Friesian.... Why?

What's wrong with aspiring to own a horse one day because you think it's beautiful? I wouldn't buy an unsuitable horse because of its looks, but why can't I have the goal of one day having such a horse, and being a suitable owner for it?

I'm quite upset by that post:(
 
ROFL, why do people get so upset because someone doesn't like the breed they own. I used to have a WB.... I didn't get upset because people stereotype them, I just think its rather funny. I also had a gypsy cob who used to get nasty comments thrown her way when I was 14 but that didn't bother me either.

Sheesh, lighten up people. I can't stand fresians, would never ever buy one. Doesn't mean I would stop someone else buying one - though if they asked my opinion on the breed I'd still give my honest one. When I'm looking for a horse I don't let other people's prejudices bother me so why would you?

If you love your horse why do you give a rats a$$ if someone else doesn't like the breed. My best friend owns an arab, I would never own an arab which she knows... doesn't bother me and doesn't bother her... we just tease each other about our different tastes in horses.

Different strokes for different folks and all that!
 
Ahem.. *clearing throat* Um before this decends into a flaming pile of doo doo ( :) ) I believe the original question was "Friesian.... Why" Not "Friesian... Why not" There are positives and negatives for some breeds. There really is no need to get personal or confrontational. If you feel the need to get your teeth into something and vent, there are other more controversial topics running on the forum ATM.... LOL

I gave my honest opinion, AS A FRIESIAN OWNER, of the breed. I didn't intend to buy my lad, it just kinda happened. I had no previous experience of them, no preconceived ideas etc etc. Maybe I have been lucky...

I also own 2 Dartmoors, 1 Welsh X, 1 Warmblood. I have been involved with horses all my life, ridden a good cross section of breeds including interesting combinations in South Africa. Some I like, some I dont, some I have had to "put up and shut up" cos it was part of my job. But you wont find me getting personal about different breeds.

It really is horses for courses folks. But it still comes down to the original question "Friesians.... Why" Could we kinda stick to the original thread without becoming personal.. pleeease?
 
bexwarren24 said:
Well, this is my £4000 friesian jumping in the school. As you can see I didnt just buy him because he looked good. He def has a purpose, ok he wont win badminton but I wouldnt on any horse either so we suit.

roemerschool-1.jpg


Jump measured 1m20.
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I think Friesians are amazing and wouldn't mind at some point in the future owning one.....
From my understanding jumping isn't there strong point but bex your Friesian makes that jump look tiny! I'm certainly very jealous of all you Friesian owners
 
bexwarren24 said:
Well, this is my £4000 friesian jumping in the school. As you can see I didnt just buy him because he looked good. He def has a purpose, ok he wont win badminton but I wouldnt on any horse either so we suit.

roemerschool-1.jpg


Jump measured 1m20.
Click to expand...

What a beautiful jump he has!! I hope to do some lower level BSJA with my girl in the future! I loose schooled her over some jumps a couple of weeks ago and she has a beautiful technique over the jumps and tucks her feet up just like your boy! She was SO careful over the jumps, and thats her first time jumping.. Maybe friesians are underrated as jumpers :D
 
"ROFL, why do people get so upset because someone doesn't like the breed they own. I used to have a WB.... I didn't get upset because people stereotype them, I just think its rather funny. I also had a gypsy cob who used to get nasty comments thrown her way when I was 14 but that didn't bother me either."

Doubt people are upset that their chosen breed isn't liked ... more the fact what people are saying about them and that they only bought their horse because it looked pretty.
 
having owned one fro 3 yrs, i would only recommend one if you have patience and commitment. Mine is out of harmen 424 a very well bred modern type imported from holland. He has taken a long time to mature and has never been very keen to work. His temperament is second to none, but he has been hard to teach him to use himself properley. His canter is very unbalanced and has taken a long time to get to the point where he can canter both on straight lines and circles in a school.

I have spent a huge investment in lessons and training.

These are my findings and although he has become so much better in the last few months he is still behind the leg, hard to get him working well and he has poor aerobic capacity. On a hack he is a very lively horse and great fun, but its for dressage i have him and will continue working at our training.

We will get there but slowly. I would buy a warmblood next time for the simple reason of being far easier to build condition up and wanting to work.

