Breed Breakdown – Friesian

APPEARANCE: Big boned yet athletic horses standing between 15 and 17 hands high. Black in colour with no white markings. They have fathered feet and a beautiful thick mane and tail that is often wavy.  

TEMPERAMENT: Friesians have a great temperament, generally very calm, quiet and not easily spooked. They are intelligent and willing to please, making them easy to work with. 

AVERAGE LIFE SPAN: Friesians generally only live to be around 16 years old, which is much younger than the typical horse lifespan of 25-30 years. 

CARE: Generally low maintenance they just require regular grooming of their thick mane and tail. The feathers on their feet mean that the skin around the pastern should be checked daily for skin conditions and kept clean. 

USES: They are popular as a dressage horse because of their strong yet elegant movement. They strength and size also makes them a popular choice for a harness or carriage horse.

INTERESTING FACTS: Friesian’s originated from Friesland in the Netherlands. Because of their size and strength they were a popular choice in jousting matches during mediaeval times and were used as war horses.