How a strong, black draft horse became a graceful dressage horseThe Friesian (also Frisian) horse breed originates from Friesland, one of the northern Dutch provinces bordered by the tempestuous North Sea. This vast land, large areas reclaimed from the sea, is the home of this proud but docile breed. It is a land of water, sky, open green pastures and determined people. Friesland (Fryslân) is part of the bigger region known as Frisia. Its name in the Frisian language is Fryslân. Friesland has 643,000 inhabitants (2005) and its capital is Leeuwarden (Ljouwert), with 91,817 inhabitants, in the centre of the province. Friesland further distinguishes itself from the other eleven provinces through having its own language, which is also spoken in a minor part of the province of Groningen, to the east has only five percent.
One of the oldest European breedsLoyal, brave Friesians in medieval times carried knights first to the holy land, and then in full armour into battle. In the 12th and 13th centuries, some eastern horses were crossed with ancient Friesian stock. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Friesians were improved and refined with barb blood. Later, Andalusian blood was added. This gave Friesians their trade mark high knee-action and more speed, mobility and flexibility.Andalusian blood was also added to lighten the breed and thereby render it more suitable (in terms of lower food intake and waste output) for work as an urban carriage horse. The Friesian breed was carefully protected from the influence of the English Thoroughbred. It is not classed a warm-blood but is a cold-blood medium weight draft breed. Friesians were also used by the classical riding schools in France and Spain for high-school dressage. Newcastle himself remarked on their potential as dressage horses. They remain popular today for their grace and proud appearance. The breed was especially popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, when they were not only in demand as harness horses and for agricultural work, but also for the trotting races so popular at the time. These trotting races (over a short distance of +/- 325 m), were contested riding bare-back. They were held annually in various Friesland villages and towns. Winners of these races were awarded a 'golden whip'. Festivities often also included a special Ring race on the traditional Friesian sjees (a white 2-wheeled cart). These were manned by a farmer and his wife in traditional Friesian dress. The man would drive the sjees at a brisk trot and the women would attempt to spear a suspended finger sized ring. It called for extreme dexterity, of both husband and wife, but also of their Fries. Noble, Aristocratic and RoyalAt the end of the 19th century, the Fries was threatened with extinction. The Friesian stud registry book, Friesch Paarden Stamboek (FPS) was founded in 1879 by a group of Dutch farmers dedicated to preserving the breed. Friesians had become popular for crossbreeding due to their excellent trot, presence, and colour, and as a result, Friesian "purity" was severely threatened. Without the timely intervention of these determined men, the breed would have become extinct. A couple of years ago I attended the Stallion Keuring in Leeuwarden…it is difficult to describe the feeling when 3000 people did the Mexican wave in appreciation as the approved stallions, one by one, flew around the arena, the feet of their leaders barely making contact with the ground. It was electrifying. The FPS was honoured in 1954 when Queen Juliana of the Netherlands granted its Breed Society the right to preface its name with the word 'Royal'. Queen Beatrix still keeps a team and all Friesian horses are registered to the crown. Through the years the FPS has made many regulations in order to safeguard the quality of the breed. Now all pure Friesians have to be registered with The Friesch Paarden Stamboek (the friesian studbook). Since 1986 it became compulsory for FPS registered horses to have a number tattooed on their tongues as foals. Foals registered since 1997 have been given a unique microchip instead of a tongue tattoo. The tongue tattoo or microchip should always be identical to the data recorded on the FPS registration papers. The Fries is the ultimate assistant in Equine-assisted experiential learning and Psychotherapy. Attentive, intelligent and co-operative, my Friesians have often diagnosed and solve a problem long before I even realised there was one.
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