One of the most recognized horse breeds in the world, Friesian horses are known for their luxurious pitch-black coat, feathered legs and breathtaking action. Developed in the Friesland province of the Netherlands around the 16th century, the breed gradually found its way through the world, becoming famous in the process. Today, if a movie has horses in it, nine times out of 10 there’s a Friesian. But it’s not just their looks that make them great Hollywood stars. The breed is intelligent, athletic and willing to work—all things a good star should be.

And it’s these qualities that enamor enthusiasts, with ownership numbers growing every year, according to the Friesian Horse Association North America (FHANA). Currently, there are 14,000 registered Friesians in North America, with around 450 foals being registered annually. In addition, the numbers continue to increase through importation, with around 120 Friesians being imported from the Netherlands annually.

FHANA works hard to show that the Friesian is not just a pretty face, but a complete athlete in all disciplines. Recently, they updated their awards program to include western dressage and in-hand categories due to an increase in FHANA members who compete in these sports. They also developed a trail category to reward members who get out and do things with their Friesian non-competitively; it has been very successful.

Friesian Horses in the Show Ring

Nineteen-year-old Alanna Bent is the proud partner of two FHANA-registered Friesian geldings.

“My first introduction to the Friesian horse comes from my mother,” shares Bent. “She had always had an interest in the Friesian, and eventually she decided to purchase one.”

In fact, it was her mother who purchased Bent’s first gelding, Gerke Nillis von de G.V. (Gerke) in 2015 as an unstarted 5-year-old. Bent trained him to go under saddle herself.

“Right from the start, he had an excellent work ethic,” Bent shares. “He is extremely intelligent and catches on to training extremely fast.”

Two years later, she purchased Ooude van G.V. (Ooude), another unstarted 5-year-old Friesian horse.

“Ooude is an incredibly talented horse,” Bent says. “He has always enjoyed the more difficult movements and used to get quite bored in the lower levels. Though it was a tricky thing to balance when he was young, it is an excellent quality of his as he advances up the levels.”

Although a rider since she was little, Bent has only been riding dressage for four years. But in that time, she and her geldings have achieved two Sport Predicate awards, which require five scores at 60 percent or higher at Third Level.

“I didn’t start working on dressage with Gerke until 2018,” Bent recalls. “Thinking back now, it is incredible how fast he caught on to dressage, and in 2020 he earned his Sport Predicate.”

Bent also free-jumps Gerke using just a neck rope with no saddle.

And Ooude is no slouch either. Along with his Sport Predicate award, he and Bent earned a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) bronze medal in the same year, which happened to be only his second year of showing.

“With Ooude, I have focused completely on dressage,” she says. “He is a very talented horse and seems to enjoy the upper-level work. I am currently schooling Prix St. George with him.”

Her next goal is competing at the Prix St. George level and possibly earning Ooude his Sport Elite Predicate, which requires five scores at 60 percent or higher at the Prix St. George level or above.

Both geldings get time out of the arena on trails, as well.

She wishes more Friesian owners would join her in dressage.

“Representing the Friesian horse in dressage is very important to me,” she explains. “There aren’t a lot of Friesians competing in dressage—and even fewer in the highest levels. Because of this, I feel it is very important for Friesians to be represented. Many Friesians have a real talent for dressage, and with time and training they can be very successful in the competition ring.”

Bent acknowledges two key traits of Friesian horses are their intelligence and work ethic.

“In the end, the mind of the horse will determine their success,” she shares. “A horse can be very talented, but if they are not willing, or do not have an aptitude for the dressage work, it can be very challenging to train them. With Friesians, they really care about their work, and want to do well for their person.”

This article about Friesian horses appeared in the January/February 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post All About the Friesian Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

If you love the Baroque and the majestic, the romantic and the noble, then one breed of horse should really strike your fancy: the Friesian horse. Once the mount of medieval knights, this striking black horse looks like it stepped out of a fairy tale.

The history of the Friesian breed traces back to a primitive horse called Equus robustus, which some experts believe was present in Europe during the Ice Age. The people of the Netherlands domesticated the descendants of these large horses, using them for riding and farm work.

Sometime before the 17th century, Arabian blood was introduced to the native horses of Friesland, a province in the northern reaches of the Netherlands. This “light horse” blood, combined with the genes of Spanish Andalusian horses also brought to the area, created a unique horse with high knee action. The result was a flashy mount that was heavy enough to carry armored warriors into battle.

It wasn’t long before word of this Friesian horse breed spread throughout Europe. Horsemen began importing Friesian stallions from the Netherlands into their countries for use in local breeding programs.

