So you are a new Friesian owner and you know nothing about keurings.  Don't be worried, they are no big deal.  A keuring is simply a judging, where the horse is judged on conformation and movement.  The most important thing you need to know as an owner, is that you can HIRE a Dutch runner to show your horse for you.  Even if you are a track star, you should still hire a Dutch runner to show your horse at his best.  There is a lot to it besides just being a fast runner and frankly if you don't know exactly what you are doing,  it's dangerous.  I have watched professional runners wipe out in Holland.  It happens.... and you can get hurt.

So as an owner, your main duty before a keuring is to make sure your horse is in good shape, not fat, not thin, but very well-muscled.    If you are showing a 3 year old for Studbook entry, make sure they are fully shod because the Dutch judges won't like it if they only have front shoes on!   You can trim the whiskers, the hair on the chin, and the longer hairs on the back of the legs up to the feathers (don't touch the feathers or mane!).  You as a handler (you still will have to hand your horse over to the Dutch runner) should dress in all white if possible  (it is a sign of respect to the judges) and your horse should wear a white bridle, as can be found on ebay, and other stores.

In Holland the keuring circuit occurs during the summer.  In the USA, the Dutch judges come over here in September to travel around the country and judge all the keurings.  The exact schedule in the USA is never announced until August or so.   In Holland, they usually keep foals with the mother until the keuring and then separate them after the keuring if the foals are old enough to be weaned.  The foals should run alongside their mothers during the foal keuring and the Dutch judges don't like it when they see a foal alone without it's mother.  But it is possible to enter a foal without it's mother, just don't be surprised if you hear some criticism.

If you buy a young Friesian, and the papers say Veulenbook (under FPS register) or you see Vb. after the name, that means the horse has not been to their adult keuring yet, so you can take them to one if you want to...  (Except if f they say Vb. Ster, then they have been to a keuring and received the rank of Star, so you have a Star Stallion.)  Usually owners will present their Friesian at a keuring for admission to the "studbook" "marebook" or "ruinbook" (geldingbook) at age 3 or 4, but sometimes farmers in the Netherlands won't bother to do so.   It may be smarter for you to wait until they are 4 or older to bring them to ensure they are fully mature!!!  For entry into the studbook, marebook, or ruinbook, all you can do is make sure your horse is in good physical shape like a well trained athlete before a track meet.   The judges like to see your adult  horse shod on all 4 feet for the keuring, so go ahead and have that done, even if it is only for the keuring.  After you have prepared your horse the best you could, when your number is called, you will hand your horse over to a runner, and then it is just up to the Judges.  After all the horses in your class go, they will call numbers out again, and you are supposed to go back in and walk your horses around the ring, in order.  If you are called first, be happy, it means that you are currently in first place.  But keep them walking in good form because they are still judging and they will make adjustments! The judges like to see a lot of "SPACE" in the walk... translated this means they like to see your horse take large steps, so you have to enable this as the person leading the horse.  They may tell you to switch order and then you will have been moved up or down.  At the very end you are lined up from first to last.  Don't be surprised if your horse gets some criticism.  You have to have thick skin at these keurings.   Maybe your horse is better suited to dressage, and that is not what the judges are looking for in movement.  If you horse doesn't make star, you can always try them again another year. 
 

This above article was written by Legacy Friesian owner, Sue Zoltner.

Click here to see our article on the Stallion Keuring in Holland, which was published in "the Friesian" magazine (FHANA's publication), written by Sue Zoltner
 
 

