The Friesian Horse

Our featured horse breed for today is the Friesian Horse, my all-time favorite. I love everything about a Friesian - so graceful, so magnificent, and so regal. Here is a short piece of information on this beautiful breed.

The Friesian is a type of breed that hailed from Friesland, Netherlands. Although its conformation is much like a light draft horse, Friesians are quite agile yet graceful for their size. The Friesian horse is noted for its black-colored hair coat, though its coat color is not the only characteristic that makes the breed. Its mane and tail are long and thick, often wavy. The hair on its lower legs is long, silky, and featherlike, which is usually left untrimmed.

The breed started in the province of Friesland found in northern Netherlands. In this area, there is evidence that horse populations have thrived for thousands of years. The breed is also said to  be descendants of the primitive forest horse. The ancestors of today’s Friesians were commonly used in medieval times, as knights’ steed to battle.

Country of Origin:

The Netherlands

Application:

The Friesian is one of the best carriage horses in the world. Today the breed is popularly used for dressage competitions.

Color:

Only black horses are registered, but there are other colors of the breed including black/bay, true black, and dark brown.

Height:

14.3 to 16 hands