Disposition
Temperaments are highly individual. In this case I will give sweeping generalizations about the breed.
The Friesian can best be summed up by saying it's one of the easiest breeds to deal with but also one of the strongest. They have a good and calm head on their shoulders but are also strong and determined like the Frisian people and can be pushy. The latter can be resolved with awareness and training of course and in a Friesian you have a friend for life. Friesians are very clever and personable. They tend to "talk" a lot with whinnying and many love water, which is fun if you have a pool on your land but tough when they mess with the water trough. What we love about Friesians is that they are people oriented and pick things up quickly. You don't have to keep repeating so if you are busy you don't have to worry about getting your time in, because they will generally not go bonkers or forget. We love it when we haven't had time with ours and weeks later we pull them out of the pasture for a parade and they are good to go. Needless to say you need to know the horse before this conclusion is foolproof. It is true that some have more heart for work, some lack in the canter, and some can tolerate the heat better than others (cold is never a problem) so it is good to check that out. Overall the breed has greatly improved on stamina and performance after this was partially lost through the crises years. No statement will cover all individuals but we give them a thumbs up and so do the other Friesian owners.
Pushiness
While adults are considered very friendly and usually docile (moreso than many other breeds of horse) young Friesians can be overly pushy, to the point of being dangerous to an inexperienced handler. They are very friendly, but do not respect/have to be taught the idea of personal space. If left to their own devices, many young Friesians will run over their handlers, push them over, drag them to food and/or will choose to jump in the lap of/hide behind their person during stress. If not corrected, this can result in a very obnoxious and occassionally dangerous adult animal. They generally do not understand their own size and think they are large black labradors that can mug you, walk over you, sit in your lap and otherwise roughouse/ignore the space requirements of a handler. Teaching them personal space between the ages of 6 months-3 years is extremely important and will ensure a life of a well adjusted, well behaved, enjoyable and safe companion and friend.
