Horses

The first recorded existence of the Friesian was by Tacitus, a Roman historian in the first century AD.? At the time he recorded the horse was already a venerable breed, a powerful yet ugly, all-round utility horse.
Step forward 1000 years, and it was a more refined horse carrying Friesian and German soldiers to the Crusades.? It had retained it all rounder qualities of endurance, strength, docility and ability to live on poor pastures.
Their use as a war horse meant they met up with the desert breeds from the east which added increased endurance, and later they were also crossed with Andalucian horses when Spain invaded the Netherlands.

AN army workhorse, they were not comparable to the top Andalucians of the time, or other purpose bred war-horses, but they were commonly used because of their light feed requirements and their versatility. For the last few hundred years this versatility has been show as they have been used in harness, under saddle, and in virtually every sort of farm work.

They have been used to improve neighboring breeds and also as foundation stock. Marbach, the German state stud where the Wiirttemberger was created used Friesian horses in the 17th century. Around this same time, the Oldenburger was founded predominantly using Friesian stock from the area between the Netherlands and the River Weser.

Frieslanders were notable seafarers as well as farmers, and their seaborne traders, dealing in cattle, swords, cloth, and horses, introduced the breed to countries further afield. The UK so owes much to the breed. The Frieslanders and their steeds provided mounted support horses for the Roman legions in Britain - their settlements remained long after the Romans had gone. Friesian blood is also evident in the Dales and Fell Ponies and in the Old English Black from the Midlands.

Despite all this, ?the Friesian nearly became extinct during the early part of the 20th century. A stud book had been opened in 1879, but though the Friesian excelled at such racing, half breed Friesians (usually with Thoroughbreds or Norfolk Pacers) were faster still and thus the pure bred Friesian become less popular. By 1913 there remained only three Friesian stallions in Friesland. The breed was saved by luck more than human intervention when vehicle and fuel shortages in the Second World War caused the Dutch farmers to revert to horse?power that came from a horse not a motor. Later on, a new society was formed, and in 1954 this was granted the title of "Royal" Society.

THE FRIESIAN TODAY
The modern Friesian is always black, and stands at around 1.52 m (15 hh). They remain hard workers even on light ration, and they are lovable and cheerful beats. They will pull a plough, are driven in harness, and are excellent dressage horses.

As sport horses, a Friesian /Thoroughbred cross will generally perform better than either single breed.