the breed in the two ensuing decades.

Many people have discovered the fabulous characteristics of the Friesian breed, and purebreds are now seen and enjoyed around the world. The Friesian has recently become one of Europe’s most respected performance horse. Due to continued steady growth in numbers, as well as its tremendous surge in popularity, the Friesian’s survival is now virtually guaranteed.

Breed Characteristics

A consistent breeding policy has produced the Friesian Horse exhibiting the unique characteristics of the breed and continuing to bear close resemblance to its ancestors. There are three modern bloodlines: Tetman 205, Age 168, and Ritske 202. Each of these sires traces its blood to Paulus 121, a Friesian stallion born in 1913 and entered into the stud book in 1916. He, in turn, can be traced back three generations to the original nineteenth century stud book foundation sire, Nemo 51, born in 1885. Today, all purebred Friesians trace back to these bloodlines.

The Friesian Horse has increasingly developed into a sports horse over the past decades, thus returning to its origins before the agricultural interlude. It is fast becoming the luxuriant aristocratic carriage horse it once was. Typical of these Black Pearls are the front, majestic mane, feathering of the lower legs, jet black color, and spacious, powerful, elevated gaits. The harmonious build and noble head set on a lightly arched neck complete the aristocratic and fiery appearance. Its amicable character is the key to a great utility breed.⁵ Today, thanks to its typical functional characteristics, the Friesian horse now competes with other breeds at the highest levels of equestrian sports.⁵

Stunning Friesian stallion with the thick mane and tail, refined head, and feathering. The Friesians of Freedom Farm L.L.C.

Nonetheless, the heavier and short-legged type is still much in evidence, partly due to it being used midway through the last century mainly as a harness horse in farming operations. Since there is a close relation between an animal’s intended use and its exterior, Friesian Horses that were bred for agricultural use were more short-legged and compact than their ancestors, with forelegs a bit behind the vertical and a broad chest. With this broad chest, the horse was better able to throw itself “into the harness” and, in so doing, develop more pulling power. These exterior characteristics are less functional these days in the riding arena, or in harness and driving horses. Because this type was bred for so many years, multiple generations are needed before it disappears from the breed.

These days, Friesians are kept for purposes of recreation, breeding, and sports, and often for some combination of these objectives. They are often seen in the dressage ring and in driving sports, while some of the more common uses are for ridden work under saddle, or as a harness or driving horse.

For work under saddle and driving sports, a functional build is key. The horse’s body must have an uphill slope, where the distribution of weight is brought more onto the hindquarters in motion, enabling the horse to carry more with its hindquarters. For an uphill build, a relatively long foreleg is important, as is the stance of the foreleg. The stance of the foreleg is linked to the shoulder, whereby an angled and long shoulder provides the horse with space to extend its foreleg far out to the front. The harness horse often has a bit more vertical neckline than the riding and driving horse.

For an all-purpose horse, the Friesian must move fluidly through its entire body, with powerful hindquarters that transmit movements forward, enabling the horse to “grow” in front. This is a desired trait for both riding under the saddle and for driving in front of the wagon. For harness horses, a lot of knee action is desirable (but not this alone, as it must be combined with spaciousness of gaits and “carrying” hindquarters), while for riding horses and also driving horses, extravagant knee action is not always appreciated. For all purposes, a correct leg stance is a must.

U.S. Registry

Today the majority of Friesians are in the Netherlands. Most Dutch members are associated with breeding societies, which organize a large number of annual activities. As of 2007, more than forty thousand horses were registered by the Koninklijke Vereniging “Het Friesch PaardenStamboek” (KFPS) and some seven thousand breedings are now documented every year.⁶ The result has been the establishment of daughter societies of KFPS outside the Netherlands.

Established in 1993 as a North American affiliate, the Friesian Horse Society (FHS) now serves as an American Friesian registry. It utilizes the strict registration standards that originated in the Netherlands and accepts all horses from the Friesian Horse Association of North America (FHANA) and German registered Friesenpferde Zuchtverband e.V. (FPZV) stallions for breeding. Only purebred horses with no unqualified stallions in their pedigrees receive registration papers. Purebreds with unqualified stallions receive only a birth certificate, and the documents are visibly different.

In the show ring, the FHS puts value on the exterior of a horse, but also considers the Friesian’s performance in a variety of tests as equally important in rating it. The judge uses a checklist of all the possible characteristics of the typical Friesian, from appearance to temperament. The two main marks are “exterior” and “quality of gaits.” The judge crosses out what is not apparent in the horse, leaving on the list the horse’s remaining traits. This provides the owner with a grade that is easy to understand.

Registry Requirements

The annual judging of Friesian Horses take place at sites throughout North America. It is a subjective attempt to evaluate a horse against the standards for the ideal Friesian. Movement is 60 percent of the judging evaluation, and conformation is 40 percent. Horses must be sound for judging evaluations.

