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On this
page we share a reference guide to this magnificent breed (use the index below or scroll down the page), which
provides a great road map for Friesian dreams and to shop informed.
For
additional,
in-depth, and the latest translated info & news we recommend our
Friesian e-newsletter,
as well as our
Friesian educational
dvds and
Friesian clinic Series (includes
riding our Friesians).
The KFPS Worldwide Studbook
The
Koninklijke Vereniging 'Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek' (KFPS,
www.kfps.nl) was
founded in and has been registering Friesian horses since 1879. A
brief history of the breed and more on Friesian registries will
follow as this page develops. The KFPS is the original studbook,
officially recognized as the mother studbook, and not just by far
the largest but also the only worldwide studbook. It is a closed
studbook, meaning that only purebreds according to the KFPS
regulations are registered.
Today,
more than 40,000 horses are registered worldwide and the studbook
has some 13,000 members worldwide. Outside The Netherlands these
members are organized in their own national associations,
affiliations of KFPS, which operate under KFPS regulations, have
local country recognition, and stay in close contact with KFPS.
Germany and North America have the largest foreign KFPS affiliates
in number of members and horses after The Netherlands but it is
exciting to see that the Friesian horse can now be found in just
about every country and on every continent, which is celebrated at
the annual KFPS stallion show in Leeuwarden, The NL in January, where
Anneke's Friesians
provides the simultaneous translation in English for the foreign
visitors for the KFPS. The associations are represented in the KFPS Member
Council. One of their meetings takes place annually at the annual
KFPS Friesian stallion show.
Most of
the Dutch members are also members of breeding chapters that
organize many local activities such as regional shows and
inspections. These chapters are represented in the Member Council as
well. The larger foreign affiliates also have regional chapters. A
great example are the chapters of the North American representative
www.fhana.com.
The KFPS
serves as an organization for registering and inspecting the
Friesian horse, has pulled the breed through various historic
bottlenecks, stewards the breed into the future, and provides
information to its members and the public.
Much of
the Studbook's information is published in the full-color monthly
Dutch magazine Phryso to which one can subscribe. We can recommend
it even if it is in Dutch. There is a regular Phryso in German and
now an annual Phryso publication in English.
Be sure
to check out the KFPS website
www.kfps.nl. It has
a wealth of information on inspection results, worldwide
affiliations and Dutch chapters, offspring and breeding information,
stats on the Studbook's breeding stallions, tools to select a
stallion, mare lines, breeding
goals, inspection/predicate/testing regulations, and so much more.
Return to top of the page.
Beauty & Versatility:
Friesian Traits
The Friesian
horse is the only breed of horse native to The Netherlands. Already
during the dark ages horses of the Friesian type were being
described. By applying a consistent policy of breeding, Friesian
horses as we know them today still share the specific breed
characteristics and therefore similarities with their ancient
ancestors. Over the centuries there have been some influences on the
breed, such as more refinement by the Spanish breeds. Since 1879 the
studbook has been a closed studbook. The KFPS saved the breed
various times from the brink of extinction, which had much to do
with the demand for horses and the economy and with ever adapting
breeding policies it has also guided the breed through the changing
times.
Typical
for these so-called black pearls is the beautiful
front, thick and long mane and tail, feathers, the black color and their
powerful, lofty gaits with much action. The well proportioned
conformation with a noble head placed on a slightly arched neck is a
perfect expression of this breed's elegant appearance and proud
stature. Because of the similarities the breed is very recognizable
and charismatic. Yet with individual differences there is a Friesian
for everyone.
A friendly character
and intelligence is key for a horse so it can
be used for many purposes, especially the one you choose it for. The
Friesian is both personable, and a quick study.
Its
beautiful self-carriage, willingness to work, and eagerness to learn
make today's Friesian a highly favored dressage horse. In days gone
by they were used as war horses, for high-school dressage, as trotters, coach horses, and on
farms as both a fancy horse taking the farmers to church with their
sjees (gig) on Sundays and working during the week as agricultural horses.
