Friesians - good first horse?

H

Happy_Hooves

Member
Joined
10 November 2021
Messages
23
Visit site
Hello,

I'm looking to buy my first horse as an adult. I had a couple of ponies growing up, but this is my first horse as an 'older' rider!

I'm considering a friesian and would appreciate any advice on whether they are a good first horse in terms of temperament, health issues etc. I've heard they can be susceptible to colic, laminitis, sweet itch...?

I'm looking for something that's easy to handle, a nice person on the ground etc. for hacking, schooling, the odd low level dressage test, clinics etc.

Thank you in advance.
 
What TP said - make sure you actually like riding them before you buy one. I quite like a Hackney, also a high-stepping breed, but I still don't get along with Friesians.

They're a very inbred breed, which means they're prone to a lot of health conditions - alongside what you list, there's also chronic dermatitis, aortic ruptures, megaesophagus, and probably more I can't think of. They don't tend to live very long.

The number one rule of horse-buying is don't buy problems (especially if it's your first horse!) but you're pretty much guaranteed to be buying a health problem with a Friesian. Buy yourself something easier to keep alive.
 
I’ve known two, ridden both and hated both. One was a bomb waiting to go off but relatively comfortable if she wasn’t likely to try and die, the other was so dead I actually asked if I could end the lesson on him (I was riding for a friend) so I could go and get my own horse instead 😅

The second had a few health issues, half his skin fell off once for no apparent reason (mega vet bill) and had front knee arthritis pretty bad towards the end. But he himself was a really quiet affectionate animal. The first was like a wildling.

They look pretty but honestly that’s about it. I’m not a fan.
 
I’ve had a couple of Friesians..still got one…to be honest I’m not sure if it’s a good choice for a first horse for a returner. They are very different to ride, their paces are for carriage pulling after all. They aren’t just black cobs and do need looking after and there are congenital problems running through the breed…stomach issues, heart and aorta as well as sweetitch/skin problems. I have only owned Friesians bred and born in Scotland, they ve been mares and their personality and nature have fitted with mine but many people don’t get on with them. My first mare had to be put down aged 10 with stomach issues and my current mare at 13 has a lameness issue which is proving difficult to diagnose and resolve. Don’t be seduced by looks and imagine being at the end of a lead rope in high winds in winter when they want to come in faster than you can move and their head is a foot above yours ! See if you can ride a few first, maybe handle them and see how you feel. Be prepared they bring out extreme marmite reactions in people.
 
They wouldn't spring to mind as obvious first horse material, no.

They are quite inbred, with some iffy temperaments knocking around, and they are distinctly different to ride Vs what you are more likely to be riding atm.

What has led you to looking a Friesians particularly?
 
They're also not that numerous, so if you're looking for a good first horse as far as temperament/schooling etc goes, you're looking at a small subset of a fairly small breed, which might mean either not finding anything or having to make some serious compromises.
I'd be inclined to look for a horse that has the schooling and skills you need, regardless of breed. That's not to say don't go and have a look if you find one for sale that ticks your other boxes though.
What is it that draws you to them? You may well be able to find other horses with a similar movement/look/presence without necessarily restricting yourself to one breed.
 
For what you are looking to do with your first horse, you could get any breed of horse. I can imagine a Friesian will capture your imagination, they are a very impressive looking breed, but you have to keep in mind for the most part they are a breed that has been bred for driving, so their gaits may not be the most comfortable under saddle, especially the canter which can be a lot of work to develop. You would likely be farther ahead finding a nicely started under saddle horse of a breed that is bred primarily for riding. There tends to be a "pretty" tax on breeds like Friesians. Good luck with your search.
 
Happy_Hooves said:
Thank you so much for all your replies. Really appreciated 😊

It sounds like the general concensus is to steer clear in my case, as they're probably not the right breed for me to be looking at!
Click to expand...
The right horse might be a Friesian, but it could be tough to find. Just go out to find a lovely minded individual that you can enjoy! It might not be the colour you had in mind or even the size, but if the mind and body are good, enjoy!
 
I think you need to try a few different breeds / types before deciding. Not sure that a Fresian would be a good first horse - maybe look at a dales if you’d like a quite often black type. A cob could be equally as good and the right one more fun than the gait of a Friesan.
 
