The various horsebreeds (per region)

[The Black Prince]

Every region in the world has its local horsebreed(s). Their history is interwoven with that of the local people that held them. The way they were bred and used was based upon that specific people their needs and expectations.

So my idea is a thread were everybody can post some info about their local/regional/social class horsebreed(s).

I'l start:

[The Black Prince]

The Friesian horse (Frysk hynder/Fryske hoars)
Other names: Frisian, Fresian, Frysian, Friese

It is the only Dutch horsebreed that is native to Dutch soil and still purebred ever since the stamboek was founded in the 19th century.


History

The first record of Frisians on horses is from Roman sources when they employed Frisian auxilia in the Roman province of Britain. These Frisians where cavalry units who used a wedge formation, so called Numeri Cuneus . Archaeologic research in Frisian terps have found remains of horses, belonging to the so called Germanic horse type. A general type that was used from the North Sea regions upto the Baltic states.

Medieval records tell of horses from Frisia being sold at various large markets as those in Aachen, Cologne and Hamburg. It is very probable that the Friesian breed was crossed with Arabian and Andalusian horses. Depictions of warhorses of that timeframe (chargers and destriers) show a remarkable resemblance with the literally Friesian horse as depicted from the 16th century onwards on paintings. The British writer Anthony Dent and other writers indicate that the Friesian horse is the ancestor of both the British Shire breed and the Fell pony. The Percheronne of France is also seen as an close relative.

The first written evidence of use of the name ‘Friesian horse’ is an announcement in 1544 that German Elector Johann Friedrich von Sachsen came to the Reichstag in Spiers riding a Friesian stallion. Three years later, he rode the stallion in the Battle of Muhlberg and was recognised from afar by Emperor Charles V.


The etching, dating from 1568, of the stallion Phryso5 belonging to Don Juan of Austria in Napels is of course very well known.

During the 17th century, the Friesian horse was well represented at the various riding schools where the haut école of equitation was practised.
Use of the Friesian horse, however, became increasingly limited to the current Dutch province of Friesland over the 18th and 19th centuries.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the presence of the Friesian horse in the countryside of Friesland became mostly an expression of the owner’s wealth, with the breed used mostly just to bring the upper-class farmers to church. The horse was additionally used for entertainment, in the form of ridden short-track trotting races. In these races, the horse was traditionally ridden with just a small orange blanket on its back.


Tradition of Friesian trotters.

During this period, the Friesian horse was very likely used in the breeding of the Orlov, the so-called Vlaamsche paard of South Afrika as well as of American trotters. At the end of the 19th and the start of the 20th century, a very difficult period ensued. The Friesian horse had to compete with the heavy horse breeds. The dancing ‘show horses’ of the landed farmers were in fact less suited for heavy work. Farmers finally switched over to the heavier breeds or crossed the Friesian horse with these breeds. This proved almost fatal for the Friesian breed. By the start of the 20th century the breed was dwindling rapidly. In 1913, there were only three older studbook stallions available for breeding.


Stallion from the late 19th century, baroque type

Fortunately in Friesland there were people who wanted to save the native Friesian horse breed from extinction. They breathed new life into the breeding, by implementing a well-considered strategy for buying and rearing the still-existing, qualitatively good, purebred colts. The strategy succeeded, and the Friesian was saved from disaster.

In the sixties the next crisis in breeding ensued. The mechanisation of farm operations made the horse redundant. Most farmers lacked the money to keep a horse for pleasure only, which meant that the horse disappeared from the farm yards. However because it is a beautifull breed some farmers still held a few horses and when during the late 20th century people started to use the horse for recreation and sport. The Friesian horse population started growing rapidly into becoming a populair breed and became the flower of Friesland.




Characteristics

Colour: Black to deepblack coat.
Hair: Long thick often wavy mane and tail and 'feathers' on the lower legs.
Height: on average 1.60, though stallions and gelders often reach 170cm on the withers.

Typical of these horses are the front, the majestic mane and feathering of the lower legs, the jet black colour and the spacious, powerful elevated gaits. The harmonious build and the noble head, set on a lightly arched neck, complete the aristocratic and fiery appearance. Its amicable character is the key to a great utility breed.

The breed is known for a brisk, high-stepping trot. The Friesian is considered a willing, active, and energetic horse that is also gentle and docile. A Friesian tends to have great presence and to carry itself with elegance.


Friesian topstallion of modern type.

Today, there are two distinct conformation types. The baroque type has the more robust build of the classical Friesian. The modern, sport horse type is finer-boned. Conformation type is judged less important than correct movement, and both types are common, though the Modern type is currently more popular in the show ring than is the Baroque Friesian.


Usage in films and covers

Small collection

[Skandi]

Oh my how long a post do you want!

Welsh pony this is a section b


This is cadet, or Eric as he was called when my friend bough him, he is a Welsh cob (section D) He is now in NZ


Dales pony
Used to pull and carry heavy loads


Fell pony, similar to the Dales


Cleveland Bay


Clydesdales
A heavy horse


Shire horse needs no introduction! Remember, pulls brewers wagons


Suffolk punch
Another heavy horse


Exmoor pony


Dartmoor pony


The New forest pony,
These last three all live "wild" year round in their respective areas. Although this is a very fine looking one of it's breed most of these go to France for meat.

Thoroughbred The racing version

There are many crosses between these types but they are the most common English and Welsh breeds, Scotland has the mountain pony and the shetland pony too.