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The Friesian Horse
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Introduction
In the north of the Netherlands lies Friesland. Abounding in water, with its lakes and waterways, it is considered by many to be the most beautiful among the Dutch provinces. Anyway, it's a province that stands out for its distinctive character and identity. This article focuses on this unique piece of the Netherlands and its inhabitants, but instead of pictures of churches, other buildings and people, what you'll see here are pictures of Friesian horses.
Frisian flag
Friesland
Friesland is the most distinctive province in the Netherlands, also in the sense that the Frisians have managed to preserve many of their traditions in the face of 'modern times' for so many centuries. The Frisians are a proud people with a sense of their own merit. But they are also sober, used to surviving under difficult circumstances.
Two very different factors have played a major role in determining the history of Friesland. The first of these was the sea, and the second consisted of the Counts of Holland who attempted time after time to add Friesian land to their own possessions. To neither of these opponents, however, has the Frisian ever wished to yield an inch.
Long before the Christian era, the Frisians (ethnologically one of the West Germanic tribes) were inhabiting the area now known as the Province of Friesland and as such part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. To the north and west, their land was bounded by the sea. Before this land was sufficiently protected by heavy dikes as it is today, storm tides would sweep in from the sea and flood most of the western part of Friesland. Meanwhile, the higher southwestern, more woody areas were usually spared. But the southern and western parts of these higher lands were populated mainly by Saxons. This meant that the Frisians were the true inhabitants of the predominantly flat tidal areas that were often at the mercies of nature's whims.
From the earliest days, the Frisians were known as tall, strong people with blond hair and blue eyes. This was a folk of seafarers, merchants, farmers and…horse breeders. They preferred building their settlements on dwelling mounds, called 'terps', which were raised layer by layer, both intentionally and by centuries of inhabitation, but which were frequently surrounded by the sea during storm tides.
Over hundreds of years, they gradually got more and more control over the unpredictable sea by building dikes, and they subdued their wild rivers by channeling them. And in doing so, they created the land of the Frisians as we know it today: stretches and stretches of flat green meadows bordered on the north and west by the sea and criss-crossed by a myriad of canals connecting lake after lake. Sturdy dikes now protect the low-lying land from the formidable sea. Dotted here and there are villages or lovely little towns, and in the middle of each one, often on an elevated spot, is the church with its historic saddle roof tower. In the summer, the green pastures are grazed by the black and white Friesian cows…and those beautiful jet-black Friesian horses.
The Friesian Horse
In its appearance and bearing, the Friesian horse has remained practically the same down through the centuries, even though the various episodes in its history had sometimes placed quite different demands on the breed. Typical of this appearance are a number of elements that are difficult to put into words but have everything to do with such concepts as noblesse, spirit and pride. These are exactly the characteristics that the Frisian, as based on his own national character and his own history, would like to see in his favorite animal - as if this animal were a true reflection of his own personal history. Is it the majestically arched neck, the dark friendly eye, or is it the long black mane and the long wavy tail that give this animal his aristocratic bearing? In all probability, it's not just one of these elements alone but the sum of the parts that evoke associations with the faraway past when loyalty and virtue were still chivalrous characteristics.
Friesian mare with her foal
When we ask the current inspection team of the Royal Association "Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek" what a Friesian horse should look like, the first thing that they says is, 'Black!' White markings, except for 'a few white hairs on the forehead' or at most a tiny star, are not considered desirable in the breeding of the Friesian horse. Various shades of black are permitted, but it has to be black. Preferably, a Friesian horse should be a true jet black, but this is rarely seen. Most Friesians are coal-black, and sometimes we see Friesians with a brown-black or 'summer brown' color in some places when their original black hairs tend to turn brown with the effect of sun and sweat. But a Friesian horse with any kind of white marking would not be entered into the studbook at the age of three.
