Above
Photo shows last year's Eugene OR keuring winners, Grand Champion Mare,
Welmoed
Grand
Champion Gelding, Gooitzen, both owned by Legacy Friesians at the time, now
Welmoed is owned by Elsa and Monique of Bremerton, WA and Gooitzen is owned by
Sharlene, of Texas.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.