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Breed profile: The Friesian
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Friesians are beautiful horses that usually have a long and luxurious mane, tail, and forelock. Their most defining physical characteristics are their feathers, hair on the lower legs, and their color, which is always black. Friesians rarely have white markings and white markings are not allowed in the registry except for a small star on the forehead. The average height for a Friesian is 15 to 16 hands, but many can be found close to 17 hands. Friesians are loyal, strong, gentle, loving, and willing.
Friesians have been around for thousands of years. They are primarily from Friesland, which is found in the northern Netherlands, and assumed descendants of the Forest horse. Around 100 A.D. Friesians and their riders supplemented the Roman Legions in Britian and the breed remained in the area long after the Romans were gone. During this time Friesian blood was introduced to, and helped shape, breeds such as the Fell pony, Dales pony, and the Shire horse.
Friesians were used as a warhorse again during the Crusades in the 12th and 13th centuries lending strength and courage to Frieslander and German knights. It was during these times that the Friesian travelled all the way to the Middle East where desert horses were bred with Friesians to give a more refined look and warmer blood to the breed.
My Friesian mare (Rodenmeyer)
In the 16th and 17th centuries Spain occupied the Netherlands during the 80 years war and they crossed the Friesian with the Spanish Andalusian. The resulting horse was a lighter horse with more powerful, showy gaits that quickly became popular in Spain and France as high-school dressage horses. During the 17th century the Oldenburg was also created using the Friesian as a foundation horse.
During the 18th and beginning of the 19th century the Friesian found it's niche in agriculture as a harness horse until machinery took over. More surprisingly the Friesian also excelled in trotting races due to their strong hindquarters. These trotting races were short, 320 metres, because the Friesian's heavier build and slower heartrate do not allow them to excel in endurance races. Ringdriving, or ring spearing, also became a popular recreational sport with Friesians during this time.
The 19th century brought devastation and almost extinction to the once popular Friesian breed. Machine run farm equipment replaced the Friesian as a workhorse, and world trade allowed lighter, faster trotting horses to be imported from Russia and America. In an effort to save the breed the studbook was opened in 1879 but by 1913 there were only 3 Friesian stallions left in the world. World War II and the circus of the Strassburger family contributed to the survival of the Friesian breed. During WWII fuel shortages forced farmers to return to horse drawn farm equipment, and the circus of the Strassburger family discovered and used the showy qualities of the Friesian in their shows. The circus helped increase the breeds popularity as well as eventually creating a market for the Friesian in several disciplines.
In 1985 the breeds popularity received a boost after the Friesian stallion, Goliath, made an appearance in the film, Ladyhawke. Since then Friesians have been seen in several films such as The Mask of Zorro, Eragon, Alexander, The Chronicles of Narnia, and 300.
Today the Friesian is once again popular, now in Europe and the United States as dressage, driving, and pleasure horses. There are two distinct breed types of Friesians, the modern type which is lighter, finer boned, and flashier, and the baroque type which is a little heavier and characteristic of the "classic" Friesian.
I can attest to the loyal, willing, and loving nature of the Friesian after two years with my own Friesian mare. If you want anathletic, willing (although sometimes lazy) horse who will be your best friend if you let him/her, then check out the Friesian breed.
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