| The Friesian horse is a breed of horse | | | | "Spanish type" heads. Their sloping |
| from Friesland, a province of the | | | | shoulders are quite powerful. They have |
| Netherlands. Although originally bred as | | | | compact, muscular bodies with strong |
| a draft horse, the breed is graceful and | | | | sloping hindquarters and a low-set tail. |
| nimble for its size and later developed | | | | Their limbs are comparatively short and |
| into a finer-boned nobleman's steed. | | | | strong. |
| During the Middle Ages, Friesian horses | | | | From the latter part of the 20th century |
| were in great demand as destriers | | | | until the present, demand for purebreds, |
| throughout Europe since their size | | | | particularly the finer-boned, taller, |
| enabled them to carry a knight in full | | | | more agile version of the Friesian |
| armor. After a few close calls with | | | | increased, so breeders began to produce |
| breed extinction, the modern day | | | | both purebreds and a lighter-weight |
| Friesian horse is growing in numbers and | | | | crossbred horse with valued |
| popularity, used both in harness and | | | | characteristics. |
| under saddle. Most recently, the breed | | | | Friesian and Friesian-mixed horses excel |
| is being introduced to the field of | | | | in dressage competitions due the breed's |
| dressage . | | | | strong intellect, show-form looks, |
| The Friesian is probably best known for | | | | power, and body control. Due to its |
| its black coat color, a long, thick mane | | | | heavy, muscular physique the purebred |
| and tail, and "feathers"--long, silky | | | | Friesian is not well-suited to aerobic |
| hair on the lower legs, deliberately | | | | sports like horse racing or endurance |
| left untrimmed. The official breed | | | | riding, but its status as a student and |
| rarely has white markings of any kind, | | | | dressage horse is excellent. |
| most registries allow only a small star | | | | The Friesian also remains popular as a |
| on the forehead for purebred | | | | carriage horse, as its high-stepping |
| registration. Though extremely rare, and | | | | action makes it eye-catching and |
| not accepted for registration in most | | | | impressive. It is particularly popular |
| cases, Friesians are occasionally | | | | in competitions that require the driving |
| chestnut. The Friesian's average height | | | | of a team, partly because of its |
| is about 15.3 hands (1.60 m), although | | | | movement and disposition, and partly |
| it may vary from 14.2 to 17 hands | | | | because it is easy to match teams of |
| (between 1.5 m and 1.7 m) tall at the | | | | black horses. Friesians are also good |
| withers, and mares must be at least 15.2 | | | | all-around horses, used for showing, |
| hands (1.57 m) tall to qualify for a | | | | driving, and general riding, and are |
| special 'star-designation' pedigree. [1] | | | | also used as circus horses. |
| The breed is known for a fast, | | | | Due to their striking appearance and |
| high-stepping trot. The Friesian is | | | | mild temperament, the Friesian has |
| considered a willing, active, and | | | | become popular in the film industry. The |
| energetic horse that is also gentle and | | | | breed owes much of its current |
| docile. A Friesian tends to have great | | | | popularity to the appearance of a |
| presence and to carry itself very | | | | Friesian stallion in the 1985 film, |
| proudly. | | | | Ladyhawke, which ignited a worldwide |
| The breed has powerful overall | | | | interest in these horses. Recent films |
| conformation and good bone structure. | | | | such as The Mask of Zorro, and Alexander |
| Friesians have long, elegant, arched | | | | have also featured Friesian horses. |
| necks and well-chiseled, short-eared, | | | | |