As the demands changed the horses varied lightly, mostly during the
agricultural phase in the early 20th century when they were bred
downhill for the farm work and when the hotter horses were dismissed
once they were just hanging around in the post-war recession and
mechanisation. Typical has always been the breed's versatility and
adaptability when breeds specifically bred for one purpose only
would beat them at a certain discipline and the Friesian could move
on, even if it wasn't easy.
Versatility creates its own popularity and the time was right a few
decades ago. The demand for riding and sport horses that slowly
started in the 1970s and has increased tremendously since the 1990s
has made the Friesian flourish. Currently very important for the
leisure, dressage, and driving demands are long forearms, powerful
hind quarters, suppleness in the body, a good neckset, light in the
throatlatch, even proportions with good connections and stamina. Two
items to pay attention to are definitely to keep the hair and not
breed too much lightness in conformation.
A small
gene pool does come with certain health issues (more--good news--on
that later) but these are expertly being managed by the KFPS
studbook, although we realize that is a small consolation if such a
rare event concerns your horse, which is why in North America with
many one-horse owners stories can be taken out of context and start
to live their own life.
The Friesian horse is driven with the
traditional Frisian gig and show carts in show driving, similar to
the Saddlebreds. There are even at times for fun classes for
show-driving horses under saddle. Friesian are driven single, as a pair,
in tandem, teams or in unicorn. In show driving the Friesians compete against each
other in their own sport events. Friesians are also measuring up
well when competing against other breeds in combined driving as well
as in the dressage-under-saddle ring. No need to tell you how
popular these Black Beauties are in dressage these days and how well
they score. There are now great efforts underway to continue to
increase the number of Friesians showing at the highest levels (it
takes money and management to have the breed fully catch up to the
traditional warmblood) and ultimately to have a Friesian compete in
the Olympics. So far so good!
Return to top of the page.
Registration Papers
When
purchasing a Friesian horse always make sure you a) receive the studbook
paper with it (if the horse comes from The Netherlands it will also
have a KFPS passport) and a signed & dated FHANA transfer form
as well as sales contract or at least have a sales contract and have
the seller send in the studbook paper with transfer form.
Technically the seller pays for the transfer fee and sends in the
paper and form but depending on the sales agreement negotiated it
may also be the buyer. This way you can re-register the horse in your name
with paid studbook membership and you have proof of purchase. Be
sure to reregister on time to avoid a late fee.
The chip
number on the document has to correspond with the microchip in the
left side of the neck, about 4 inches below the mane, about the
middle of the neck, which can be scanned by a vet or if you have
your own (possibly intl.) chip reader.
On the
paper it will state the pedigree, date of birth, breeder, registered
owners, any keuring ratings with height at the withers, and the
ranking with the KFPS studbook. Read more on the terminology often
found on horses' studbook papers/in their predigrees with the
ancestors' names under the
Predicate&
Test header (click).
If it concerns a horse in the main
registry (that is most common and most desirable) the paper has the
colors green, yellow and light gray. If it is a Friesian sired by a
German FPZV stallion and registered in the KFPS-D book the paper has
yellow, pink and light gray colors. If the horse is sired by an
unapproved KFPS stallion with limited breeding rights in B-book I
the colors are orange, reddish/brown and light gray. If the horse is
sired by an unapproved KFPS stallion and thus is B-book II the
colors on the paper are red, blue, and light gray.
It is alaminated
paper with a relief stamp of the KFPS studbook. When you join the
KFPS affiliate in your country and you reregister the horse in your
name you will receive an updated version of the studbook paper with
your name on it as the owner.
When
breeding the mare registration and stallion registration will
determine in what register the foal is registered. Upgrades can only
take place in one generation if a lower-grade mare is bred back to a
KFPS Studbook stallion (except for BBI mare). Foalbook stallions
only receive a breeding permit (annually reviewed) in countries that
are underserved by stallions. Foalbook stallions are all stallion
not KFPS Studbook approved for breeding (the numbered stallions).
