what do you think of Fresians?

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My boy as a 4 year old, since then he has grown more than a hand taller!
 
I ADORE Fresians and am very jelous of anyone who owns one! I have to say about the UK breeding, the quality just doesn't seem to be the same. however I have seen a stunning stallion in Scotland, very traditional, Baroque type, beautiful.

I have been looking into buying one myself for years, there is a company based abroad (Holland I think) who will import a fully papered Fresian for you and warranty it for a certain amount of time, I always see them advertised in Horse Deals Mag and their prices seem reasonable.

I have seen a few Fresians crop up at horse sales. Always tempted, but I won't buy a riding horse without knowing it's history. These horses were imported and I have been told that a lot of Fresians are destined for the meat market (abroad) but the abattoirs sell them on cheap & a lot of them end up over here, bought by dealers & in the sales. If u get a chance to see their papers, they are stamped as slaughtered (supposedly). Something to be mindful of if u ever see one in a sale, saying that, an acquaintance bought 1 of these mares - ride & drive, very good breeding & a lovely thing & paid 1000 for her. So all in all, an absolute bargain. :)
 
posie_honey said:
i've backed one and ridden quite a few....

they would be fine for what you want... they'll never make great jumpers as they are just not bred for that - but would pop a small course no bother
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Mine's fabby!!

He had winnings up to Newcomers :D

I was never a fan until I got Lenny who is easily the most beautifully natured, hard working little gem.

I understand they aren't a lot of people's cup of tea but don't stereotype them, if I had, I wouldn't have my lad :D I am yet to talk to anyone who has met a nasty/difficult one, they seem to be more human than horse, a real mate.







I know, it's a little gushy :P
 
Can't say they're my cup of tea (I'm more of a thoroughbred fan, and anything of mine that has feathers gets shaved :p), and they often seem very over priced, but a nicely schooled and groomed one certainly makes a pretty picture!
 
Jackobean said:
I ADORE Fresians and am very jelous of anyone who owns one! I have to say about the UK breeding, the quality just doesn't seem to be the same. however I have seen a stunning stallion in Scotland, very traditional, Baroque type, beautiful.

I have been looking into buying one myself for years, there is a company based abroad (Holland I think) who will import a fully papered Fresian for you and warranty it for a certain amount of time, I always see them advertised in Horse Deals Mag and their prices seem reasonable.

I have seen a few Fresians crop up at horse sales. Always tempted, but I won't buy a riding horse without knowing it's history. These horses were imported and I have been told that a lot of Fresians are destined for the meat market (abroad) but the abattoirs sell them on cheap & a lot of them end up over here, bought by dealers & in the sales. If u get a chance to see their papers, they are stamped as slaughtered (supposedly). Something to be mindful of if u ever see one in a sale, saying that, an acquaintance bought 1 of these mares - ride & drive, very good breeding & a lovely thing & paid 1000 for her. So all in all, an absolute bargain. :)
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Please, if you are looking at buying one from Holland, go and see it, handle it, ride it if it's backed, watch it being vetted etc. There are MANY unscrupulous dealers who offer to import a fabulous quality animal for you, and patently fail to do this, importing something very mediocre that can have the most horrendous problems. Don't take any ones word for how fab the horse is, please please please go and see it yourself!! Holland is a relatively short drive from the channel tunnel crossing, not a million miles away. I am always astounded when people part with so much cash without having seen the horse in the flesh.

It's very difficult to generalise about the Friesian. As with any other breed, they vary enormously from one blood line to another. My old boy was a total gentleman, my current youngster is very sharp and hot. I have never found them "bolshy", but I have found them to think that they are large black labradors who want to sit on your lap, hence the "personal space" issues that people talk of. My youngster was the same when he arrived, but after three days he knew the boundaries and has been a joy to handle ever since. Even my non-horsy husband adores him and is happy to handle him.

