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