Riding Friesians
Friesians are big movers.  If you are used to riding a German Warmblood, you will probably think riding a Friesian is easy and be surprised at how sweet and gentle and sane they are.  However if you are used to riding a Quarter Horse, riding a Friesian will be significantly more difficult.  I have found that most Friesian mares have a smoother trot, easier to sit, than geldings.  You may want to factor that into your buying decision.  If you want to be able to easily sit the trot, you will need to look for a Friesian that is specifically advertised as such.  The #1 problem that people seem to run into when they buy a Friesian, is that they are not ready for the tremendous movement that a Friesian has in the trot.  The trot will sometimes knock the rider out of balance, then the rider will pull back on the Friesian's mouth to regain their balance.  Pulling hard on their mouth and gripping them with your knees can really scare the Friesian, and the flight instinct can then take over, making matters worse.  If you find yourself losing your balance when trotting, try grabbing a handful of mane before you ask for the trot!!!   Friesians in Holland are generally not ridden by people who pull back on their mouths with no release, as in Europe the inside rein is used lightly, releasing when you get the response you want.  Our advice to any new Friesian owner,  is that you work with a trainer and don't try to trot until you are ready.  Have fun walking and at first try trotting for 8 steps, walking for 8 steps until you are ready and used to your Friesian's movement.  Seek professional help to improve your riding, the breed is worth it!  If possible, work with a trainer that has a proven track record with Friesians! 
Also, it is REALLY REALLY important to praise your Friesian a lot when you are riding him.  They love praise and feedback and when they do something good, talk to them and pet them with your inside hand!!!  Teach them voice commands for whoa, walk, trot, canter on the lunge line and use your voice to help them understand what you mean.

This above article was written by Legacy Friesian owner, Sue Zoltner.

Click here for a great article about the friesian breed specifics by Legacy Stables 

Friesians as Dressage Prospects
by Sylvia Lindstrom

The Friesian dressage horses have improved dramatically in their quality for the upper levels during the last 20 years. 

I have been working with German dressage horses and had a stable, where we kept about 30 horses, partly sales-horses, partly breeding. (We had stallions too). Those where Hanoverian horses. I started my Friesian-"passion" about 20 years ago, when I bought my first Friesian stallion as a hobby besides my job with the dressage horses. Ever since that first experience with the Friesian breed I lost more and more interest in the Hanoverian sport-horses , which seem so impersonal, almost boring and dull in comparison with a Friesian. A Friesian is more intelligent and much more gentle than a Warmblood. The Friesian  horse really seems to think only the best of us human beings, one almost can feel ashamed! I have never understood why not more really good dressage-riders switch their interest to the Friesians. I think the reason for why the majority of the good dressage-trainers keep on training German, Dutch or Swedish Warmbloods is that there is more money in this business. A good educated Friesian for the higher levels you may be get for about $100,000 dollar, a comparable Warmblood costs a lot of more.
 
Today, there are quite a lot of Friesians who have a really good "motor"- that means activity of the back.  A horse, which breed however, who is only bearing weight on the hock will not last very long. It is all the three joints , which we in German call "Hanken" (I think you say haunches?= that means hip, stifle, and hock) that have to bear the more advanced dressage horse in order to let him be able to dance! The Friesians often have easier for the collected gaits (piaffe, passage) than a warmblood. You see many Warmbloods on the competitions which do those gaits bravely but without expression, more mechanically. Here the Friesian (who has a little bit of Andalusian blood from the time of Spanish occupation of Holland) has often much more expression. There still is a prejudice against the Friesian that says that the Friesian cannot show the extended gaits. But that is not true, there are quite a lot of Friesians with really good extended trot etc.  In former times , when the Friesians where bred more for the carriage, they often had a lack in the canter. Some of the horses still don't have a canter suitable for the upper levels. But there are other Friesians who canter really good ( I am always looking after such horses) and who learn the flying changes easily.
 
A Friesian is more sensitive and not so tough in his soul as a warmblood. You may not punish a Friesian very much while educating him. He needs lots of reward, otherwise you will destroy him, and many of the harder methods to train dressage horses don't work on a Friesian.  Never whip up a Friesian!!!! 
 
You also have to be more patient with the Friesian to get him in a good condition. Many Friesians who are young and quite untrained come into a harder, quicker breathing after working, so you have to build up the strength and endurance over a longer period. You have to be careful with too much canter work in the beginning and while the horse is still growing. It is never a good experience for a young horse if you take out of him all his power, make him too tired and demand too much. He will lose his self-confidence and courage and the joy of working will be gone.