But when he is going well he is a joy to ride and a huge character at home.
 
Lippyx said:
After reading Nakita's thread about looking at a baby Friesian, it made me think about this breed. Don't often hear much about them, not like you do with TB's, cob types etc.

So for all you Friesian owners out there, what would you say to some one who may consider one of these breed of horses? Pro's and con's and what to look out for. What could they do i.e show jumping etc.

I think this is such an amazing horse to look at, and would consider looking at one to buy/own, but want to know more about them really..... so....... Go for it...... :)
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I had a part bred, and in my opinion the absolute best sports horse type, 50:50 TB Friesian, fabtastic at learning, agile, scopey, supple, brilliant in all disciplines, lovely- no - amazing paces. Beautiful nature, loving, intelligent. Really fast at learning.

Everything you could want for in ability and nature, plus they have that edgy attitude... like they 'know' they are special.
 
I only have experience of one and she put me off for life! She was a livery at a riding school where I lived for a couple of years. Funny looking thing, I thought! I thought she was some sort of crossbred gone wrong but found out she was pure. Also nasty, suspicious and dangerous. They aren't all sweet and gentle! Tried to kick **** out of me once when I accidently got too close and apparently put a child in hospital for a week after I moved away.
 
We have a Fresian cross Hackney who is as daft as a brush, adorable with people, had the most extravagant paces and can jump 1.20m with me and certainly could go higher.
We didn't set out to find a Fresian or a cross, we are actually, shock horror:eek:, Arab people and wanted an Anglo. But my dad found her advertised, we went to see her and wow she was amazing and just what we wanted. She is definitely NOT a novice ride, is very sharp and spooky and generally doesn't keep her feet on the floor when excited, all that bounce in the paces makes for an interesting ride:D.
Not sure we paid more for her than any other breed of horse, that is the same ability, but can understand why people would as in my very small experiance they are fantasic and look amazing :D.
x
 
Great photo of the jumping one; must admit I've only ever seen them pulling a hearse with them plume things on their heads but they still manage to look graceful...


(light blue touch-paper and retreat)
 
Most of the ones I have seen advertised are verrryyy expensive compared to other breeds of similar age/experience, and I didn't think they were that nice conformation wise. These might be the ones bought by people who just want a flashy black horse with flowing mane and tail... and they do exist! I think if you are looking for a decent one you probably need to look harder.

I would go see one if it sounded otherwise right as they do have fabulous movement and don't see why they couldn't jump (doubt I'd push their limits much!). I have heard they can be pushy and a bit strong on the ground but no different to my haflinger I imagine, another love or hate breed ;-)
 
I have owned one since May and love her to bits :D She is such a love to have around, and very straight forward compared to my other mare. The overgrown black lab comment is exactly what she is!

Im seriously thinking about breeding from her, trouble is Id have to import frozen semen and AI to get a good friesian stallion - or my other thought is to do an andalusian x for a warlander :D:D:D
 
I have a bit of a fascination with Friesians, and could see myself owning one.

I don't know the first thing about what makes a good one though, so would do a lot of research first!
 
I don't know a great deal about them, but did a little research when I was horse shopping. I did see the odd one for sale and was pleasantly surprised at the prices, but as I was looking for a 'first horse' none at the time fitted the bill. I do think they are beautiful - I love the look of them, but can understand how they wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. I have only met one 'face to face' and he was stunning and very sweet on the ground.

I am very happy with my cob at the moment, though! ;)
 
I've now got 5 of them and now wouldn't have anything else :)

One of the mares is a pig on the ground but she is lead mare and when she's been living out for a while can go a bit feral - she does soon remember though not to walk through us!

My younger mare is very well bred and, yes, it did take me a while to get her working correctly and coming from behind properly. She is a 'sports' type and has beautiful movement the main difficulty I found with her was getting a correct bend - she only used to bend from the neck!

We also have 3 youngsters, a stallion who is currently being broken to drive, a colt who will be broken to drive next year to drive as a pair and a rising 4 filly who will be backed this year.

All of mine have very good temperaments - they are regularly handled by young teenagers (stallion included).

I have been to Holland a few times now though to watch the central inspections and for anyone new to the breed who wants one I would strongly advise going there just to watch and talk to the people involved in the breed.

