THE FRIESIAN HORSE HISTORY
COPYRIGHTED 2006 BY Melissa Fischbach, used here by special premission do no copy.
The Friesian Horse, native to the Netherlands in Holland, is known in its native county as a 'Jack of all Trades'. You can see Friesians being used for everything from plowing the fields, to taking the family to church in a high stepping carriage, to performing well in most any discipline. The History of the Friesian can be traced back to a cold-blooded native forest horse; the remains of such a horse have been unearthed in the Fries area of North Holland. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Friesians were influenced and refined with barb blood, which added the small head and the craning neck. Later during the crusades with battle mobility in mind Andalusian blood was added, this gave Friesians their trade mark high knee-action and more speed undersaddle. The Friesian horse having been kept free from influence of the English Thoroughbred and the Arabian is not considered a warm-blood but is a cold-blood Medium weight draft breed.
During the last two centuries, with the help of monks from monasteries in Friesland, the Friesian breed has been kept pure from outside influence The Friesian breed is very distinguishable, always solid black, with high knee action, elegant performance, trade mark feathered feet and a glorious long mane and tail ( that is not allowed to be cut). The breed is known for its steadfast loyalties to their owners, a kind and good natured, people-oriented personality and a hardy constitution with good strong bones and hoofs.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the "black pearls of Friesland" were highly sought after as a trotting race horse for the short distance of (325 m). These trot races, ridden bare-back were very popular and held annually in Fries land villages and towns. Prestigious winners of these races were awarded a 'golden whip'. Later Festivities also included a special Ring race with the traditional Friesian "sjees". (a white 2-wheeled cart) manned by a farmer and his wife dressed in traditional Friesian Heritage costumes The men would Drive the Sjees at a brisk trot and the women would attempt to spear a hanging finger sized ring. Reenactments of this historical Sport can still be seen today.
The Friesian horse has provided the foundation for many European breeds some samples of which you may reciginize: The Shire, Gelderlander, Olderburger, Fell ponies, , Dutch Warmbloods and Holestiners, to name a few. Friesians were sought after for many prestigious stud farms. During 16th-18th centuries It was known that Hungarian King Louis II of France preferred to ride a heavy Friesian stallion, there were Friesian stallions in the stables of Don Juan of Austria, Prince George William of Prussia, the Danish stud at Frederiksborg and the stud at Salzburg Germany. The queen of Holland still keeps a stable of these fine horses and to this day all Friesians are registered to the crown.
Until the beginning of this century Friesian horses were imported to England for use to pull hearse coaches in London. As early as 1625 Friesian horses were being imported into what later would become the United States of America. The First 'official' registered Friesians were imported to the US in the 1970's. Today you can see this bred excelling in many disciplines: Circus, Dressage, Saddleseat, Carriage Driving, Combined Driving and Movies.
The "Het Friesch Paarden Stamboek"( FPS) in Holland supervises the maintenance and improvement of the Friesian horse throughout the world. Friesians here the in the US are monitored by a sister registry to the 'FPS' known as 'The Friesian Horse Association Of North America' or (FHANA). The Friesian Government though history has made many regulations in order to safeguard good breeding, cross breeding with a Friesian horse is forbidden by the Dutch registry. Due to strict breeding privileges, there are less then 100 approved breeding stallions in the world, here in the US we have approximately 18.
Though these horses may be know for their beauty a Friesian horse owner knows, they are treasured for there temperament and quickly become and inseparable part of the Family, one you will be left to wonder how you never did without.
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