Breaking Friesians...

[Fairynuff]

once the ground dries up, my friend is sending me her 3 year old filly to break. Ive broken many a horse but so far haven't met a Friesian face to face. What am I up against? Would be more than happy to receive all advice regarding this breed.

 

[Lippyx]

I don't know anything about them, other than they are meant to be pretty clever, aren't they?
I wish you all the best though! I'm sure you will be fine!

 

[Tickles]

I think there is a theory that they mature late. Used to share a field with a (rising) 4yr old who owner wanted to back a year later than she would another breed. Not sure how much there is in that though.

 

[Alexart]

At 3 she is old enough to do some long lining, in-hand stuff and maybe just lightly sit on her at the end of the year - they are slow to mature and don't finish growing until they are 8, plus they are very prone to joint problems like OCD so no lunging until she is 5 or 6. Personally I leave mine until they are at least 4 or 5 as I want them to finish growing before asking them to carry a rider, as they are usually still very bum high so find it hard to collect themselves so end up carrying all the weight on the forehand which can damage their joints.
It's good though to get them out at this age to see things and to in-hand shows, but I wouldn't do anything more than that as she will still be very much a baby - mentally and physically.

 

[Tickles]

PS it was playful and inquisitive... slightly scary in the dark but actually very nice

 

[FayeFriesian]

I agree with Alex, i'd be leaving any serious riding until 4. Maybe a little long reining, small sitting periods, and maybe a little riding out (no more than 20 mins max) then i'd be turning away again until next summer. BUT, everyone to their own.

All the friesians ive broken are very unbalanced, which I think is mostly due to, obviously age (as with any breed), but mainly because they mature slowly.

They are very quick to learn (good and bad!), and main to please. You often find that they struggle with canter, but ive never had one that couldnt do it with a bit of patience.

As with any breed, please ensure you have the correct bit to compliment your horses mouth - I have found that most friesians like straight bar bits or less fussy bits.

 

[Fairynuff]

thanks for the advice guys. I will be taking it slowly and will do lots of ground work and very little ridden work. Im looking forward to meeting a Friesian and hopefully she will make my job easy. Will post pics when she arrives.

 

[AnnaL]

I'm interested to read this as i have a 3yo friesian of my own.

I've started long-lining and doing lots of in hand work now, and plan to lightly back him in September. Will probably leave him over winter and bring him into ridden work next spring as a 4yo.

So far he has proved to be an extremely fast learner, and as a result becomes bored of things quickly as he's "been there, done that" so keep the variety up!!

He's very calm, unspooky, very willing to please. Saddle on no problem, very trusting of me but then i have had him since he was 10 months.

That's quite typical of friesians though- love people!

 

[madlady]

Yes my advice would be take it easy - lots of straight lines.

I started backing my girlie at 3 1/2 and just did a couple of 15 min hacks per week until she was 4 then gradually started doing longer and more frequent hacks. She was very easy to back but not the bravest horse in the world but she responded very well to me talking to her and soon calmed. She wasn't overly spooky either but if she did meet something that she really didn't like her reaction was to about face and try to go home.

I didn't do any schooling work with her until she was turned 5 as she still wasn't balanced enough to even think about collection or bending - she used to fall out terribly and was physically incapable of holding a 20m circle until she was turned 6. I could have probably pushed her for more but didn't want to ruin her or cause problems as she was still maturing.

Canter was an issue - she would canter round the field with her mates quite happily but didn't 'get' canter with a rider on board. I took her on our local drag hunt when she was 5 and that worked - all the horses set off at a gallop and she soon charged off to keep up

Good luck with the backing and please put some pictures up for us friesian junkies