The Friesian horse

The Friesian horse originates from Friesland in the north of the Netherlands, which remains its traditional breeding region.

Although Friesians are a very old breed, they came close to extinction. They were already known before the Common Era as popular war horses. Around AD 150 there are records of Friesian horses being present in northern England and Scotland. The English author Anthony Dent described them as “Old English Black horses”, similar to the Shire horse or the Fell pony.

The first written use of the term “Friesian horse” dates back to 1544. Friesians continued to be prized as war horses; some warriors could even be recognised from a distance by their black mount.

In the 17th century, Friesians together with Spanish horses were most popular as horses for haute école dressage. At that time they also gained favour as carriage horses, much like the local Kladruber horses.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, Friesians became concentrated in Friesland alone. Wealthy farmers would drive to church every Sunday in the typical two-wheeled carriage – the gig – drawn by a pair of black Friesians.

Towards the end of the 19th century a serious crisis struck Friesian breeding. The demand for heavy breeds in agriculture pushed the lighter Friesians to the sidelines. Farmers crossed their noble black pearls with heavy draught breeds. The resulting horses were heavier, but otherwise unattractive. Fortunately, on 1 May 1879 a small group of enthusiasts met at the De Drie Romers inn in the Frisian town of Roordahuizum and founded the famous studbook “Het Friesch Paarden Stamboek”.

Unfortunately, reviving the Friesian breed proved almost impossible. The influence of the draught horses was too strong and the purebred lines were slowly dying out. By 1913 only 3 older breeding stallions remained. These three stallions ultimately founded the main lines from which all modern Friesian horses descend. Although the situation seemed disastrous, the breed was in the end miraculously revived. The horses themselves played a major part in their own rescue – above all through their wonderful character, adaptability, intelligence, friendly nature and enormous willingness to work. Throughout this development the breeders always kept to one main condition: a Friesian horse must be black, with an abundant mane, tail and feathering. That is why Friesians can never be mistaken for any other breed.

Around 1960 a second crisis hit Friesian breeding – the gradual arrival of mechanisation pushed Friesian horses off the fields and left them essentially redundant. By 1965 only 500 mares were still registered in the studbook.

But once again the Friesians proved their incredible adaptability, and almost overnight they turned from field horses into horses for leisure and entertainment.