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