How to Choose and Train Friesians for Dressage

click here for an article on Friesians that was in Dressage Today, by Sabine Schut-Kery

About Friesian Mane Care

If your goal is to preserve your horse's mane and tail, the last thing you want to do is grab a comb and get down to business because the comb or brush will inevitably rip out a good deal of hair. DO NOT BRUSH THE MANE EVERY DAY WITH A COMB OR BRUSH.  Some hair loss is expected during grooming sessions, but if we rip out good hair along with the dead soon the horse's mane and tail will be thinned out drastically. Considering the hair growth for both locations is limited to a couple inches a year, it can take a long time to re-grow a devastated mane or tail. 

To preserve hair loss caused by combing and tangles, start by running a dose of conditioner and/or tangle-remover through the mane with your fingers. This should loosen tangles and make the hair slicker, thereby allowing you to undo the tangles easily by hand. Some owners will just pull out the scissors and snip away tight tangles and knots, but I haven't seen a knot yet that couldn't be removed with some conditioner and patience. 

Do not pull out your comb until you can run your fingers throughout the mane without detecting any tangles; let your fingers perform most of the "grunt" work since they will be more gentle than a comb. When it is time for the comb to be implemented, support the base of the horse's mane with one hand while you comb with the other. What you're trying to do is prevent downward tugging that may tear some hair from its roots. If you detect any missed tangles with your comb discontinue for a moment, untangle with your fingers, then proceed with the comb once more. 

With Friesians, it is better to not brush the mane at all unless you first wash the mane with shampoo/conditioner and then spraying the wet mane with Vetrolin Shine.  Braiding the mane at this point with straight braids every 4-5 inches down the neck, that are not too tight, is a good idea.   Do not use cowboy magic as this can make the horse’s hair brittle in dry climates.  We recommend using a product called Vetrolin Shine to condition the mane and tail after washing it.  It also has sunscreen and some fly repellency.  You can buy it at Valleyvet.com or your local farm store.

A great link about how to braid your friesian's mane by Legacy Stables 
 
 
For Scratches, we recommend this product- Eqyss Microtek Equine Spray. You can buy it at Valleyvet.com or your local farm store

Runny Eyes

Does your Friesian have a "goopy eye" ?   In Holland they actually use tea to treat runny eyes.  They say: "Make a cup of regular tea, let it cool to room temperature, and using a clean cloth carefully wash the eye as best as possible with the tea.  Do this once a day for 2-3 days and they say it will be gone."  I did try this on my yearling and it seemed to work after only one treatment.   