-
KFPS-book
mare with KFPS Studbook stallion: KFPS book, KFPS-book mare with
approved stallion of KFPS daughter studbook: KFPS-D for FPZV
stallions and BBII for other registries, KFPS-book mare with
foalbook stallion with breeding permit BBI, KFPS-book mare with
foalbook stallion or BBI or BBII stallion: BBII.
-
KFPS-D
mare with KFPS Studbook stallion: KFPS book (upgrade in one
generation), KFPS-D mare with Approved stallion of KFPS daughter
studbook: KFPS-D with FPZV stallion or BBII with stallion from
other registry, KFPS-D mare with foalbook stallion with breeding
permit: BBI, KFPS-D mare with foalbook stallion or BBI or BBII
stallion: BBII.
-
BBI
mare with KFPS Studbook stallion: BBI, BBI mare with approved
stallion of KFPS daughter studbook BBI (FPZV stallion) or BBII
(other registry), BBI mare with foalbook stallion or BBI or BBII
stallion: BBII.
-
BBII
mare with KFPS Studbook stallion: BBI, BBII mare with approved
stallion of KFPS daughter studbook: BBI (FPZV stallion) or BBII
(other registry), BBII mare with foalbook stallion with breeding
permit: BBII/BBI, BBII mare with foalbook stallion or BBI or
BBII stallion: BBII.
Return to top of the page.
Foal Registration
When you breed a KFPS mare the stallion
owner will notify the KFPS. The KFPS wil then provide the stallion
manager with a birth-notification form that is sent by the stallion
manager to the owner of the mare close to the due date. When the
foal is born the foal owner has to fill out and send in the form to
the KFPS affiliate or KFPS within two weeks after the birth of the
foal with appropriate fees. The owner then receives back a
confirmation with microchip kit. Once this has been processed (or
after the foal attended its keuring) the owner will receive the
foal's laminated KFPS paper.
Return to top of the page.
Naming your Friesian
When you
register the foal you need to name it. This name can never be
changed again, although you can give it a barn/show name. So if you
purchased your horse and you do not like its name you can rename it
for shows and in the barn but never on the registration paper. You
can name it whatever you want; it doesn't have to be a Frisian or
Dutch name. If the name is already taken you will get the first
letter of your last name behind it. If you have a barn name
registered you can give the foal a last name. This year in 2012, the foal
names start with M, N or O. Every year the studbook works through
the next three consecutive letters of the alphabet, except for the
year when it finishes up the alphabet with w, x, y, z. So when you
see the horse and know its registered name it gets easy to calculate
its age. Return to top of the page.
Horse Care & Health
Stories
go around how the Friesian has health issues. We beg to differ. It
is definitely true that like any breed the Friesian breed deals with
certain issues but the great thing is that the studbook proactively
tackles it with research and markers for such things as dwarfism,
hydrocephalus, and the esophagus. Information is widely available
and collected, see especially
www.kfps.nl.
Often we
see it is a management issue. Be sure to check with your
veterinarian, nutritionist and/or other professionals but this is
our two cents.
Friesians
are easy keepers and tend to be overfed and/or have a diet that is too
rich, and/or are unnaturally kept in pretty stalls when horses need
to roam.
Then there are the standard management items of lots of fresh
water, frequent feedings for gut movement, eating from clean
surfaces and low by the ground, daily psyllium against sand, feeding
low in starch and higher in fat and protein, lots of roughage
(regular hay, use hay like alfalfa and soybean as an extra), lots of
turn-out, shelter from the heat, keeping the feet picked and clean,
regular fecals for sand and worm monitoring, and more of the sort.
We are pleased to have a long and clean health record by performing
preventative, simple, and common-sense care.
Then
there is mental health. Friesians are often pushed too hard, too
fast, and too young, yet if one does not do that it is delightful
how quickly and easily the Friesian learns, what willing and easy partners they
make, and how hardy they are.
With so
many Friesians we have care for and trained over the past 30 years
we have experienced the Friesian to be a healthy breed. Return to top of the page.