I also have a thoroughbred, so I am not totally blinkered when it comes to the Friesian horse, but without doubt they are a terrific horse to have if you set them some rules. My youngster is a sports horse type, my old boy was more baroque, but they are both equally beautiful.
 
montyforever said:
Im not a fan,
I think friesians are like marmite, you either love them or dont :p
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quirky said:
Nope, not for me, I can't even see how people say they are stunning.
Their heads are just so huge and long they just look wrong on every level.
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marmalade76 said:
They do nothing for me I'm afraid.
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^^^ this

definately marmite,, and i cant stand marmite ;)

i agree with quirky when s/he says s/he cant see how people think theyre stunning , they kind of repulse me if im honest, such odd looking conformation from the MAJORITY of ones ive seen, whether irl or on forums like this.

so no, not for me thankyou ;)
 
Sorcerers Apprentice said:
^^^ this

definately marmite,, and i cant stand marmite ;)

i agree with quirky when s/he says s/he cant see how people think theyre stunning , they kind of repulse me if im honest, such odd looking conformation from the MAJORITY of ones ive seen, whether irl or on forums like this.

so no, not for me thankyou ;)
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I never see the point of responding to threads like this purely to be rude/insulting. To say they are not to your taste or a breed you would buy is one thing, but to say they "repulse" you and have "odd looking conformation" is just rude. And not necessary.
 
I have never had any dealings with them so can't comment on their personality, have heard they have that high head carriage though, but wouldnt necessarily out me off as my horse has too and im used to it....i do think they are absolutely stunning though and if i was in the market for another horse i would definately consider one.
 
UnaB said:
I never see the point of responding to threads like this purely to be rude/insulting. To say they are not to your taste or a breed you would buy is one thing, but to say they "repulse" you and have "odd looking conformation" is just rude. And not necessary.
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i will say what i like thank you, on a thread asking 'what do YOU think about friesians' i will give MY opinion! :rolleyes:

if you dont want to know what other people think about them dont read their posts, im not going to pretend i like the things just because you might take offence, get over yourself :rolleyes:
 
I think they are beautiful and I have admired them since I was a little girl, my parents always fancied one. As stunning as they are, I am in all reality more of an irish cob kinda gal, or a dales or a fell, I prefer pony squishing, easier to manage in some respects, tend to need less feed, less grazing,less rugs, easy to hop on and off and do gates :D
Thus I would consider a mini friesian :D
 
Don 't love them but don't hate them.
What I will say is though and wish I could provide the photo's to show what I mean, is that as they get older their back sags and I mean it REALLY sags. An English friend of mine saw an example of one by Rotterdam airport and she was so shocked she couldn't speak! I have seen quite a lot of examples over here and to be honest I was and still am, shocked to the core at how much their backs sag as they get older. Ok as horses get older some of their backs do tend to sag a bit but I've seen lots of old horses (there is a rest home for horses near me with about 100 old horses) and the backs of the fresians are always the worst.
Don't know if its anything to do with the breed but after having seen lots of examples all over The Netherlands I know I could never buy one. I always feel so sorry for them and wonder if they are in pain?
 
I wonder if the saggy backs thing is because so many people have them go with that real head up/ back/ in position that Freisians tend to dispose themselves to?

OH has a Freisian and we have made a lot of effort for him to avoid that excessively high head carraige, in the hope that this will be of physical help to him later down the line.

I also have to say while yes a Freisian is not bread to jump - they certainally can!!!! Well, ours can anyway! OH has actually got into hunting him now too and he makes a fantastic hunt horse - not too hot, but still good fun, jumps what he is asked to, and actually has a fairly impressive top speed!
 
Sorcerers Apprentice said:
^^^ this

definately marmite,, and i cant stand marmite ;)

i agree with quirky when s/he says s/he cant see how people think theyre stunning , they kind of repulse me if im honest, such odd looking conformation from the MAJORITY of ones ive seen, whether irl or on forums like this.

so no, not for me thankyou ;)
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Whilst I kinda get the sentiment... personally from a "horse confirmation" point of view, whether it be Friesian or otherwise, my lad is not bad. I have had quite in depth convos with the Friesian fraternity. I dont always agree with what they are breeding / looking for. As with any breed (as I have said before) you get some odd looking ones, but you also get some really nice ones.

But to insult people just really is not necessary. It sets a very uncomfortable and unpleasant tone for the forum and just dissuades people from getting involved, which after all is what it is about hey?

Remember - high head carriage can be changed:) I have video of my lad really starting to move well, calm and considered, just as you would want any youngster to be moving to aid and encourage learning and development of the correct muscles.

A good part of it is about good basic training...
 
Crazyfriesian said:
Whilst I kinda get the sentiment... personally from a "horse confirmation" point of view, whether it be Friesian or otherwise, my lad is not bad. I have had quite in depth convos with the Friesian fraternity. I dont always agree with what they are breeding / looking for. As with any breed (as I have said before) you get some odd looking ones, but you also get some really nice ones.

But to insult people just really is not necessary. It sets a very uncomfortable and unpleasant tone for the forum and just dissuades people from getting involved, which after all is what it is about hey?

