FRIESIANS - What are they like?

They are divas! Mines tb x and she has just been poorly and on meds, she got to a point where she refused her food, even without meds in it, it took me 2 days to realise that she had learnt to associate the feed bowl with nasty tasting feed and wouldn't eat food out of the bowl!! Had to change the bowl to get her to eat! Highly intelligent pain in the butt, absolutely loveable, couldn't live without breed who will excell at everything :) look in the photo forum there is a huuuuuge thread in their for people who own friesians, lots of stuff in that thread not just photos
 
Depends on their percentage of inbreeding which is stated on their papers. Anything less than 5% SHOULD be sane , but don't bank on it.
There are people on here who have the most gorgeous boys and girls who are quiet , trainable and sweet natured , but don't be tempted to Ho for anything cheap as they are bring factory farmed in Holland because they have become so fashionable. I lived there for 5 years.
 
Hello - I'm hooked.

I have an Unregistered friesian but as CC says you have to do your homework, mine was imported as a 6mth old and has a white mark on his saddle area (so couldn't be registered anyway). I phoned up the FHAGBI before buying him and asked for advice.

He does have the sensible head....he is proving to be quite a superstar..but he is only 3 so I have lots of tantrums ahead!

There is an amazing but VERY long thread on 'registered users' called 'show me your friesians'

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=437167&goto=newpost

but you will need an evening to get through it!

Have you found one you like? I bought mine for dressage, some people do jump them but they are not built for it. The sportier type manage better from what I understand...but they can also be 'hotter'. I am not a jumper anyway...but my boy is definately not built for it!
 
There's 2 on our yard-both lovely temperaments,very laid back but one is quite sensitive and smart,the other not sensitive at all and fairly gormless
 
Oops! Phone posted before I'd finished! Neither jump (have tried,they are definitely not naturals!),one was well schooled&goes lovely on the flat,other green,not well-schooled and consequently quite ignorant to ride(not horse's fault!). Both suffer noticeably when it's midgey,more than all other horses on yard put together. Vet advised one of owners that,as a breed,he sees a lot with ringbone,sidebone
 
Argh!!! Blo**y phone again! ...Coffin joint problems etc, as often with heavier,big jointed draft type breeds. Don't buy a cheap one-a lot of rejects around in this country,brought in cheap and sold on expensive to people who want the trend: pretty horsey with flowing mane etc. No offence-have no idea if that's sort of person you are,obviously!
 
Also lots of OCD and colic issues...oh and sweetitch I believe!

Mature very late too. Lots of good info on Mealrigg Stud website about keeping friesians, avoiding OCD and about their training - look under FAQ's.
 
Parker79 said:
Hello - I'm hooked.

I have an Unregistered friesian but as CC says you have to do your homework, mine was imported as a 6mth old and has a white mark on his saddle area (so couldn't be registered anyway). I phoned up the FHAGBI before buying him and asked for advice.
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Ooooh, this could be why my boy isn't registered, he has a lovely brown, heart-shaped splodge on his flank! In the process of backing mine at the mo, I'm in love :) He's incredibly trusting and seems to be fairly trainable. Minus the odd rear...

Here's a picture of him just before we went walkies today ;)
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Black and white and great milkers.wouldn't want to ride one though, will still to my horses!! .. just thought I would add my 2 cents worth :) haha!!
 
Mines lovely, only had him 2 1/2 weeks. He's very laid back and loves being fussed over. He doesn't like being hacked out alone but this can happen with any breed i suppose. They have a big trot but you get used to it fairly quickly. There not known for their jumping ability but I've seen you tube vids of them doing cross country.
The thread in pictures is very good.
 
diluteherd said:
Black and white and great milkers.wouldn't want to ride one though, will still to my horses!! .. just thought I would add my 2 cents worth :) haha!!
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haha was waiting for someone to mentions cows!

I shall do my homework a bit more of them - I mainly do dressage but don't want to be restricted as I do occasionally jump (not very high mind you).

My budget is around the 5k mark, do you think that would get me a decent Friesian?
 
A lady near me does endurance with her Friesian and that suits them great, endless trotting and keeping occupied and busy.

Another I knew was imported unbroken and then tiny girl who bought him hardly ever rode him once YO had broken him, just dressed him in hi viz and walked him like a dog round the local lanes....

From what I saw, if you like jumping and comfy canter, get something else, but if you love trotting around they are great.

I think some Friesian owners who wrap up their nags in horse sheets in the summer are partly protecting against sweet itch but some (girl above included) are also trying to stop coat going brown/copper.....poor thing sweated all summer long :-((((

Also with those long legs and big hooves you do NOT want to be kicked by one, this one nearly took out YOs entire kneecap with no warning or reason.
 
Ive just had one vetted yesterday, passed the 5 stage so will be coming home soon :D

She is a lovely quiet example of the breed, wonderful out on roads with all sorts of traffic flying past us though rather underschooled.

5K should be enough - not sure where u are but i know of a beauty in devon, but shes a bit more than that i think.
 