Meanwhile, in the 1600s a group of Dutch settlers came to North America along with their Friesian horses. The settlers called their colony New Amsterdam, and lived there for 50 years before the British took control of the area and renamed it New York. The English colonists began crossbreeding their British horses to the Dutch Friesians that were already there. Some experts believe the Morgan and the Canadian Horse are two New World breeds that resulted from these crossings, saying these breeds owe their existence to the Friesian.

The purebred Friesian horse did not exist again in America until hundreds of years later. In the 1970s, Americans who had discovered the Friesian breed while visiting Europe began importing individual horses to the U.S.

In 1983, the Friesian Horse Association of North America (FHANA) was formed as the only recognized North American representative of the Friesch Paarden-Stamboek (FPS), the original studbook for Friesian horses in the Netherlands. The Koninklijke Vereniging “Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek” (KFPS) has registered Friesian horses since 1879.

Modern Friesians

Today, 14,000 Friesians are currently registered in the United States. American breeders follow the same criteria as their Dutch counterparts in order to the keep the Friesian horse breed pure.

The quality of American Friesian foals and adults are determined by an FPS judge from the Netherlands at annual regional events called keurings, which is Dutch for “inspections.” At each keuring, horses are judged on their movement and conformation. Horses that pass the keuring are allowed to enter the Royal Friesian Studbook.

Friesians are flashy horses, and they stand out in every discipline where they appear. Friesians in the U.S. are currently being shown in western pleasure, show driving, dressage driving, ridden dressage, saddle seat and English pleasure.

In the past few years, Friesians have proven themselves to be particularly competitive in the dressage arena, with a number of horses finding success at the FEI levels. The breed made its world championship debut in dressage at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, when the stallion Adelprag Anders 451 represented the country of South Africa.

As stunning as Friesians are to look at, they are most exceptional when it comes to temperament. Both gentle and willing, Friesians not only make great show horses, they make wonderful equine companions. Although this impressive-looking horse might seem fancy for ordinary trail riding, many Friesian horse owners find this breed to be perfect company for a day out on the trail.

This Friesian horse breed profile appeared in the August 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post The Friesian Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

In the seventh episode of The Horse Illustrated Episode of Horses in the Morning, sponsored by Title Sponsor Straight Arrow Products, hosts Glenn the Geek and Sarah Evers Conrad talk to Jason Tice about the Friesian breed and the Friesian Horse Association North America, freelance writer Susan Friedland of Saddle Seeks Horse and her equestrian blogging adventures, and to Horse Illustrated’s style expert Raquel Lynn about how to have a horsey holiday season.

Hosts: Sarah Conrad, Digital Content Editor of Horse Illustrated & Young Rider and Glenn the Geek, host of Horses in the Morning

Title Sponsor: Straight Arrow Family of Brands

Holiday Contest Mentioned: Share your favorite horse memory for a chance to win

Special Subscription Offer from Horse Illustrated: For the holiday season, treat yourself with a year subscription to Horse Illustrated AND gift a subscription to another horsey friend or family member for only $24.95. That’s two subscriptions for one low price. Visit www.horseillustrated.com/blackfriday anytime between Thursday, November 25th and Tuesday, November 30th.

There’s an App for that!  Check out the new Horse Radio Network app for iPhone and Android. Follow Horse Radio Network on Twitter or follow Horses In The Morning on Facebook.

Jason Tice on the Friesian Horse Association North America

Jason Tice has been the Executive Director for the Friesian Horse Association North America (FHANA) for more than 13 years. He came to FHANA based on his experience with membership management and event planning. Previously, he did event planning for the senior PGA tour on events like the Allianz Championship and the senior LPGA tour on events such as the HyVee classic. He has watched the Friesian breed grow in popularity in North America, especially in the world of sport and with the Amish community. Not only can this breed compete at high levels of dressage and driving, but now it is having success in western dressage. Originally from Ames, IA, and a graduate of Iowa State University, his interest in horses started when he met his wife Jessica. They currently have a 22-year-old Arabian that they raised from a baby and an off-track Thoroughbred.

Additional Information: We featured the Friesian breed in the August 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated, but for those who are subscribed, you’ll get to see another breed profile in the upcoming January/February issue of Horse Illustrated.

