With Halloween right around the corner, what better breed of horse to profile today than the stunning black Friesian? The Friesian, a graceful breed with a distinctive appearance, is quickly growing in popularity. You may even have a Friesian living in your barn.

History

The Friesian originated in the Friesland province of the Netherlands, and the breed’s name developed from the name of the province. The Friesian is a descendant of the forest horse which roamed the province hundreds of thousands of years ago.

The forest horse evolved to a larger, sturdier horse that carried knights in the 1100s and 1200s. This horse was a heavier horse suited for battle, and crusader horses were crossbred with Friesians to produce a powerful, heavier horse. The 1500s brought about a change in war formation, with soldiers wearing armor and carrying weapons that were lighter than those previously used. This change meant less demand for a heavy war horse, and a lighter horse became more useful.

The Friesian was crossbred with the Andalusian, resulting in a lighter horse that was useful as a harness horse. Friesians frequently served as carriage and farm horses during the 1700s and 1800s. They were crossbred with Norfolk Trotters and Morgans to produce a lighter horse for trotting races.

The late 1800s saw a returning desire for purity of the Friesian breed, and a studbook was created in 1879. Though the studbook was intended to promote Friesian breed popularity, the Friesian population decreased dramatically, and eligible breeding stallions in particular were limited. With time, though, the breed’s population recovered. The studbook foundation sire, Nemo 51, is present in all Friesian bloodlines.

Breed Characteristics

The most notable characteristic of the Friesian is its solid black coat, though chestnut Friesians do occur on occasion. Friesians typically stand between 14.2 and 17 hands. They feature good bone structure with relatively short legs. Their manes and tails are thick and long, and the long feathers on their legs are left untrimmed.

The Friesian is known for a flashy, high-stepping trot, and its overall movement is impressive and eye-catching. Friesians are known for having gentle, willing temperaments, and for being relatively easy to train. They are elegant and powerful.

The Breed Today

The Friesian is popular in both Europe and the United States, and is often used for pleasure, dressage, and driving. Friesian sporthorses are also becoming increasingly popular for their lighter weight and increased agility. The Friesian is successful in dressage and driving, due to its power and eye-catching action.

The Friesian’s appearance also makes it popular as a film horse and photography model. Friesians can be found in countless photo shoots, and have also been included in movies such as The Mask of Zorro, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Hunger Games.

Want to learn more about this stunning breed of horse? Visit the Friesian Horse Association of North America’s website for many excellent resources.

Image Source: ingimage.com/imagedetails/38036757_extInt0/02E54767-Ingimage-Friesian-horse-in-front-of-a-white-background

Original Source: The Friesian

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