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