The Frisian horse, probably one of the most popular and appreciated breeds in the world, is the only equine breed originating in Holland. It stands out for its muscular body, shiny coat, wild mane and strong limbs. For centuries it was used as a warhorse, thus participating in the 80 Years War or the Crusades. However, there are many other curiosities about the breed, do you want to discover them? On our site we offer you a great guide to horse breeds, but this time we want to talk in detail about the Friesian horse breed, its characteristics, character, problems regular he alth and much more. Keep reading!
Origin of the Friesian horse
Frisian horses are native to Holland, being the only horses originating from that country. Specifically, they come from the beautiful province of Friesland, where the Friesian horse was truly appreciated from its origins, dating back to before 500 BC, so we are before a truly ancient equine race. As early as the 1st century AD. These equids were captured in marble and works of art of the time, where they appeared accompanying monarchs and soldiers. It was so appreciated in Friesland that the locals perpetuated the existence of these horses, due to how valuable they were both for war and for livestock work, while the rest of the Dutch horse breeds ended up disappearing
This breed remained pure until the time of the Crusades, when crosses began to be made between Friesians and Thoroughbred Arabians or Thoroughbred Spanish. It was in the 19th century when the breed was on the verge of disappearing, something that is not accidental, since it coincides with the end of the fiefdoms and the large plantations where the Friesians developed their work.
But the Frisians managed to bounce back thanks to their racing skills, which became one of the most popular festivals in the Dutch provinces at the time. With the arrival of other more competitive breeds in the field, the role of the Friesian as racehorse ended in 1891, at which time the last race of the Friesian horses in the province of Friesland. They also had to compete with other tougher breeds in farming, so the Friesians were seriously threatened. The breed is currently insured thanks to its development and conservation by the Het Friese Paarden-Stamboek, an association recognized in 1954 by Queen Juliana as Royal Association.
Physical characteristics of the Friesian
Frisian horses have a solid and robust body, with a considerable weight, as there are specimens that can even reach a ton in weight. Despite this, most often a Friesian weighs between 600 and 900 kilograms, measuring between 1.60 and 1.70 meters tall at the withers. The life expectancy of a Friesian is usually between 25 and 30 years. Its legs are short and its neck is very erect, its chest is large and, like the rest of its body, also muscular. The head is really elegantly cut, elongated and light-jawed. It has large, bright eyes, with a deep and expressive gaze, and small, pointed ears
The coat of a Friesian is considered to be the breed's strength, with a bushy mane and tail and sometimes imperfect but very beautiful braids spontaneously forming. They have a tuft of hair on the end of their legs, as well as a fringe on their heads that connects with the mane, giving an arched shape to their neck. The only color accepted in Friesians is total or absolute black, although specimens with jet or almost black brown coats have been recognized, small white spots are accepted on the forehead.
Frisian Horse Character
One of the reasons why Friesian horses have been so valued historically is the combination of their strength and robustness, as well as their special character. These horses are characterized by having a calm and very friendly temperament, they are also sociable and balanced. All this made the Friesian the ideal horse to perform tasks in fields as diverse as livestock, agriculture, war, racing or dressage, being a truly versatile breed in this sense.
They are ideal horses for dressage due to the great skills they are capable of acquiring in a very short learning time, as they are attentive and intelligent. They are also fantastic in riding schools, where their wonderful temperament and docility work in their favor, participating in the teaching of riding in superior equestrian schools.
Frisian horse care
In order for our Friesian to be in the best conditions, we must pay certain attention to it. One of them is the care of your ears, they must always remain clean and neat, in this way we will avoid complications such as auditory obstructions, to clean them we can resort to a gauze or cloth and clean the outermost part of the ear canal, always with care and care and ensuring that it is completely dry.
We must also monitor the condition of your teeth, ensuring that they are cared for and clean. In addition, it is recommended that oral check-ups be carried out by a specialist on a regular basis. In this way, anomalies can be detected before they pose a risk to the he alth of our horse, such as malocclusions, abscesses or infections.
Finally, it is worth noting the importance of keeping the coat of our Friesian in good condition, for this we must perform at least one daily brushing, removing dirt and excess hair. In this sense, the use of a curry comb or scraper is recommended to remove excess loose hair that has adhered due to sweat and thus keep the coat always presentable. Baths are also recommended, although the use of soap should be limited, as it is not recommended to abuse it.
To finish we will highlight the importance of offering a balanced and quality diet to the individual, also allowing him to graze in peace for greater well-being, as well as leaving at your disposal at all times fresh and clean water
Frisian Horse He alth
Despite all the benefits that the Friesian horse has, we must know that they are delicate animals and that they may have a certain genetic predisposition to the development of certain horse diseasesOne of the pathologies that most concern horse owners, regardless of the breed, is colic, which is very painful and usually a symptom that something is wrong in the horse's digestive system. These colics can indicate the presence of intestinal disorders of various types and severity, so they should not be ignored, and it is advisable to carry out a check-up with a veterinarian specialized in horses.
On the other hand, it has been proven that Friesians are horses especially sensitive to stress, well, although all horses are skittish animals and sensitive, Friesians seem to suffer more in situations that are stressful. That is why, in order to prevent our Friesian from suffering from diseases linked to suffering from high levels of stress, we should avoid exposing it to potentially stressful elements or situations as much as possible. Likewise, we will favor tranquility, positive activities and we will maintain a he althy relationship with him.
We will end this sheet on the Friesian horse by recalling the importance of performing regular veterinary visits every 6 or 12 months, in which we will evaluate the he alth status of our best friend. We will strictly follow the schedule of vaccines for horses that the specialist marks, likewise, we will carry out the deworming or the care that the veterinarian suggests.
