Fabulous Fresians

The Medieval War Horse of Today

A black warhorse stands patiently. His breath frosts in the chill morning air. He arches his powerful neck and champs expectantly at the cold steel in his mouth. His front hooves dance up and down, prancing in place.

The knight, clad in heavy chainmail, reaches down to pat the horse. Black as an eclipse, the animal is a striking contrast to England’s snow-covered backdrop. The gleaming lance at his flank fills him with excitement, and his feathered feet knead the ground more urgently.

From the distance comes the sounds of galloping, and the warhorse’s ears prick forward. Closer and closer come the sounds, until finally the enemy rips through the lifting fog. Unafraid, the warhorse awaits his rider’s signal, then lunges ahead onto the battlefield. For this he was bred, for this he lived - and died.

It is a rare person who is not awed by the great medieval warhorses once ridden into battle by knights and kings. Depictions of them, fully armored and decorated, bring out the romantic in us. We long for the days of sword and lance, castles and kings, and especially, the horses of that age.

With the coming of modern machines, the warhorse has all but disappeared. However . . .

Framed by the North Sea, in the northwestern part of the Netherlands, there is a small province named Friesland. This is where the direct descendants of medieval warhorses are still bred with great care and passion. Called Friesians, these gorgeous horses have much in common with their ancient ancestors. They stand 15+ hands at the shoulder and are quite muscular, making them perfect for carrying or pulling heavy loads. Their manes and tails are thick and long, and their lower legs are adorned with “feathers”. While bays and greys occurred earlier in the breed, black is now the only recognized colour (some appear bay if their coats have faded in the summer sunshine).

Yet even in tiny Friesland, this noble horse was nearly doomed to extinction - and not due to war or technology. People so liked the Friesian’s willing temperament and flashy trot that they used it to try and improve other breeds, to the point that by 1879, there was only one purebred Friesian stallion remaining in Friesland.

In 1913, a group of concerned breeders started a society called Het Friesche Paard, which is Dutch for The Friesian Horse. They gave out awards for horses of “good type” and bought good-quality Friesian foals.

Ironically, it was probably the Second World War that did the most to save the Friesian breed. Because of vehicle and fuel shortages, Dutch farmers had to rely on horsepower. The number of Friesians grew, and in 1943, a new registry was opened for Friesians of pure blood only.

Today, the beauty, willing spirit and graceful, easy gaits that made Friesians popular as carriage horses have also made it popular as a dressage mount. This eye-catching breed is also prized in the circus ring. But for the hopeless romantics among us, the Friesian horse will forever be a symbol of the warhorse thundering into battle, carrying his knight in shining armor.

For more information on the Friesian horse, contact:

FRIESIAN HORSE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA

P.O. Box 11217

Lexington, Kentucky

40574-1217 USA

web site: www.fhana.com