Its a bit of pot luck if you are buying in the UK. A lot of animals that dont pass muster in Holland are shipped over.
Look at researching the sires of anything, some stallions are more hot headed than others.
In general I have experienced very willing workable animals. They can be bolshy, and in your face but they are not a breed to tip toed around and treated like a pet dog. They are intelligent, pick up things quickly good and bad. But once you bond its a bond for life.
They attract the flies/midges over here no end! Mine are constantly rugged whether itchy or not. They attract mites with the feathering so do need regular maintainance.
Some can have bad feet and joint issues, but really they are just like any other horse out there, do your research and purchase the best you can afford.
Good breeders have a reputation and they dont want that mard in any way by selling the not so perfect horse.
Viewing and buying from knowledgable people here and in europe is the the best way to go. Take a trip to Holland and look at a few. Go to the Stallion shows in the beginning of the year you could make contact there or the foal sales in september at the studs.
If you look at the Studbook results for previous years on all approved stallions, on what is bred/born and then registered, a certain amount dont make the studbook for white markings etc, these are sold without papers at a very cheap price.
Approved stallions on gradings of their offspring are the best bet, Young stallions have 4 years to prove themselves on their offspring, if the studbook isnt satisfied then their licence is removed.
This is why the FHAGBI and KFPS want you to use licenced approve stallions for breeding purposes to keep the breed for characteristics and health etc to a high standard. Ask the Association in the UK if you have specific questions.
There are lots of books out there on the breed that can give you a good idea of what to look for. Hope this helps
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
I think some Friesian owners who wrap up their nags in horse sheets in the summer are partly protecting against sweet itch but some (girl above included) are also trying to stop coat going brown/copper.....poor thing sweated all summer long :-((((
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I find keeping a fly rug on in the sun tends to keep him cooler as well as preventing him from going coppery. His black coat heats up in seconds and he has limited shade in his field at the moment. The white/ silvery fly sheet I use helps to reflect some of the sun's rays so helps to stop him from cooking :)
 
Joanna710 said:
I find keeping a fly rug on in the sun tends to keep him cooler as well as preventing him from going coppery. His black coat heats up in seconds and he has limited shade in his field at the moment. The white/ silvery fly sheet I use helps to reflect some of the sun's rays so helps to stop him from cooking :)
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Fly rug, no prob :-)), this lady was using winter rugs :-((( she thought fly rugs would still 'let the rays through and make his coat fade' :-(((( He was dripping with sweat each day when brought in....
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
Fly rug, no prob :-)), this lady was using winter rugs :-((( she thought fly rugs would still 'let the rays through and make his coat fade' :-(((( He was dripping with sweat each day when brought in....
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Oh, poor boy! If it was affecting his comfort/ health I would deffo prefer an orange pony to a sweaty, overheated one... Looks aren't everything!! That can't have been good for his skin either :(
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
From what I saw, if you like jumping and comfy canter, get something else, but if you love trotting around they are great.
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I agree. They don't look like they're made for jumping and I've heard they struggle with canter so would not be much cop in the dressage arena. So, my opinion of them is unless you're into driving all you'll be buying yourself is an expensive hack.

Can you tell that they don't appeal to me?? :D
 
I did have to giggle, 'struggle to jump, and canter' I've ridden a few pure and x breeds, schooling them to learn to canter is hard because they break into extended trot, getting them to understand canter is hard, but their canter is the most comfortable things! They are also fantastic jumpers, fair point that my girl is x with tb but the finer built purebreds are not shy of jumping. To say that disciplines like dressage and jumping are not suited to them is perhaps the joke of the day
 
Some friesians canter perfectly well, some take a little longer to work in canter.

Look at the Fryso huys Cas 'Anders 451' a Grand Prix friesian Stallion ranked 91 in FEI last time I looked! His father was also a Grand Prix friesian. And there are a few more out there in the world that are also competeing at all levels.
Also a few well bred Barock Pinto Stallions which are 75% friesian excelling in the dressage world.

The sport type is taller and not as stocky and very capable of popping over small fences and work well in dressage.
 
The Friesian I like the look of is definitely the more sporty type. Looks half warmblood but is purebred.

I have always wanted a one, but never really in the position to get one until recently so thought I'd look into them. Anyone know any useful websites?
 
marmalade76 said:
I've heard they struggle with canter so would not be much cop in the dressage arena. So, my opinion of them is unless you're into driving all you'll be buying yourself is an expensive hack.
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Ah, the usual ill-informed drivel, how funny. Plenty of Friesians doing very good dressage (my own included) to a very high level. I generally find the problem isn't with the Friesian, it's with the person who doesn't know how to train it properly.

As a breed, generally, they are loyal, beautiful, intelligent, and quick to learn (if you train them properly). I've yet to find a totally laid back one, but then I go for a hot blood line as I enjoy the sharpness, so mine are not the quiet docile horse that people often think the Friesian is. My youngster was bought specifically for dressage, and I wouldn't swap him for all the Totilas's in the world. He is a lovely ride, has a fantastic canter, and follows me around like a Labrador.
 
I bought mine for dressage! cannot wait to get him going...he was 3 on friday...not backing him till next year.

Had to laugh....I dress him in hi vis and walk him round like a dog at the moment!! I want him to see the New forest and he is going to be led off another horse soon, so I've been working hard on showing him the world!

I must admit...although I wouldn't swap mine...I knew I was taking a risk buying him and I still worry about whether he is going to end up with problems (as I do not know his parentage!). It is pointless to worry now...but if I was buying all over I would go for registered....I met mine and had to have him, I did get the vet to give him as thorough a check as they could and feedback on his comformation.

Have you ever ridden one? you can go on a 'friesian experience day' if you are unsure about their gait?

You could ask on the Friesian thread about the UK dealers/breeders.

here is my boy

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Must get some more recent pics!
 
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