Foals

All foals whose lineage qualifies them for stud book registration may be entered in the foal book. There are no restrictions based on physical appearance or soundness. Foals resulting from embryo transfers are allowed, but cloning is not. Unless distance or other constraints make it impossible, all foals must be judged in the year of their birth at the side of their dams. Each calendar year, foal names must begin with specific letters designated by the KFPS. Names should be relatively simple, ideally consisting of a single word. Genetic samples for parentage verification are taken from all foals and their dams (if not already on file). All FHS registered horses must have DNA on file with the FHS.

Adults in the foal book: Some horses registered in the foal book will not be eligible as adults for registration in the stud books for mares, geldings, or stallions. Common reasons for permanent foal book status are unacceptable white markings, serious faults, or unsoundness. In addition, some gelding owners never present their horses for registration in the stud book for geldings. All stallions that do not qualify as Studbook Stallions remain in the foal book permanently.

Mares and Geldings

Mares and geldings entering the adult stud books are evaluated on a number of points that include various aspects of conformation, breed characteristics, and movement. They are scored on each point based on their positive or negative deviation from the average for the Friesian Horse population. They must be older than three years, and the evaluation is conducted annually.

Eligibility for the stud book for mares or the stud book for geldings requires that they be:

1. Registered in the foal book

2. At least 1.5 meters (14.3 hands) at the withers

3. Black and have no white, except for a small star or a few white hairs on the forehead or muzzle; white is not permitted on the body, legs, or hooves

4. Sound, as unsound horses cannot enter the stud book

5. Free of hereditary defects (mares with hereditary defects should not be used for breeding)

Criteria for acceptance in the stud books require a demonstration of conformation and movement that adequately meets the desired typical Friesian characteristics. Mares and geldings can also be judged for inclusion in the Star Mare and Gelding Register, and mares can be judged for the Model (Provisional), Preferential Mare, or Performance Mother (Prestatie) Registers.

Stallions

Stallions that successfully pass the Stallion Performance Test (SPT) will be entered in the stud book for stallions. The SPT can be conducted annually. Stallions that are three and older that are eligible for entering the stud book must be registered in the foal book.

To be eligible for consideration as a candidate for the SPT, stallions must:

1. Be at least 1.58 meters (15.2 ¼ hands) at age 3 and at least 1.60 meters (15.3 hands) at age 4

2. Be entirely black with no white markings, except for a small star or a few white hairs on the forehead or muzzle; white is not permitted on the body, legs, or hooves

3. Have an examination by a veterinarian; x-rays taken of knee joints that reveal the bones as sound; semen analysis conducted that shows the sample meets minimum motility standards; and blood typing performed on the stallion and his dam

4. Demonstrate to the inspection judges that its movement and conformation is of sufficiently exceptional quality to warrant consideration as a Studbook Stallion

Eligibility is also based on the pedigree and the dam. There are strict requirements for the pedigrees and dams of prospective Studbook Stallions. Evaluation of stallions is made by judges during the final days of the SPT. Stallions are rated in each of the following areas:

• Walk

• Trot

• Canter

• Performance under saddle

• Performance as a driving horse to demonstrate obedience

• Performance pulling a sledge

• Performance as a carriage show horse to demonstrate action

• Character and temperament

• Stable manners

• Training manners

Those stallions that enter the stud book for stallions will receive provisional approved breeding privileges until their offspring have been judged for the first time. When a stallion’s oldest offspring become three years old, a percentage of the offspring from each year’s foal crop is evaluated for quality, which determines if the stallion demonstrates a positive impact upon the breed. This qualifies the stallion for the continuation of approved breeding privileges.

Participation in sports by approved stallions: After the year of their registration in the stud book, and up to and including the year in which their descendants are presented, approved stallions must participate in at least one discipline of an official equestrian competition on four different competition days per season.

Stallion genetic testing: All stallions used for breeding must have appropriate genetic test results on file with the FHS before they can be granted approved breeding privileges or have their offspring registered.

Offspring Judging I: When the stallion’s oldest offspring become three years old, a percentage of the offspring from each year’s foal crop will be evaluated for quality. Through the quality of his offspring, the stallion must demonstrate a positive impact upon the breed or he will no longer be granted approved breeding privileges. All Studbook Stallions with approved breeding privileges ideally should be judged annually.

Subsidiary Registers (B-Books): Purebred Friesian Horses of traceable lineage not eligible for the stud books (for example, its sire was not a Studbook Stallion with approved breeding privileges, or its dam was not registered in the stud book or foal book) may be registered in a Subsidiary Register (B-Book).

Breed Overview

The preferred build today of the Friesian is the lighter sport horse rather than the heavier draft type. The modern Friesian is strong but slightly taller and lighter on its feet than its coach-bred forebears. For this reason, the Friesian has re-emerged throughout Europe as both a champion dressage and driving performance horse.

The Friesian’s aristocratic appearance is accentuated by big expressive eyes and a fine head carried high on an elegant and nicely curved neck. Compared to the body, the head seems rather small and either straight or slightly concave; the small ears are also typical. It has tough legs with good bone structure, resulting in an enduring and surefooted horse. It is a powerful horse with high stepping action.

