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