Remember - high head carriage can be changed:) I have video of my lad really starting to move well, calm and considered, just as you would want any youngster to be moving to aid and encourage learning and development of the correct muscles.

A good part of it is about good basic training...
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Well said!

My mare also doesnt have a particularly high head carriage actually, unless she is very alert of course. But when ridden i wouldnt have said she has a much higher head carriage than my other horse (connemara), but I have tried not to encourage the high head carriage you see in some friesians as I bought her to be a riding horse and i dont think having that very, very high head is helpful for that.

Bad conformation isnt just unique to friesians too!! Yes there are unfortunately quite a few in this country with bad conformation because of "breeders" cashing in on their popularity, but i certainly dont think my mare has bad conformation at all and I cant see what in my pics (or any of the pics on here for that matter) would be classed as odd looking or repulsive.

That post by SA was incredibly rude and the subsequent one was so far beyond childish im not even going to stoop so low as to reply. Ignore the troll and it will disappear :)
 
micramadam said:
Don 't love them but don't hate them.
What I will say is though and wish I could provide the photo's to show what I mean, is that as they get older their back sags and I mean it REALLY sags. An English friend of mine saw an example of one by Rotterdam airport and she was so shocked she couldn't speak! I have seen quite a lot of examples over here and to be honest I was and still am, shocked to the core at how much their backs sag as they get older. Ok as horses get older some of their backs do tend to sag a bit but I've seen lots of old horses (there is a rest home for horses near me with about 100 old horses) and the backs of the fresians are always the worst.
Don't know if its anything to do with the breed but after having seen lots of examples all over The Netherlands I know I could never buy one. I always feel so sorry for them and wonder if they are in pain?
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Rather a sweeping generalisation!!!! When we lost my old boy, at the age of 21, he had a super strong back. No one ever believed his age, indeed, two weeks prior to his death he won a Private Drive at county level and an Elementary dressage test in the same week. He could have passed for a six year old. I am heavily involved in the Friesian scene, and have to disagree with the saggy back comment. Of the hundreds of Friesians I have seen, there are two that stick in my mind as having dropped backs, and both of those were elderly brood mares. I can't remember any other older Friesian that made me concerned for its back, even those well in to their 20's.
 
I have a Freisan, Denzil (funnily enough) I have been riding him for about 2.5 years and bought him 3 months ago. He is strong, loyal and a worry monger. He was mistreated as a baby and so has required a certain level of patience and love but I wouldnt change it for the world. He has a lovely temprament, he is always willing towork hard and he looks amazing. It is the highlight of my every day to go and see him at the yard. He is a great endurance horse, will eventually look stunning at dressage style and he is a very willing jumper.

I have never seen any others in real life, but I would say if you want a lazy easy ride, not the horse for you or the faint hearted. Although I can get my friend to vouch for Denz as she rode him 2 years ago and then again recently whilst i was on holiday and she cannot believe how quickly he has transformed with just some consistant TLC.

They also winter very well and he has no suppliments and still has a coat to die for. Also low maintainence as you are not allowed to pull mane or cut feathers / tale!

I hope this helps. There is also a great article in Horse and Pony recently on them.

Love Big D's mum x
 
I shared a six year old fresian gelding. I class myself as a novice rider and he was extremely well behaved and I even hacked out alone with him which I've never had the guts to do. His neck is massive and at times it felt like riding a giraffe! But he had lovely paces and the owner did dressage and jumping with him and he was also placed at the BRC horse trial champs!
 
I use to really like them as a kid (wow pretty all black with long manes and tails :p)

Right now I think they're ok. I have other breeds I much prefer. I wouldn't own one but I can see why people might.
 
I love them. I love their "baroque" looks. Have never owned one (arabs being my first love), but have ridden one or two in the past and enjoyed them. From memory, the trot was quite "deep" and bouncy, but not uncomfortably so. Good natured, and highly trainable horses.
 
I have a partbred (50:50) who is fab :D He has stunning paces and jumps for fun. Has won up to and including elem dressage and competes BE PN (moving up to N next season) with success.
He is however quite sharp, very sensitive and not for the feint hearted if you go for a gallop! He always tries his heart out for you though and I wouldnt have him any other way :D
 
I think there better in the flesh, a nice example of the breed is truely stunning, where as some I don't really give a second glance, I suppose if I owned one though, I'd definately be flying the flag for them, think there is more to that breed that people give credit for.
 
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