Links for the Friesian Horse Association North America:

◆ Official Website: www.fhana.com

Susan Friedland and Her Equestrian Blogging Adventures

Equestrian author Susan Friedland, founder of the popular blog Saddle Seeks Horse, shares about her blogging adventures, equestrian travel, authentic product reviews and the joys and tribulations of life with Knight–her saintly Thoroughbred, a kissing spine thriver. Unbridled Creativity: 101 Writing Exercises for the Horse Lover, Susan’s latest book, merges horse themes with creative questions to inspire the riding writer. Recent trending posts on Saddle Seeks Horse have been Susan’s Horse Riding in Ireland series, Winter Horse Riding Gear: the Ultimate Guide, and horse book reading list recommendations. In addition to collaborating with brands to amplify their online presence, Susan works with individuals to improve their writing craft, social media savvy and on publishing for the equestrian market.

Additional Information:
◆ Susan’s articles on HorseIllustrated.com
◆ Interview of Susan Friedland of Saddle Seeks Horse at Equitana

Links about Susan Friedland

◆ Receive Saddle Seeks Horse blog updates via email: Subscribe here!
◆ Buy Susan’s books! saddleseekshorse.com/shop
◆ Follow on Instagram: @saddleseekshorse
◆ Follow on Facebook: @saddleseekshorse
◆ Read the blog: Saddle Seeks Horse
◆ Connect with Susan: susan@saddleseekshorse.com

Raquel Lynn on How to Have a Horsey Holiday Season

Raquel Lynn lives in an equestrian neighborhood in Los Angeles with her husband Adam, Paint mare Fira, Mango the Pomeranian and four Silkie chickens. She works from home and runs two blogs: Stable Style and Horses & Heels. Raquel also enjoys freelancing for a handful of popular equine magazines, including Horse Illustrated, Chrome, and Paint Horse Journal. She just recently released her first book, Stable Style: Barn Inspiration for all Equestrians, available on Amazon and www.stablestyle.net.

We also featured Raquel in our Equestrian Influencers column. Read all about her urban lifestyle riding her horse Fira through the streets of Los Angeles, her career as an at home writer and social media guru, and about her two successful brands here.

Additional Information:
◆ Raquel’s articles on HorseIllustrated.com
◆ Raquel’s article on Horsey Holiday Entertaining

Links about Raquel Lynn

◆ Official Websites: www.horsesandheels.com and www.stablestyle.net
◆ www.instagram.com/horsesandheels_
◆ www.facebook.com/HorsesandHeels
◆ www.stablestyle.net
◆ www.instagram.com/stablestyle
◆ www.stablestyle.net/shop
◆ www.facebook.com/stablestyle

Title Sponsor

We want to thank our Title Sponsor, the Straight Arrow Family of Brands, makers of Mane ‘n Tail, Cowboy Magic & Exhibitor’s, with over 100 years of grooming excellence. For more information about your favorite products, please visit www.straightarrowinc.com and find Straight Arrow Products at a tack shop near you!

The “Magic” in Cowboy Magic comes from the bond between you and your horse. Cowboy Magic celebrates every moment with you, from quiet chats in the pasture to the adrenaline rush of competition. We want to invite you to embrace your “Magic Moment” with your horse by sharing your favorite photos with Cowboy Magic on social media using #CowboyMagicMoment.

The post Podcast Episode #7: Friesians, Equestrian Blogging Adventures, and Having a Horsey Holiday Season for November 23, 2021 from Title Sponsor Straight Arrow Products appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The International Friesian Show Horse Association (IFSHA) hosted their 15th annual World and Grand National Championships in Springfield, Ohio, at the Champions Center in October, with 141 purebred and part-bred Friesians from all over the country competing.

What once started as a two-day show in California has grown into an almost week-long event that hosts the Friesian Horse Association of North American (FHANA) IKFPS Mare Show East on Wednesday evening and a FHANA KFPS Keuring hosted by the Ohio Valley Friesian Association on Tuesday, October 2.

This year’s judges included an esteemed panel for the entire show. The judges for the two-day dressage event was the Honorable Debbie Rodriguez, of Williamsburg, Va., and the Honorable Melissa I. Boyd, of Fenton, Mich., judging the Driven Dressage and Cones Division. The panel for the halter and rail classes were judged by the Grace Greenlee of North Carolina, the Karen Homer-Brown of Kentucky, and the Stephanie Snyder of Oregon. All of these judges have had an illustrious equine career.

The Friesian world acts much like a family and less like a competition. New members are welcomed in with open arms and existing members continuously are there to support each other and new members. “We had a wonderful time competing against the best competitors and horses this year at the IFSHA World Show,” said Lauren Riehle, a new board member of IFSHA. “We look forward to attending next year’s event! The camaraderie, competition, and horses were amazing. It’s always fun to spend time with your horse and friends.”