The Inspection (Keuring)
The KFPS
organizes inspections (stamboekkeuringen) throughout The Netherlands
during the summer season. KFPS inspection teams also venture out
throughout the world to inspect in other countries. Depending on the
Friesian population in these countries an inspection (keuring) may
take place once a year but could also take place less, like every
other year. The studbook plans these foreign days such that the new
foals are old enough to be shown.
Knowledgeable and dedicated Friesian lovers with the time,
aspiration, and ability to judge can apply with KFPS to potentially
study to become an apprentice judge, and if selected and trained,
they can study and work their way up to ultimately become a judge or
if one is really good and experienced an Inspector. This is a very
lengthy process!
At these
studbook inspections foals as well as mares and geldings can be
presented for inclusion in the appropriate KFPS registry and/or
promotion to a higher level of quality.
For
stallions three years of age and older separate inspections are held
in The Netherlands; the foalbook stallion inspections and the
studbook inspections.
At the
regional breeders' events (fokdagen) held by the Dutch KFPS breeding
associations (fokverenigingen) it is also possible to present
yearling, 2 year old and older star mares for inspection.
In
foreign countries all these classes take place at the same
inspection event.
Breeding-stallion candidates go through three selection rounds in
The Netherlands; starting with round 1 in November/December open to
stallions as of age 2 1/2, and then round 2 and 3 at the annual KFPS
Stallion Show at the WTC Expo in Leeuwarden, The NL each year in
January. The chosen ones attend that year's stallion testing (more
in a separate paragraph-to-follow). North America is the first
country/continent after The Netherlands to have its own stallion
testing under KFPS regulations, in California. Stallions selected
from the previous year's fall inspections go through the saddle and
harness training and testing in January/February in CA.
If the
average score for the five main characteristic scores (see below) at
the bottom of the linear score form is: 7.5 or up, 1st premie, stb
ster; 7, 2nd premie, stb ster; 6 to 7, 3rd premie, stb; 6 stb no
premie, less than 6 is no promotion, i.e., remains foalbook. More on
the predicates in a separate paragraph.
Please
note: in considering the awarding of premiums the criteria relating
to trueness to breed, the walk, and trot carry the most weight over
legs & feet and conformation. In addition, a horse with a score of 4
or less for one or more of the five criteria will not be registered
in the studbook (remains foalbook), and a horse with a score of
unsatisfactory (5 or less) for one or more of the main criteria
cannot be entered into the star register even if the total were to
be sufficient.
After
being inspected at a foalbook stallion inspection (in The
Netherlands, all the same day overseas) stallions three years and
older can either remain foalbook (Vb) or be awarded Ster (vb Ster).
At the
regional breeders' events (in The Netherlands) foals, yearling
fillies, and two year old fillies are eligible for a 1st, 2nd or 3rd
premie but may also receive 'no premie.' These classes all take
place on the same day outside The Netherlands. Stud colts may be
presented for a premie as foals and are then not seen again until
age three (or in The NL at age 2 1/2 for stallion selection).
Ster and
Crown mares and Ster geldings inspected at regional breeders' events
in The Netherlands or the same day outside The NL are eligible to be
presented for a 1st or 2nd premie but may also receive 'no premie.' Return to top of the page.
Stallion Selection,
Stallion Show &
Stallion Information
If an
owner would like to have their stallion(s) considered for approval
as a KFPS approved breeding stallion, they can present them for
inspection by the KFPS studbook starting at three years of age
abroad and in The Netherlands, as well as in the fall of being 2 1/2
in The Netherlands in Ermelo. Young potential is selected in North
America at the annual fall inspections for the following January
North American stallion testing in California. Selected stallions
may also be flown over to The Netherlands for the continued process.
In The
Netherlands these young stallions will go through three rounds of
inspection. The first in November: assessment of conformation and
movement both in hand (on a hard surface/'the street') and at
liberty. If selected for the second inspection these stallions are
awarded the Ster predicate.
