Originating from "Equus Robustus" the Friesian horse has always been a remarkable
horse for the noble class. It`s special eye-catching characteristics have been one of
the reasons why noble men choose this horse for their army leaders as well as a means
of representing status.
This strong and noble original Friesian horse, adapted for riding long distances with
heavy-weight harness man was transformed by inbreeding Arabian blood during the
80 years lasting occupation of the Spanish into a lighter even more noble horse with
improved characteristics for flexibility, speed and endurance. The Friesians became
the horse for the leaders of army, because they were very distinctive, both in colour
(black or white), long manes and tails, high knee-action, elegant craning neck and excellent
rapidity. The soldiers could distinguish their leader by such eye-catching horses.
In the middle of the 17th century Friesians started to excel in the new art of dressage
high school, practised on all respectable royal courts. Friesians were less heavy and more
flexible with higher movements than other baroc horses at that time. Friesian stallions
were exported to courts all over Europe in order to improve local horse breeds for saddle
and dressage-sport-qualities.
In the same period Friesians developed into the best trotters of the world. Also Frieians
were exported to improve other trotters, like Orlow-trotter and Morgens. That was the
first time in Friesian history that these fine horses spread worldwide. In recent years
Friesians are used for trotting again, however even the best ones are 10 seconds slower
on short distances, than Friesian trotters from the last century. This shows clearly how
the Friesian breed regressed in sport qualities.
Main reasons for this regression is the transformation of Friesian horses into a much
heavier and short legged draft horse for agricultural use in the period 1910-1960.
This was necessary for economic and survival reasons.
30 years ago a "modernisation" started. During that time Friesians have been
systematically selected to create a lean, light footed, long legged, elegant Friesian
horse. The result is a sportive look, however the genetic inside represents still an
agricultural horse as certain bloodlines have been selected for agricultural use for
a long time. However, a few bloodlines with appropriate endurance characteristics
still exist in older breeding mares - this are the genes we want to use in our
Arabofriesian-Sporthorse-breeding