In addition to the black color, the luxuriance of the mane, forelock, tail and the fetlocks are important characteristics of the breed. The head must not be large or long, and the eye must be clear and friendly. The ears should not be excessively large but attentive, with the tips pointing just a bit toward the center of the poll. The head must be noble and expressive. The neck emerges at a point in the chest that's not overly deep, displays sufficient length, and is not too heavy. The silhouette of the head and neck combined should present a beautiful crest giving the impression of the curve in a swan's neck and head. The withers must be well developed and continue on sufficiently into the back. A height between 1.58 and 1.65 meters at the withers is a good height for a Friesian horse. The shoulder should be long and not steep. The back should be nicely muscled and - something that is seen fairly often - not too long either. The connection of the back through the loins to the croup is very important, since it has to be strong enough to transfer the energy generated by the hindquarters to the forehand. The croup must exhibit enough slope and length. The conformation of the legs is exceptionally important: they have to be correct in every regard as well as being hard and dry.
In recent years, a great deal of attention has been devoted to the quality of the gaits in Friesian horse breeding. It is thus important that a Friesian horse possess a good walk, with good length of stride and sufficient flexibility. Its gaits are characterized by the elevated, reaching movement of the forelegs combined with a looseness in the shoulders and knee action, all of this made possible by sufficiently strong, sustaining hindquarters. The most important requirement for the trot is that it has to display sufficient reach. Due to a strict process of selection over the centuries, these are also the movement characteristics that are deeply embedded in the genetics of the Friesian breed. This also applies to the unique character of the Friesian horse: lively, intelligent, honest and reliable, always willing to work, but as proud as the Frisians themselves.
Breed characteristics
A harmoniously built, properly proportioned horse. A noble head with clear, intelligent eyes and small, alert ears slightly pointing towards each other. A slightly arched neck of adequate length; a strong back joining a croup of good length, which should not slope too much.
A strong, sloping shoulder of good length. A body with good depth and well-sprung ribs. The legs and feet are strong, with a well-developed forearm and proper stance.
Fluid, square, elegant and elevated gaits, emphasized by good feathering on the lower legs, a fine mane and a beautiful, long tail. In short, a luxuriant, honest horse with much presence and eager to work. When three years old, it should have the ideal height at withers of 1.60 m.
The preferred color is jet black.
A miracle
The most recent phase in its history could almost be described as a miracle: Friesian horses are now being bred in most European countries - Germany, Belgium, France, Great Britain and Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Austria and Hungary - as well as in the United States, Canada, Chile, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
Many people from other countries have now visited a Stallion Inspection in Leeuwarden. And anyone who's been there is usually infected for life with the "Friesian virus". During a judging process this, a strict selection is made from among more than a hundred young Friesian stallions. On the afternoon of the last day, all the Friesian stallions, including the older ones, put on a dazzling performance - a true demonstration of the beauty, vitality and aristocratic bearing typical of this ancient breed. Around 8000 people from every corner of the world are on their feet cheering, applauding and touched to tears. The Friesian horses are dancing again!
At that point, the actual judging is over. For the owners of the stallions, these have been very exciting days. After all, they know that when it comes to the breeding objectives for Friesian horse, the judges won't give an inch. Only by such a strict selection process will the very best stallions be chosen. These will then undergo intensive testing for seventy days during the central examination. The few that remain after this final gauntlet will satisfy the very highest of requirements and be registered as stud stallions. However, this status is definitively confirmed not until they have proved their ability, after three years, to transmit their excellent qualities to their offspring.
The inspection team and jury members apply a strict form of selection and know the bloodlines of the Friesian horse like nobody else. Every year, almost all the Friesian horses throughout the world are judged by this group of experts. They provide owners with advice and explain the breeding objective and how to attain it. They form an essential link in the ongoing struggle to maintain a uniform type of Friesian horse.
Logo of the FPS
Founded in 1879, the Royal Association "Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek", located in Drachten in the Province of Friesland, has for over 125 years been entrusted with preserving this unique breed. In doing so, it can rely on a noble tradition in which the imposing living cultural heritage embodied in the Friesian horse is being preserved for new generations of horse lovers today and in the future.
But the responsibility for preserving the Friesian horse is no longer being borne by the Frisians alone. It has become a task for breeders and enthusiasts all over the world. We should be grateful to them for all their accomplishments and what they have given us, and all of us together should take on the responsibility for continuing these efforts now and into the future. In doing so, we will be carrying on a noble tradition.
http://www.fps-studbook.com/