If they
subsequently pass a semen/x-ray inspection they can attend the
second inspection; a second inspection in January at the annual
Stallion Show with assessment of conformation and at liberty/in hand
in the cage. Followed by a third inspection on the Saturday of the
annual January KFPS Stallion Show: conformation and movement in
hand. In between also the pedigrees are closely studied with the
family tree visited when possible. Vettings are mandatory in between
to move forward. The quality of the pedigree and the degree of
kinship to the entire Friesian population are part of the overall
picture so it may happen that a stallion with a 'flaw' compensated
by other factors will go through the testing.
The
annual KFPS Stallion Show is held every year in January in
Leeuwarden in Friesland (usually the second weekend of January) at
the WTC Expo and runs three days on Thursday/Friday/Saturday with
the second and third selection of the young stallions for that
year's spring and fall performance/approval testings, shows for
entertainment, clinics for education, meetings with the foreign
affiliates, shopping, food & drinks, a great atmosphere, auction of
the stallions from the Vitens stallion-raising project, and
inspection/presentation of the approved Studbook stallions. The
stallions age 13 and older do not have to attend but it's great to
see these older gentlemen, often former champions. They all receive
a red/white/blue honorary ribbon. The stallions through age 12 have
to attend unless there is a veterinary reason. They receive an
orange/1st premie ribbon; for several years now the 1st or 2nd
premie rating is no longer in use. The stallions are divided in: 13
and older; stallions through age 12 but not in the following classes
of 7 years back and earlier. For 2012. registered to breed 2005 and
2006 & approved on offspring. Then the stallions registered but not
yet approved on offspring: registered 2006 and 2007; registered
2008; registered 2009; registered 2010; registered 2011. The
stallions that were approved based on sport performance & short
version of the testing are presented separately in order of year. It
used to be that the best 2 of each class through age 12 went to the
championship round. New this year was that the older stallions were
also included and that out of all the best 2 per class were
selected: champion & reserve older stallions (offspring approved,
registered 2006 and older), champion & reserve younger stallions
(registered 2006 through 2011, not yet offspring approved), then out
of those four an overall champion & reserve were selected.
Attendance is some 10,000 spectators!
The
stallions that make it through the third inspection in Leeuwarden
(with celebration/photo op with owners/breeders for the February
Phryso) go through a 10-week Central Performance Testing in Ermelo
with training and testing in dressage, show driving, and driving
(resulting in three score bars). First the saddle test takes place;
if the stallions pass they can continue with the driving tests.
If they
pass that they are registered in the KFPS Studbook register for
stallions, given one Frisian name (so no barn name behind it or a
double name, with the occasional exception in history) starting with
a letter from their birth year (if possible their own birth name if
it is Frisian and not used yet for a breeding-approved stallion )
and a sequential number of approval to breed. A testing report is
published each year of the new crop with breeding advice, followed
by a foal report on the first crop's inspection results, and then a
final report when they go through the testing on offspring. These
reports are published annually in KFPS' magazine Phryso and in their
Stallion Book. This is a publication in Dutch, however:
 The
KFPS Stallion book is available in English in digital
version through Anneke's Friesians.
Includes approval reports (learn what the judges look for and
consider), advice for breeders, foal reports, stats,
extra info collected from studbook publications, how to select a stallion, offspring-(dis) approval reports,
historic information on all the stallions since 1879, and more.
Translated by Anneke.
Special offer: $20 off coupon on
initial, complete orders for members of Anneke's Friesians (click
here for membership info & benefits).
$70 ($50
for AF members) first
digital order by e-mail (add $10 for disk orders with USA address, $20
for disk orders with non-USA address),
$20 for the annual update by e-mail thereafter.
This digital information does not
include the book's photos (those are easily found online).