I have also bred from both of my older mares with no issues, yes people say that they are horrendously inbred but that isn't so much the case any more. I've certainly seen welshies and TB's far more inbred than any of my friesians.
 
I think there are some nice ones owned by HHOers, but mostly they do nothing for me.

In fact I saw a vid of one doing Spanish walk last night and it was just ridiculous.

It's horses for courses, if you like them, get one, if you don't don't that's the beauty of horses there is a type to suit everyone.
 
I had a 16.2HH FriesanXTB allrounder and he was the absolute love of my life!

For starters, he was so loving and gentle. If i was in the field picking muck up or just went up to see him he would fuss around me. He always wanted my attention but wasn't bolshy when trying to get it. He would stand for hours whilst I just gave him cuddles and kisses, and he was never in a bad mood.

The Friesian in him made him strong. Yes, sometimes he was hard to stop (especially being half TB - he was like a rocket!) But it also meant he had a lovely muscle build-up, and was perfect for jumping and XC. Friesians are also lovely dressage horses - the way they hold themselves and can look so graceful, even for such a big animal, is magical! Everyone commented on how lovelt he looked when we went into a ring -I was even asked if I would consider selling him on one or two occassions!
 
Ferncanter_zpsebdd0f9d.jpg

This is my half Friesian mare. Love her to bits, but she's not the brightest horse and I find Friesians to be, ahem, a bit thick in general. Don't get me wrong, I have had several that would do anything for you, but you do need to know what you're doing and have infinate patience. If you want a showjumper or a dressage horse then I would suggest getting something purpose bred for these jobs.
 
Sheesh guys do you know nothing? They are THE premier horse for thundering round the countryside, dressed as a Viking, scaring the peasants. :D

Seriously though - if I have to explain, you wouldn't understand.

Paula
 
I find this so very interesting bordering on ironic

See to me...the Fresian there is like the Gypset Vanner here is.....both are unique to each others' country and becoming noticed....that said....I do not see them as anything more than nice horses for playing around with outside breed competition or B level shows

That said as a breed they are quite nice....anyone who is familiar with Keegan or Black Horse Photography can not help but appreciate the horse for what they are....much like the Gypsey Vanner (now a registry here and going for breed recognition)...would I pay $10 000 for either one...no...but that is only because I do not desire the breed/horse for anything that would make them that valuable to me
 
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WestCoast said:
Sheesh guys do you know nothing? They are THE premier horse for thundering round the countryside, dressed as a Viking, scaring the peasants. :D

Seriously though - if I have to explain, you wouldn't understand.

Paula
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^^^this...if you do not get it...you will not get it.

I do not "get it" myself re: Gypsey Vanners so I do not understand the fasination.... but.... I do accept that other people have different agendas/needs/desires/goals/wants then me and all the more power to them as they have found the horse they like
 
They are not my cup of tea,so won't make too much comment but would say of the ones I know (all purebred) that none can jump(at all! Plough through it or stop dead and step over it, one foot at a time!),all have a lack of respect for human personal space(yes,I know can happen with any horse&is handling issue but is just an observation),none are particularly bright,some can be sharp,(others not so at all),all have skin issues(some manic with sweet itch,all scurfy),all have genuine&kind temperaments,all are either good or pretty good doers,all struggled with their canter&workung from behind-bent purely from neck as previously mentioned) all were vastly,unbelievably overpriced for what they are/can do and all were bought by women who fell in live with their looks & who'd always wanted the stunning,black horse with flowing locks etc...I know not always case but just sayin';)) I've been told by a respected Dutch trainer that there is much inbreeding and that the Dutch only export what they see as the dross-he said anything they think is any good stays in the country and that they are not seen as anything special there. I do not agree that they have WB like movement as somebody has said-they move very differently IMO. I think a market has sprung up here (by virtue of unscrupulous dealers/importers) for selling the pretty horse (but badly bred and far from great specimens of the breed)to the novice (buying mainly on looks-true in many instances) and for whom they are not suitable. I would suggest a great deal of breed research for anyone wanting one. It's been very interesting & refreshing to see pics and read stories of them doing different stuff,tho in general,I think anyone wanting to sj or xc would probably be better with a cross. I hope this doesn't cause offence,not meant to-tried to word it as factually (from my experience!)and unemotionally as poss!
 
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