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