Payment accepted by PayPal (e-mail us
first for invoicing) or send a check/money order (made out) to: Anneke
van den IJssel, P.O. Box 135, Como TX 75431, USA. |
A young,
approved stallion receives a breeding permit for 180 mares a year,
not including frozen semen and mares outside the country where it is
standing. Once the oldest offspring reach maturity (normally after
five breeding seasons) 20 randomly selected offspring are tested in
the ABFP offspring testing. Also all the keuring results of its
offspring is taken into account. If the offspring show to have a
sufficient level of quality based on items such as health, sport
ability, conformation, and movement the stallion is then approved on
offspring. From that time on the stallion may breed an unlimited
number of mares each year. Of course a stallion may then also be
disapproved for breeding in case of an unfavorable report. If semen
of that stallion is used starting in the year it no longer has a
breeding permit, the offspring will be registered in B-book II.
Often these disapproved stallions are snapped up by 'other
registries.' The approval status does not affect the offspring as
they are judged on their own merit. You can therefore see young
stallions sired by no-longer-approved stallions in the stallion
testing for instance. Return to top of the page.
Choosing a Stallion for a
Mare
Choosing
the right stallion to breed to a mare is an important decision, to
be made with great care. You have to consider how the foal is to be
used in the future: dressage, show driving, driving or perhaps a
horse with talent for various leisure uses, which includes how form
& personality influence function.
When
selecting a stallion you have to determine which are the weaker
points of the mare you wish to improve on (pick only a few) and
which strong points you wish to accentuate (the linear score sheet
from the keuring is a great tool, see the
keuring paragraph) and compare that to the stallion information
(another great reason to take offspring to a keuring, see also the
KFPS Stallion Book, click) of
what a stallion tends to throw.
This
information may also be accessed on the KFPS website with a
selection program and the updates are published every year in the
Dutch Phryso. Based on the information you can select the stallion
that will most likely provide the greatest improvement and which
stallions are available to you based on fresh and frozen semen
availability.
Another
important factor to consider is that since the population of
Friesian horses is a closed population with a small gene pool,
having gone through various genetic bottlenecks, you have to be
careful with inbreeding, although it can at times be used as a tool,
called 'line breeding.' The KFPS advises a combination of no more
than 5% inbreeding but again, more does not have to be bad. The
kinship percentage of a stallion relative to the overall population
is also part of the stallion information and is important to
consider to aid in using all available bloodlines, even if they
still all go back to one foundation sire. Important to look at is to
not have the same stallion appear in the foal's first three
generations.
More
detailed breeding /stallion /selection information is shared at our
quarterly Friesian clinics.
Click here for more information
on the home page.
Return to top of the page.
The Central Mare Show-Inspection
Finals
In The
Netherlands in September or October the Central Mare Show/inspection
finals takes place.
Except
for foals, all the mares and geldings (no stallions; they don't
receive premies anyway) awarded a 1st premie during that year's
inspection season are invited to participate in the KFPS studbook's
annual central inspection/central mare show.
This
conclusion to the inspection season is usually held in October but
sometimes in September depending on the schedule. At this event
mares three years of age and older are eligible to receive the
provisional Crown or (if 7 years of age or older) the provisional
Model title. The model predicate is the highest rating on
conformation and gait available for mares. Crown distinguishes the
highest-scored 1st premie Ster mares in that Ster echelon.
The
provisional status becomes permanent once the mare completes an IBOP
(a test on one day) or ABFP performance test (four weeks long, with
evaluations along the way, includes training, finalized by the test)
either under saddle or in one of the two driving disciplines (show
driving or dressage driving), and if it scores at least 77 points
with an average score of 7 for the basic gaits, or if she is awarded
the Sport predicate based on her own show achievements.
It used
to be that the horse has to complete the test within a year after
receiving the provisional Crown or Model predicate but that is no
longer the case; there is no expiration date. Briefly the age for
becoming Model went down from 7 to 4 but it has been back to 7 for a
while now to allow for the requirement of having had a foal and
being able to show durability.