Today, the Friesian is bred to be exclusively black. Darker colors have always dominated, but up to the turn of the century, about 20 percent were chestnut or bay. The black color was advanced by strict selection. The only white spot allowed on the body is a star.

Typical Characteristics

The FHS advocates a modern Friesian Horse while maintaining typical characteristics of the breed.

The noble head has clear, intelligent eyes and small alert ears with tips pointing slightly toward each other. The neck is of adequate length and is lightly arched. A strong back joins a croup of good length, which does not slope too steeply. The shoulder is strong, long, and sloping, and the body is of good depth with well sprung ribs. The feet and legs are strong with a well developed forearm and proper stance. A height of 1.6 meters (15.3 hands) is considered ideal. The horse has fluid, elegant, and suspended gaits, which are emphasized by feathering on the lower legs, a fine mane, and beautiful, long tail. Jet black is the preferred color. This is a horse of luxurious and proud appearance, full of personality, honesty, and eagerness to work.

Ideal Conformation

The head is relatively short with a width that is proportional to the length. The ears are small and alert with the tips pointing slightly toward each other. The eyes are large and shining. The nasal bone is slightly hollow or straight; nostrils are wide. The lips are closed and the teeth meet properly. The jawbones are not heavy and are spread wide apart to allow the horse to breathe easily while at work. The head is set gracefully on the neck with adequate space for the throat. Overall, the head is dry and expressive, and it blends smoothly into the neck.

The neck is lightly arched at the crest, is long enough for the horse to bend properly, and is adequately muscled. The neck is set on high, and the lower neckline does not bulge between the throat and chest.

The withers are well developed and prominent; they particularly blend gradually into the back. The back is not too long and is well muscled. A slightly low back is allowed.

A beautiful head on a Friesian stallion in harness. Note the small, tipped ears, and refined muzzle. Cheval Photography

The loin is wide, strong, well muscled and makes a smooth transition into the croup. The croup is of good length, slopes slightly downward, and is wide and muscular. It neither forms a point nor is overly rounded. The tail is not set on too low. The gluteal muscle is long and well developed.

The shoulders are long, sloping, and set apart widely enough to form a good chest, which is neither too wide nor too narrow.

The ribs are long and curved, supplying ample space for the heart and lungs, without being rotund. The belly maintains sufficient depth toward the rear.

The forelegs are properly positioned and, when viewed from the front, are set parallel with a hoof width of space at the ground. Viewed from the side, they are perpendicular down through the fetlock joint. The cannon bone is not too long, while the forearm has good length. The pastern is resilient, of good length, and is at a 45-degree angle to the ground. The hoofs are wide and sound.

The hind legs, when viewed from the rear, are straight. When viewed from the side, the legs are set directly under the hindquarters and are strong with good, sound hooves. The hind cannon is a little longer than the front cannon; the gaskin is long, with well-developed muscle. The angle at the hock is approximately 150 degrees, and the rear pasterns are at a 55-degree angle to the ground.

The joints in the legs are dry, well developed, and provide a good foundation for the tendons and ligaments.

The overall appearance of the horse’s body is more nearly a rectangle than a square. When the shoulder is long and sloping, the back is not too long, and the croup is of adequate length. The ratio of fore-, middle- and hindquarters can be an ideal one-to-one-to-one. The horse is neither too massive nor too light.

The walk is straight, vigorous, and springy. There is good length of stride, and the hindquarters swing forward with power.

The trot is a reaching and forward movement with power from the hindquarters. It is elevated and light-footed with a moment of suspension. The hock flexes as the horse moves forward, and the inside angle of the hind leg closes during each stride.

The canter is well supported and lively, with sufficient power from the hindquarters and flexion in the hock.

Breeding for Performance

The Friesian Horse is used in various equestrian sports: show driving, combined driving, dressage under saddle, and recreation. As driving horses, Friesians perform well, but to become more competitive in all sports, attention should be given to the following points:

• Strong, powerful hindquarters

• Luxurious build that is not too heavy, but has ample power

• Long, sloping shoulder

• Hard, dry legs

• Light-footed movements with a moment of suspension

• Neither too small nor too large in size, with the ideal range of height being 1.59 to 1.63 meters (15.2½ to 16 hands)

• Sufficiently long and well muscled forearm and gaskin

• Strong, smooth transition from loin to croup; long and well developed gluteal muscle

• Good, wide hooves with proper heels

• Good head/neck connection

• Honest character and eager to work

• Stamina

Sources

¹ Het Friese paard, ir. G. J. A. Bouma, E. Dijkstra and dr.ir. A. Osinga

² Article R. J. Zethoven, former board member of the KFPS

³ Friese stamhengsten deel I, E. Dijkstra (citation from Dr. Geurts)

⁴Judging of the Friesian Horse, by P. de Boer, S. Minkema, and A. M. Teekens

⁵ Taken from “Information about the KFPS” by Koninklijke Vereniging “Het Friesch PaardenStamboek”

⁶ Taken from “The Friesian Horse History” by Koninklijke Vereniging “Het Friesch PaardenStamboek”

Credit: The Friesian Horse Society, Inc.