I would concentrate on getting a horse who had the right cv to be a first horse rather than picking a breed.
I don’t think Friesan is a good choice anyway for the reasons others have said they are also not numerous so trying to find one that’s a good first horse is going to be very very difficult.
 
Don’t.

My friend had to put down her beautiful Friesian mare last year at age 12 due to some of the bizarre health issues that are endemic in the breed. The people at the vet school were saying these things (basically a connective tissue disorder that affects the oesophagus and/or aorta) are not something you usually see in horses, except for Friesians.

I would not touch one with a barge pole.
 
I know someone who chose a Friesian as her first horse, and he has remained on full livery, a much loved pet for many years. He was ridden by the RI (so was exercised) and has been led out to graze in hand for many years.
There are unanswered questions. She fancied a Friesian, she bought one on line and has loved it.
Whereas I wanted to ride and almost all my rides have been mares. My dream buy would be a Connie mare. But I would never buy a horse without riding it first. Something to do with feel, fit and communication.
 
There are trekking centres in Holland which mainly have Friesians, so they can’t all be that bad ; )

I’ve ridden at a couple and we had a great gallop on the beach. Horses were lovely.

That said, I too have heard that some Friesians can be tricky.
 
I’m going to be honest and from the experience I’ve had with the one I look after. Absolutely not a first horse. Very different to ride - big movements, can be quite sharp and stressy and you have to keep them in check on the ground else they are likely to walk all over you. Also they are prone to many health problems. I’d avoid.
 
Caol Ila said:
Don’t.

My friend had to put down her beautiful Friesian mare last year at age 12 due to some of the bizarre health issues that are endemic in the breed. The people at the vet school were saying these things (basically a connective tissue disorder that affects the oesophagus and/or aorta) are not something you usually see in horses, except for Friesians.

I would not touch one with a barge pole.
Click to expand...
megasophagus?

completely agree. currently going through major skin issues with ours.
 
Look at the horse, not the breed. I've known ottbs that would be excellent first horses and traditional cobs that are only suitable for brave competent riders - and vice versa. Be realistic about your abilities and what you need as opposed to want. Setting your mind on a certain breed, even if it's one that in theory is suitable, is seriously narrowing down your prospects.
 
A Fresian is the only horse I've ever ridden that went to great lengths to launch me, then double down to kick me in the arse as I flew threw the air....
It was like a tennis ball serve 😳

It was a clients horse, turned out nicely enough in the end, but was always very sharp.
I can safely say no I would not own one!
I may have acquired bias from limited data, but that one formed quite a strong opinion 😂
 
I ,unfortunately, have not met a Friesian that did not have pretty serious health or behaviour problems.
The first one I met was a sweet stallion, about 30 years ago. Lovely horse ,great temperament. Dropped dead in his stable at 4 from a burst aorta, not what anyone wanted to see on doing the morning rounds. Sadly he'd covered a few mares the offspring of the first one dropped dead early in his ridden life while being hacked on the road.
Stallion was replaced with another 2yo from Holland. The yard got a respiratory virus which was mild with every other horse except this one who died of pneumonia.
 
Last edited:
So whilst much written above is true and I think there are pitfalls with the breed…the mares I’ve had/have are lovely “people”, affectionate, nosy, vocal when I’m with them, spend time with me in the field, turn their hooves to whatever I ask, not stress heads and whilst I can’t do prolonged sitting trot work we can trot faster and stronger than friends cantering besides us on their horses and the canter is easy but not ground covering lol. If ever you wanted a place to try riding them or just meeting a few there a couple of places breeding and producing them in the UK.
 
I would say that finding a suitable first horse is really hard and you will likely have to be flexible on age, size, sex, colour... I'd just go for safe as a 1st, sound as a second and everything else comes after.

As an aside, my 'cob' is actually part Friesian. Very handsome he is too. But he is very much not a purebred!
 

Attachments

  • 125271226_10219034918807899_5055214049305037680_n.jpg
    125271226_10219034918807899_5055214049305037680_n.jpg
    73.7 KB · Views: 7
  • 446952948_10226352079532344_7525395045165888860_n.jpg
    446952948_10226352079532344_7525395045165888860_n.jpg
    388.5 KB · Views: 8
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top