Although
few 1st premie geldings come in, they are welcome too. In addition
the finals of the KFPS Young Friesian Horses with Dressage Talent as
well as the finals of the KFPS Young Friesian Horses with
Show-Driving Talent takes place at this event for the mares,
geldings, and stallions (dressage ages 4, 5, and 6 and show-driving
ages 3, 4, and 5) that qualified from that year's qualifying rounds
held throughout The Netherlands for dressage and at the KFPS
breeding chapter days throughout The Netherlands. See the kfps
website for dates and info.
Stallions
never go to this inspection finals. Non-approved stallions get either
the vb Ster status or no rating (and never a premie) at their own
Dutch stallion inspection or through an ABFP test with inspection
option, or go through
the stallion selection (starting with the first inspection each fall
in Ermelo The NL) and if selected far up enough attend with the
approved Studbook stallions the annual KFPS Stallion Show in
Leeuwarden, The NL in January (click
here or scroll up for that paragraph).
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KFPS Events and Sport
Affiliations
Young
dressage horses can participate in the Competition for Young
Friesian Horses with Dressage Talent. This competition is open to
mares, stallions, and gelding ages 4, 5, and 6. In the selection
competitions held throughout The Netherlands these horses can
qualify to participate in the finals held at the Central Mare
Show/Inspection each year in the fall(see above or
click here).
Young
show-driving horses can participate in the Competition for Young
Friesian Horses with Show-Driving Talent that is open to mares,
stallions, and geldings ages 3, 4, and 5. The qualifying competions
are held at the Dutch regional breeders' events (by the KFPS local
Dutch chapters), with the finals taking place at
the Central
Mare Show/Inspection each year in the fall(see above or
click here).
Check out
these websites for KFPS sport affiliates:
Traveling to The Netherlands
Text
soon.
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Predicates, Premies,
Linear Scores & IBOP/ABFP
In The
Netherlands, the KFPS offers two tests in which Friesian horses can
participate: the IBOP and the ABFP tests (only IBOP is available
outside The Netherlands on KFPS keuring days). The IBOP test is a
one-ride test on one day that is intended to establish in the most
objective way possible the suitability of the horse for a certain
use (available is: under saddle, driving, show-driving). The ABFP
test (includes training and takes several weeks but tests the same)
is intended to establish in the most objective way possible the
horse's talent as a dressage, driving or show-driving horse (three
scores are given with three tests trained for and performed).
Usually an ABFP is followed by a studbook inspection for premie/predicate
consideration.
Friesian
horses are also eligible for the KFPS Sport title when they have
achieve this level (or equivalent abroad): Dressage Z1 +5 pts., show
driving cat I & II honor class and cat III open class, in a single
season placeas 6 times as prize winner in the 'green (show) season'
of April 15 until October 1. Dressage in harness Z level + 10 pts.
For both
KFPS and KNHS (Royal Dutch Equestrian Sports Society) it is
important to register in advance with which Friesian horse one will
be participating. The horse needs to have acquired at least 10
points in class 3 from the time at which an application for the
horse has been entered to KFPS and KNHS. These requirements apply to
points for sports achievements awarded in The Netherlands. Points
for sports achievements awarded outside of The Netherlands will be
subject to comparable requirements as assessed by the KFPS
inspection team.
Other
titles you may find in pedigrees are Preferent and Prestatie/Performance.
When a stallion has an excellent record of siring offspring that
have inherited his positive characteristics he can be given the
Preferent status based on a point system. Mares too can be awarded
the Preferent status when four of a mare's offspring have received
the Ster title or higher or were registered as an approved stallion.
If the number becomes 8, the mare is double Preferent, etc. and the
number of offspring will be mentioned with the mare's Preferent
title on the papers. Geldings never receive the Preferent status.
The title of Performance/Prestatie dam is awarded to mares with
three or more offspring earning the Sport predicate.
More info
to follow. Also see the Keuring/Inspection
paragraph on this page (click).
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Buyer Tips
With this
information we hope to give insight in and assistance for what to
keep in mind when shopping for a Friesian. Remember, the end result
is to be enjoyed so don't get discouraged and simply get informed.
As
exciting as it is to see your very own Friesian come home off the
trailer, it can be a daunting journey to find the right one.