This year’s show has had some amazing first-time experiences, including some of the largest junior exhibitor classes in the history of the organization. The show also had a tie for high-point purebred Friesian between two amazing horses, Riatta IA, owned by Cindy Davis, and Sjaantje, owned by Gail Aumiller. Sjaantje was also awarded the Anita Mellott High-Point Perpetual Trophy for Driving. The part-bred Friesian high-point horse was Harper JR, owned by Riehle. These are just a few examples of some of the stunning horses that came to compete.

The IFSHA National and World Championships has no shortage of amazing moments.
Show manager Sandra Jacob talks about one amazing moment that she was able to witness. “A special memory for many of us as we watched a young boy receive a horse to be his own,” she said. “He thought this would be his last ride on a horse that would then be going back to its owner. Not a dry eye in the arena!”

However, that was not the end of the incredible moments that came from that week.

For the past six years, IFSHA has partnered with the All Glory Project and founder Elizabeth Shatner to raise money for our military and their families. This year IFSHA hosted a “Trainers Challenge Ride” and the Exhibitors Honor Ride to raise funds for the project. Trainers entered in a challenge class to raise funds for the All Glory Project. USEF graciously offered to match donations from spectators up to $2,500, which was one challenge that Victoria Gillenwater and Pam Gardner could not pass up. They led the way for IFSHA members and show spectators to meet and beat the challenge!

“IFSHA congratulates all of its champions and exhibitors for an outstanding 2019 show,” said Jacob. “This exciting event could not be possible without the dedication of exhibitors, judges, staff and their amazing equine partner, the Friesian horse.”

Further Reading

• Breed Spotlight: Fabulous Friesians
• Driven to Succeed: Friesians
• Friesians in Film

The post International Friesian Show Horse Association Celebrates Growth of the IFSHA World and Grand National Championships appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

1. Friesians are always black, although the exact shade can vary. Friesians in history appeared in many colors, and chestnut Friesians still occur occasionally, although they’re becoming increasingly rare.

2. The breed features incredible knee action at the trot and is well-suited to a variety of disciplines both under saddle and in harness.

3. Some Friesians are movie stars. Friesians are gorgeous, intelligent and gentle, and it’s easy to see why they’re chosen to star in movies. Friesians have appeared in several films, including Albion, the Zorro movies and The Chronicles of Narnia.

4. The Friesian Horse Association of North America requires Friesian stallions to stand at least 15.3 hands by 4 years of age, and mares and geldings must measure at least 15 hands in order to be registered.

5. You won’t find white markings on this breed because they’re prohibited—with the exception of a tiny star on the forehead.

6. The first Friesian horses arrived in North America during the 17th century, but the breed disappeared in the United States in later years. It wasn’t until the 1970s that interest increased again.

7. Friesians “graduated” from The Livestock Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List in 2014, meaning that the breed’s population has increased to the point that it’s no longer included on their list of endangered breeds. Sources estimate a population of nearly 50,000 Friesians worldwide, with approximately 8,000 of them here in North America.

8. Some North American breeds, including the Morgan and Standardbred, are believed to have been influenced by Friesians throughout the course of history.

9. The breed’s registry opened in the Netherlands in 1879, and it’s said to be the oldest studbook in that country. The Friesian’s bloodlines have been free of outside influences for two centuries.

10. The Friesian has lent its qualities and characteristics to the development of breeds in Europe, including the Fell pony, the Dales pony and the Oldenburg.

11. Friesians in North America are evaluated at inspections known as keurings. This inspection process is designed to promote quality in the breed. Judges evaluate each horse’s conformation and movement.

12. The Friesian gets its name from the Friesland province of Holland. The name also belongs to a type of cattle that hails from the same region (in the United States, these cattle are known as Holsteins), as well as a type of potato!

13. One of the most famous modern Friesians is a horse named Frederik the Great, who has 90,000 followers on his Facebook page.

14. Friesians are amazing carriage horses and are a popular choice for equestrians interested in driving. But don’t underestimate this versatile breed’s ability under saddle, especially in dressage.

History Lesson

The history of the Friesian horse begins in Friesland, a province of the Netherlands situated in the northern part of the country. Records indicate that the Friesian breed has existed since the 1500s or even earlier, and many believe that Andalusians had at least some influence on its development. In those early days, the Friesian served as a courageous battle horse, hardworking farm horse and a notable carriage horse.

With its lengthy history and stunning looks, it’s easy to see why, after more than 500 years, the Friesian continues to leave its hoof prints on the hearts of horse lovers all over the world.

For more information, visit www.fhana.com.

This article originally appeared in the January/February 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Breed Spotlight: Fabulous Friesians appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.