| Tall and majestic, black as the night sky, and with a | | | | horses of exceptional quality may receive the honored |
| gentle personality, the Friesian is a prime example of | | | | rating of ster. Ster horses are among the top percent |
| equus. They were developed in Friesland, Netherlands, | | | | of friesians. That is as high as the gelding?s status |
| hence their name. In the early times of their | | | | may go, because they have no breeding qualities but |
| development, they were thought ugly and used mainly | | | | the mares may proceed to model and preferent. |
| for farm and cart work. The people who first bred the | | | | Stallions have the toughest time being approved as |
| friesian were the Frisians of the West Frisian Islands | | | | breeding stock. They must first pass the initial |
| and Friesland, they are the most dominant subgroup of | | | | inspection and if they do they may attend the stallion |
| the Netherlands. The Dutch are derived of mainly | | | | inspection in the Netherlands each year. There they will |
| German and some Celtic roots and their country has | | | | be tested on their |
| one of the highest population densities in the world. The | | | | health,temperament,movement,conformation and riding |
| rough, windy climate helped develop the friesian to | | | | abilities. Up to 60 stallions may go to the stallion show |
| become hardy and strong. Their large bodies with | | | | each year but only an average of 2 or 3 will be |
| heavy coats helped protect them from the weather. | | | | approved for breeding purposes. Later, when the |
| As the medieval times dawned, the friesian had | | | | stallion has sired foals, the foals are tested and if there |
| progressed to a beautiful appearance and were used | | | | is a line of poor quality in the foals, the stallion?s |
| often as the charges of knights, prized for their | | | | breeding privileges will be removed. |
| strength, durability, and calm temperament. In the | | | | The required friesian characteristics according to the |
| 1800?s the friesian was bred lighter and faster, for the | | | | FHANA rules and regulations (pg. 7 section 2.1.2.) are |
| trotting races that were growing ever-more popular in | | | | as follows. |
| Europe. Unfortunately this caused the friesian bloodlines | | | | 'The typical friesian characteristics may be found in a |
| to be thinned until near extinction,there were only 2 | | | | horse that is harmoniously built and properly |
| remaining purebred stallions and a handful of mares. | | | | proportioned. The noble head has clear, intelligent eyes |
| Finally a group of Frieslanders realized the peril of this | | | | and small, alert ears with the tips pointing slightly |
| wonderful breed and started to breed them again. In | | | | toward each other. The neck is of adequate length |
| 1878 the first friesian studbook was formed; the FPS. | | | | and is slightly arched. A strong back joins a croup of |
| There are many registries for the friesian horse but | | | | good length which doesn?t slope too steeply. The |
| only one original, dedicated to preserving the breed. | | | | shoulder is strong,long and sloping and the body has |
| This is the FPS or Friesch Paarden Stamboek in the | | | | good depth and well sprung ribs. The feet and legs are |
| Netherlands. The American branch of the FPS is the | | | | strong with a well developed forearm and proper |
| Friesian Horse Association of North America (FHANA). | | | | stance. A height of 15.3 hands is considered ideal.' |
| This is an extremely strict registry, requiring all horses | | | | The horse has fluid, elegant and suspended gaits |
| to be tested for the studbook. The fact that sets FPS | | | | which are emphasized by feathering on the lower legs, |
| away from other registries is that they do not allow | | | | a fine mane and beautiful,long tail. Jet black is the |
| any crossbreeding with the registered friesians. This is | | | | preferred color. This is a horse of luxurious and proud |
| to assure that the bloodlines stay pure and what | | | | appearance, full of personality, honest and eager to |
| happened in the past will never happen again. A | | | | work. |
| violation of this will cause the horse and owner to be | | | | Of all the things that are not allowed in friesians by |
| expelled from the FPS. | | | | FPS standards, the most obvious is color. The friesian |
| Inspections are held each year all over the world, for | | | | must be black, very dark brown or bay-black,no white |
| horses wishing to enter the FPS. Dutch judges travel | | | | is allowed anywhere on the body with the exception |
| from the Netherlands to inspect and rate the quality of | | | | of few white hairs on the forehead. Gray hairs are |
| the horses. The horses are judged 40% on | | | | allowed on older horses, around the face and tail. They |
| conformation and 60% on movement. Foals are | | | | have a large amount of hair on their fetlocks which are |
| judged with their mothers at hand and may receive a | | | | called ?feathers? these are never shaved off. |
| first,second or third premie (placing) in the foal | | | | Friesian horses are very versatile and may be used |
| studbook. Mares and geldings will return at two or | | | | successfully in driving, dressage, hunter, trail, and |
| three to be inspected for the adult studbook. Studbook | | | | occasionally saddleseat, western pleasure and jumping. |