“BREEDING OBJECTIVE KFPS (Royal Friesian Horses Studbook) ANNO 2010“
"A functionally and harmonically built horse that can be used for many purposes, which possesses the characteristics of the Friesian breed, is healthy and vital and is predisposed to practice sports at the highest level"
The quickly increasing demand for good Friesian horses has entailed a very grave danger to the technical aspects of its breeding. With such a great increase in demand, how can the quality of the Friesian horse be maintained, and even better, improved?
First of all, the problem of in-breeding needed to be tackled. To build a worldwide population out of a genetic pool of approximately 500 mares and about a dozen stallions, and in the same time preserve its fertility, vitality and racial characteristics is certainly not a sinecure.It can be said that this operation was a success, thanks to a severe studbook policy and the cooperation of breeders when selecting the stallion. Using foreign blood in order to offer a quick solution to this problem has never been considered. Those supporting the cross-breeding always came from out of Friesland, but always encountered the stubborn and wilful Frisians, who were of the opinion that a Friesian horse should remain a Friesian horse...
In the meanwhile, the further improvement of the breed within its species is untiringly being worked on. Its purpose is to breed a versatile horse, fit for riding, driving, but also for dressage, competitive sports, combined driving or maybe for circus shows. The incredible evolution over a period of 25 years is the merit of wise chairmen and in particular inspectors such as Cees Faber and after him Hendrik Draaijer and Harm Mulder. Above all, the honor goes to the Friesian horse itself and its ancient ‘noble tradition’ of breeders and amateurs. They managed to anchor noblesse, strength, love and devotion into its DNA-structure: characteristics which every man and woman like to see in a horse.
Through the centuries, the appearance of the Friesian horse has remained more or less the same, even though the several episodes in its history imposed different demands. A couple of elements are distinctive of these periods, but are difficult to describe in words. However, they have everything to do with notions such as noblesse and pride. These are precisely the characteristics that the Frisian population – from their own national character and history – like to find back in their favorite animal, as if this living animal were a true reflection of their own personal history… Is it the majestical swan neck, the dark friendly eye, or the long
dark manes and the long wavy black tail that have given the animal its aristocratic appearance? It’s probably not just one of these elements alone, but the sum of all parts that evoke associations with the faraway past, when loyalty and virtue were still chivalrous characteristics.
Waarschijnlijk is het niet één onderdeel afzonderlijk maar het geheel van de delen, dat bij de mens een associatie oproept aan dingen uit een ver verleden, toen trouw en deugd nog ridderlijke eigenschappen waren....
When we ask the present inspection of the KFPS how a Friesian Horse should look, then the first answer is: Black! In the breeding facility, white markings are ‘unwanted’, or it should be limited to ‘a few white hairs on the head’, or a little star at the most. Different shades of black are possible, as long as it’s black. The jet black color is the most favourite, but is very rare. Most Friesians are charcoal black, but brown/black or summer brown are also seen as the black color because of the influence of sun and sweat on certain places which makes the black turn into brown. A Friesian horse – at the age of 3 – with some sort of white markings won’t be registered in the Studbook.
Next to its black color, the abundant manes, tail and “fetlocks” at the legs are important breed characteristics. The head may not be too large or too long and the eye must be clear and friendly. Preferably, the ears mustn’t be too big, but attentive and the ends pointing slightly inwards. The head must be noble and expressive. The collar mustn’t begin too deep in the chest, have a sufficient length and be not too heavy. Together with the neck, the upper line must show a gracefully elevated arch and give the impression of a swan’s neck. The withers must be well-developed and continue sufficiently in the back. The withers of a Friesian horse must be high between 1.58 and 1.65 m. The shoulder must be long and not too steep. The back must be well-muscled and also not too long, which is quite frequent. The transition of the back between the loins and the croup is very important. It must be sufficiently strong in order to bring the generated energy from the back to the front. The croup must be slightly sloped and sufficiently long. The leg work is also very important: it must be correct in all aspects and be sufficiently hard and dry.
The last few years, a lot of attention has gone to the quality of movement when breeding Friesian horses. It is important that a Friesian horse possesses a good pace: it must be wide and show sufficient souplesse. The moving mechanism is characterized by an elevated propulsive movement of the front legs with shoulder freedom and knee action, which are made possible thanks to a sufficiently strong propulsive back-bearing movement. The trot must be wide enough. Due to the rigorous selection process of hundreds of years, these propulsive characteristics have been deeply anchored in the heritage of the Friesian horse breed. This also contributes to the unique character of the Friesian horse: vivid, intelligent, honest and loyal, always willing to work, but proud as the Frisian population...
The most recent phase of its history can almost be called a miracle. In most European countries: in Germany, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Austria and Hungary, but also in the USA, Canada, Chile, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, New Zeeland and Japan Friesians are being bred. Many foreign amateurs have visited the “keuring” of stallions in Leeuwarden. Those who have been there once have been infected by the ‘Friesian virus’ for the rest of their lives.
During this “keuring”, a severe selection is made from young Friesian stallions. On the last day, at noon, all Friesian stallions, including the elders, show themselves off during a wonderful show, a true demonstration of beauty, vitality and aristocracy through centuries. About 8000 people from all parts of the world stand on their chairs shouting, clapping and moved to tears. Yet again the Friesian horses are dancing...!
