Black Minx Stud
Home
About Friesians
Our Horses
Photo Gallery
In Memorial
Contact
FOR SALE
About Friesians
Fly-A-Way and her foal Balthazar
The History of the Friesian Horse As one of the world's oldest equine breed, the Friesian is native to the northern province of Friesland in The Netherlands, where it's deemed 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.
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 warmbloods.
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 of the Friesian was proved when carrying the German Knights to the Crusaders. Later the Friesian became better looking - 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.
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 Warmblood, 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.
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.
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 to 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.
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 metre is considered ideal.
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.
The Friesian's use varies in very many ways, as a coach horse, a horse in harness for riding, for dressage (hitched up or under saddle), as a circus horse and a horse for pleasure. The original Friesian gig, a delightful two wheeled carriage from the second half of the eighteenth century with its typical rococo adornments is traditionally closely connected with the breed. This beautiful combination considerably enhances its baroque appearance.
The Friesian Horse used to appear in all West Europe, but from about 1900 only in Friesland. Friesland is still the center of breeding but at present their popularity is increasing every year, there are now Friesian's in Scotland, France, Germany, America, Yugoslavia, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, South Africa, Luxembourg, Ireland, Austria and Australia.
Nowadays the Friesian is popular in harness and often in the show-ring. The Friesian can be found in the circus, because of its striking carriage and willingness to adapt itself, is also found under saddle, competing in dressage up to international levels, but its first function remains supreme. It is a cheerful, loyal, very sensitive all-rounder with a unique pleasant character.
Since 1879 the Friesian Horse has been registered by the Royal Society "Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek" (KFPS). It is the oldest horse studbook of The Netherlands, at present a total of some 5000 Friesian horses are registered in it. Separate registers are kept for fillies and colts, for mares, stallions and geldings. The fillies and colts are tattooed on the underside of the tongue to prevent confusion. When full grown at the age of three, if there is sufficient quality it can be entered in the Studbook. On approval the horses are branded with the FPS brands. In short, the primary aim of the FPS is to promote the Friesian Horse and to breed horses with fine exteriors yet maintain the typical racial features that are capable of high performances in both sports (show-driving, driving, dressage under saddle, mixed) and recreation. This should be done by careful selection within the breed.
Firstly, "breeding horses with fine exteriors" is not the only purpose of the FPS, as Friesian's are not only brought especially for show-driving and driving, there are many breeders, horse lovers and leisure sports people who take to the Friesian horse. It is remarkable that even in years when in many studbooks the number of members and horses dropped, the FPS showed an increase and still does.
The breeding of Friesian horses has a relative narrow basis with only three lines, (ie) the Tetman line, the Age line and the Ritske line. The Age line is available in Australia through Lyckle'B', while the influential Ritske line is available in Australia through Maurits Friso.
The question what the original Friesian horse looked like and how it developed is difficult to answer. During the middle ages they were found from Norway to Spain and in Western Europe the indigenous horses were used by the Knights. Heavy baroque horses can be seen on old pictures and paintings. This image changed when many Friesian horses were used for trotting races.
After 1920 hard times began for the Friesian horses (there were only three stallions in 1917) when they were mainly used in agriculture. It's relatively short legs and high weight (650-700kg) were two fundamental changes that were bred into the breed. After 1970 the tractor superseded the horse almost entirely in farm labour. From this time onwards the horse was increasingly used as is described in sports and recreation.
Some people, who like to see the Friesian as a farm horse and want to continue breeding it, are of course free to do so, especially if the breeder aims to improve the weak points of the breed.
The breeding purpose is to breed a "Modern Friesian" horse, which still has the typical characteristics of the breed.
Body Types
(adapted from the guidelines outlined by the KFPS)
The Baroque Friesian
The Modern Friesian
The Classic Friesian
The Baroque Friesian
Compact with a lot of muscle.
The back is short and broad. Neck is short and heavy to ensure pulling power, shoulder is laid back and long. The chest is very broad, and the withers not very developed. The croup is 1/3 of body length, 15 degree angle. The forearm is short to facilitate pulling power, the angle of the stifle and hocks are normal to steep to allow transmitting of power.
The Modern Friesian
Fine and elegant.
The neck makes a horizontal rather than vertical impression. Back a little longer than other body types. Shoulder oblique: 45 degrees, chest normal to broad, allowing space for heart & lungs. Croup 30% of body; angle of 10-15 degrees. Croup no higher than the withers. Long gaskins to enable horse to pull the hind legs under the body. Joints broad in both directions, and strong.
The Classic Friesian
Like Modern, but heavier and more vertical.
Loins similar to Modern but less development. Back short to middle in length, neck long and starts lower from chest. Shoulder long to allow for good use of forelegs, broad chest and withers medium to no development. Croup 30% body length and more horizontal. Normal angles in stifles and hocks, and joints broad in both directions, and bodyweight in harmony.
Home
About Friesians
Our Horses
Photo Gallery
In Memorial
Contact
FOR SALE