The Friesian (also Frisian) is a horse breed originating in Friesland, in the Netherlands. Although the breeds conformation resembles that of a light draft horse, Friesians are graceful and nimble for their size. It is believed that during the Middle Ages, ancestors of Friesian horses were in great demand as war horses throughout continental Europe. Through the Early Middle Ages and High Middle Ages, their size enabled them to carry a knight in armor. In the Late Middle Ages, heavier, draft type animals were needed. Though the breed nearly became extinct on more than one occasion, the modern day Friesian horse is growing in numbers and popularity, used both in harness and under saddle. Most recently, the breed is being introduced to the field of dressage. The Friesian breed is most often recognized by its black coat color, however, color alone is not the only distinguishing characteristic; Friesians are occasionally chestnut. They rarely have white markings of any kind; most registries allow only a small star on the forehead for purebred registration. The breed has powerful overall conformation and good bone structure, with what is sometimes called a Baroque body type.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 23:00:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015