THE FRIESIAN HORSE

The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears

~ Arabian Proverb

Ever since I was a child, I have loved horses but nature played a cruel trick; I am so allergic that physical contact with horses can hospitalize me. But that does not mean I cannot love them from afar.

My two favourite breeds of horses are the noble Friesians and the breathtaking Gypsy Vanner horse. The Friesian is one of the original contributors to the amazing Vanners who have inherited their conformation, magnificent mane, tail and silky feathers, and most importantly of all, the disposition of a gentle giant. Actually, the Friesian is ancestor of many working breeds and draft horses of Europe.

A fine Gypsy Vanner broodmare. Developed from a combination of
Freisian, Clydesdale, Shire, and Dales pony blood,
these horse are prized for their gentle, intelligent nature.

The following series of photos has lain unused in my folders for at least 10 years. It is more than time for me to share them with you. For fun, I have made up a little story to match.

The Friesian is most often recognized by its black coat color, though color is not their only distinguishing characteristic. They rarely have white markings of any kind; at most only a small star on the forehead for purebred registration. Though extremely rare, Friesians are occasionally chestnut. There is actually one white Friesian today, but that is another story.

The Friesian's average height is about 15.3 hands (63 inches or 1.60 m. The Friesian is a willing, active, and energetic horse that is also gentle and docile. They have great presence and carry their strong, cobby conformation, with elegance and quality. The noted gait is a smooth high-stepping trot coming from powerful quarters.

Friesian aficionados tend to be a tad enthusiastic ~ and with good reason!

Friesians have long, arched necks and well-chiseled, short-eared, "Spanish type" heads. Their sloping shoulders are quite powerful. They have compact, muscular bodies with strong hindquarters and a flowing low-set tail. Their limbs are comparatively short and strong.

The breed was developed in the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands, where there is evidence of thousands of years of horse populations, and this breed is said to have descended from the primitive Forest Horse. It is also said that Romans obtained ancestors of the Friesian horse for riding and also took them to England, where the breed type may have influenced the Shire horse, Clydesdale, Fell Pony and Dales Pony.

Ancestors of the modern Friesians were used in medieval times to carry knights to battle. In the 12th and 13th centuries, eastern horses of crusaders were mated with Friesian stock. During the 16th and 17th centuries, when there was less demand for heavy war horses as battle arms changed and especially when Spanish forces occupied The Netherlands during the Eighty Years' War, Andalusian blood was added, lightening its weight and thereby rendering it more suitable in terms of less food intake and waste output for work as a more urban carriage horse. Friesians were also used by riding schools in France and Spain for high-school dressage, and they remain popular today for their gentle temperaments and proud appearance.

The Emperor Charles, 1516-56, continued Spanish expansion into the Netherlands, which had its Friesian warhorse, noted by Vegetius and used on the continent and in Britain in Roman times. Like the Andalusian, the Friesian bred true to type. Even with infusions of Spanish blood during the sixteenth century occupation, it retained its indigenous characteristics, taking the best from both breeds. The Friesian is mentioned in 16th and 17th century works ~ a courageous horse eminently suitable for war, lacking the volatility of some breeds or the phlegm of very heavy ones.

The Friesian as a valuable weapon of war. Prettier than bombs, non?

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 then so popular.

A medieval couple en route to their handfasting/wedding.

Due to its striking appearance and mild temperament, the Friesian has become popular in the film industry. The breed owes much of its current popularity to the appearance of the Friesian stallion Othello in the 1985 film, Ladyhawke, which ignited a worldwide interest in these horses. Films such as Eragon, The Mask of Zorro, Alexander, and 300 have also featured Friesian horses. Though they are of dramatic appearance, sometimes their use in dramatizations of actual historical events is of dubious accuracy, given that the breed as it is known today only came into being within the last 400 to 600 years.

Of course the quintessential story about the Friesian would be that amazing book, Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse, written by Anna Sewell in 1877, a book that changed history and improved the lives of working animals in England permanently.

Since I was a child, animal books seem to have been lost in the shuffle of mind-altering modern video games and computers. This is a crime because books by and about animals they teach our young ones compassion and appreciation of the magnificent creatures with whom we share this planet.