West Friesan Horse

West Friesan is one of the oldest breeds in Europe. A native of Holland, it is famous for its distinctive black coat and thick wavy hair. They are robust, powerful and relentless, and they were used in the past, especially during the Middle Ages as a warhorse. Today it is particularly popular in dressage and in horse shows. There are two distinguished models: the Baroque which is more robust and the modern lighter.

Height at withers: 1.53 to 1.70 m
Weight: 600 Kg

The head, sometimes slightly arched, has noble and intelligent eyes. The ears are small and careful and are slightly tilted towards each other. The sizing is a bit ‘curved’, not too short and carried high while the back is sometimes a bit long and ends in a saddle not too small or skewed. The shoulders are long, oblique and powerful. The legs and feet are strong, the forearms developed and perpendicularly correct. The manes are bushy and can be wavy or straight and are carried generally long. The limbs are covered from about the mid-shins to the bow.

Gaits are elastic, elegant and detected. The general appearance is noble and proud. Friesan is a horse who loves the job fair and is very temperamental. They have an average height of 1.60m at the shoulder and at the age of three years is considered ideal. The color of the coat is more pleasing Morello unmarked white. It is known however that this breed reaches maturity towards six years of age which is later than other horses.

History

The Friesian horse descends from an ancient breed and was developed in the Friesland region of Holland where they found some remains which date back about 3000 years. The first written records date back to Roman times when the empire expanded to the North Atlantic coast of Europe, the Roman historian Tacitus, which enhances the value and strength but also it is very ungainly in appearance, results of a selection that encouraged him to work mainly in the fields.

During the Middle Ages they had different colors of coat, and were appreciated as a warhorse for their frugality and strength that allowed him to carry on his back the knight with his armor.

In the sixteenth century, under Charles V, the Spanish domination extended into the Netherlands. They then imported many horses that intersected with the Friesans, giving rise to a model used to tow the lighter guns or for ceremonies. Many paintings by Flemish painters of the period confirm the evolution of the race.

At the same time, the Friesan was also imported by both land and sea ports of the North Sea and in turn improved several European breeds such as the Dales and Fell (the similarity is in the eyes) and the Shire. In the seventeenth century, the Netherlands came under French rule. The officers enjoyed the proud bearing and elegant trot.
In the nineteenth century, fashion trotting races reached Europe so they tried to improve the already good performance in the Friesan horses trot by crossing it with the lighter Orlov.

It was because of this that the breed became extinction. Fortunately in 1879 twenty-two breeders met and determined the characteristic features of the breed. During the First World War there were only three pure stallions and a hundred mares. Farmers, to preserve the genetics, ruled out any further crossing with other breeds.

The Second World War, with its scarcity of means of transport and fuel, led to re-broadcasts. At the end of the conflict in 1954, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands allowed the company of the Friesan horse to breed under the Royal Society and then became their protector.

A second crisis struck the race when the jumping spread because the conformation of the horses did not allow the practice of discipline except at low levels. Today the Friesan is no longer at risk because of its beauty and their features have earned them worldwide fame. The Friesans have the honor of pulling the coach of the Dutch royal family as well as that of the famous British department store Harrods. Since 1980 the breeding has been aimed at improving the gallop, a weak point of the race, and to develop its potential in dressage.

Today the Dutch Friesan is protected by the FPS (Het Friesch Paarden-Stam-boek) that manages the entire race. It has created selection standards particularly harsh. There is a first stud-book of foals (veulen-boek) which allowed only those whose parents themselves certified.

During the third year of age they are subjected to a different test for each sex which ensures that there is no defect or hereditary perpendicularity with regard to regular pace and a trot. Those who pass will be entered in the Stud Book (stamboek).
Breeding of mares not only possess the qualities listed above, but in addition must measure at least 1.50m at the withers.

Now we can obtain three other levels of evaluation (here in ascending order): It does have some particularly elegant gaits (only between 25% and 30% of candidates). It is modelled after a test of the saddle or attacks, preference is given if they manage to convey their quality to at least four foals ster.

The stallions are tested even more selectively. To become part of stamboek they must measure at least 1.59m at the shoulder. The parents also have their members and have no white marks (this is also controlled over the four previous generations). The morphology and gaits must be perfect and elegant, and x-rays of bones and joints are taken to verify the absence of defects that might be transmitted to offspring. After passing this test, candidates are observed during seventy days during which judges examine their behavior and their attitude to the saddle or to attack. Those who pass the examination are issued a provisional to serve which is valid for three years.

After this time, their products are examined. If they are not compliant the authorization is withdrawn, but if in compliance, it is confirmed. All these conditions allow us to understand why in the world there are only about seventy stallions certificates (of which three quarters are in the Netherlands and a fourth is in America).

There are a few players not being allowed crosses with other breeds due to be problems such as behavioral, reproductive and susceptibility to certain diseases. They are avoided by a system of calculating the co-efficiency of consanguinity available for each horse entered in stamboek. In this way, farmers are able to assess the risks that the choice of a particular player may entail.