About the Friesian Breed

taken from Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek

The Friesian Horse: Impressively Elegant The Friesian horse is the only purebred horse native to the Netherlands. Its roots go far back in time. The Friesian horse was recognized as early as the 13th century, and Friesian horses of today still display definite similarities with their distant ancestors. The breed's long history and a consistent breeding policy have consolidated the specific 'Friesian' characteristics. On this sturdy foundation, the Friesian horse has evolved into what it is today: an imposing presence in every respect. With its black colour, long mane and full tail, the Friesian is recognizable in an instant. The horse has an elegant build and powerful, elevated gaits. Its character is friendly and graciously spirited. All of these qualities make the Friesian a fine horse that can be used for many different purposes. Versatile The Friesian horse is being successfully – and above all, very enthusiastically – employed in various equestrian sports. The specific Friesian qualities are displayed especially well in driving competitions where they can be seen in action before the gig, in the single horse and pairs classes as well as in the unicorn and show cart categories. Competing for the highest honours, these black horses are making themselves very well known. The Friesian horse is also a fine dressage horse. Its fine self-carriage, willingness to work and inquisitive nature make it perfect for this branch of the sport. Friesians are now increasingly being seen at national competitions where they are displaying their talents to compete on equal terms with all other horses bred for riding purposes. Friesian horses are just as well represented in driving trials and marathon tests. And, last but certainly not least, one can scarcely imagine a more enjoyable partner as a recreational horse than the Friesian. Fine examples of the Friesian breed Certain teams of horses are the 'parade horses' for the studbook. They display the outstanding sport achievements of which Friesians are capable. An example in point is the Friesian Foursome, who became the Dutch championship team in the Z class during the Levade in 1999. Several pair and four-in-hand marathon teams are achieving very well at the international level. Simply the ease with which many studbook stallions can be ridden in Z dressage within a short time says much about their achievement capabilities that, due to the selection done in breeding, are being lifted to an increasingly higher plane. Within the Netherlands and abroad In the 1960s, the Friesian horse was being threatened with extinction. At that time, there were only a thousand horses registered in the studbook. Due to certain breeders whose love for the breed was a very important element in their lives, we still have a purebred Friesian horse. By 2003, there were about 40,000 horses registered in the Royal Association "Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek" (FPS). The association now has 12000 members, 7000 of whom are in the Netherlands and another 5000 of whom live in several different countries all over the world. Breeding After the critical period in the 1960s, the tide has turned and the Friesian horse has done nothing but gain in popularity and appreciation. This year, the number of foals born was around 6000, and this number is increasing every year. These larger numbers are giving the FPS an opportunity to be stricter in its selections and in this way to bring the average quality of the horses' conformation and usefulness to a higher plane. A corps of inspection and jury members is responsible for this task. They travel all over the world to inspect the horses and advise breeders. When inspecting for conformation, it is not only breeding type and conformation characteristics - as a whole as well as in detail – that count. Definitely just as important is movement. Horses that satisfy these requirements can be recorded in one of the FPS registers and are then eligible for a more prestigious title. In the Aptitude and Utility Test (ABFP), the emphasis is on judging the horse's gaits, its aptitude for the various equestrian disciplines, its willingness to work and its character. This is an indispensable indication for a studbook that is working hard to breed more than just good-looking horses. Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek (FPS) The Royal Association "Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek" (FPS) has been registering the Friesian horse since 1879. Its aim is to promote the Friesian horse breed and to monitor its quality. The FPS is the second oldest studbook in the Netherlands. In addition, the FPS is officially recognized as the original studbook for the Friesian horse throughout the world.  The "World Friesian Horse Organization" (WFHO) The WFHO is the coordinating organization for the recognized association of breeders of Friesian horses who reside outside of the Netherlands. This association has its offices within the establishment of the FPS and functions under the chairmanship of the FPS. The aim of the WFHO is the worldwide promotion of: the breeding of pureblooded Friesian horses according to the regulations of the FPS, paying explicit attention to a strictly applied stallion selection. stimulating the use of the Friesian horse in sport.   Major inspections Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek holds annual inspections. Two major inspections stand out from all the rest: The Stallion Inspection in January. Thousands of breeders and Friesian horse enthusiasts attend this three-day inspection in the FEC halls in Leeuwarden. The Central Inspections for Mares and Geldings in October. This is an opportunity to show the very best of the products of Friesian horse breeding, these horses having been pre-selected during the previous season at the regional inspections. Both of these events are embellished with spectacular shows.   Beauty Actually seeing these horses gives one a different perspective in regard to how beautiful they truly are. The Friesian horse is a unique breed: a horse with something very special. What an experience to see and hear the imposing stallions waltzing around the ring, beholding a kür ridden to music, or watching foals – small but brave - floating alongside their mothers. Just being in the presence of a fine Friesian horse can make a person shiver with excitement – and awe. Anyone who knows Friesians knows the feeling. It's a feeling – for some a hobby and for others a passion – that brings people from all over the world together.

To maintain the integrity of the breed in the USA, the Friesian Horse Association of North America (FHANA) working in concert with the original parent organization, the Friesch Paarden Stamboek in the Netherlands strictly regulates the registration of the Friesian Horse. The FPS is the registry for the Friesian horse worldwide. The registry was founded in 1879 and today's Dutch registered horses are the result of over a century of rigorous evaluation and selection of breeding stock. Organizations from other countries may also register Friesian horses, but horses registered with those organizations may not have met the standards of the FPS and therefore the true Dutch Friesian registry cannot recognize the horses. The Friesian Horse Association of North America cannot recognize a horse whose papers are not issued by the Friesch Paarden Stamboek.