Not every
seller will tell the truth, make a full disclosure or simply may not
be educated enough to share proper information. A small percentage
of ads are plain scams, which unfortunately is increasing in this
economy but it is a low percentage relatively and when one is an
informed shopper they are easy to sniff out.
By the
same token a buyer has to clearly communicate their questions so
they can be answered. Keep in mind that a savvy seller can tell if
one is an uninformed shopper, e.g., by using buzz lines without
context such as 'what is the inbreeding percentage' for a sport
gelding, which makes a shopper vulnerable.
Shopping
for any horse starts with being clear about what one wants to use
the horse for, what one is willing to do/work through to reach the
goal, how much one can spend on a horse, taking into consideration
also the other costs involved of not just the purchase process, but
also the owning of a horse, and things that can happen with
livestock no matter how immaculate it comes in (insurance may cover
it but not always). Think of things such as travel cost to see
horses, vettings (which may fall through), paperwork,
transportation, and then the maintenance cost of owning (whether
boarding or at home) a horse.
By the
same token, a horse doesn't have to be perfect to be the right
horse. Each horse has its own attributes and down sides. Also, some
buyers simply go for one aspect only (such as a pretty
picture/presence) or enjoy an impulse buy and that is fine if all
are aware and in agreement.
A few
more things to consider.
-
Just
because a horse performs well with one or more people doesn't
mean it will with the buyer.
-
A
horse needs to be kept up and will not stay in the same great
shape, alternatively, a fixer-upper can become a gem.
-
Have
you tried out Friesian/warmblood horses and English riding? Do
you enjoy it, does it work, is one wiling to work at it?
Especially for western, gaited, and 'regular breed' riders it
can be quite a change.
-
Friesians are English trained, are not gaited, and outside of
leisure, trail, dressage, tricks, (combined) driving, and basic
other English disciplines, are not suitable for intense jumping
or western disciplines.
-
A
young horse will grow up and needs guidance and training. A
Friesian is easy to wreck if handled by the wrong person. On the
flip side they are incredibly smart, willing, and loving.
-
Training costs can be considerable. Is it better to buy trained
or pay for training?
-
Can
one do it oneself, learn how to do it oneself or if not afford a
trainer?
-
An
untrained or improperly trained/mismatched horse can be harder
to resell if that were to be the end result.
-
When
starting a breeding program it's great to start with a quality
mare in foal but do make sure to study up or hire a breeding
professional as to repeat breeding success it takes knowledge
and work. The same goes for entering the breeding arena with any
mare looking for a matching stallion.
-
To
then properly market offspring takes knowledge and work. Have a
plan for offspring and breedings.
-
Trainers do not always have the owner's interests in mind but
rather their own interests.
-
Friesian breeders care about where their horses go and take
pride in them. Unrealistic haggling or a home that does not
match will not aid in the shopping process.
-
Buying and selling is an emotional process and often
inexperienced buyers and sellers work together as most are not
professional buyers and sellers. The process has to be fitted
into a full schedule and it is not like going to 'Walmart.' An experienced sales person
(like us) offers great assistance, and we sell for direct
prices.
-
Every
seller has a reason for selling. Very often it presents a great
opportunity for the right match, but do the homework that it's
not a reason that will end up in a wrong match.
-
Things can go wrong or not work out along the way with as a
result that a sale may fall through. Be patient and you too will
find your Friesian.
Learn about buying, selling,
breeding, raising & training, the breed, and trying out/private
lessons on Friesians hands-on at our quarterly Friesian
educational/riding/training clinics
with this link to the
home page.
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Seller Tips
Text
soon.
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Importing
Text
soon.
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Raising & Training the
Friesian
Text
soon.
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Why Choose KFPS
Text
soon.
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'Other'
Registries
Text
soon.
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Our Friesian Resume
Quick Friesian resume overview:
-
Working with/studying KFPS Friesians since 1981, The
NL, USA, worldwide.
-
We do all our own training, showing, promo,
and services offered.
-
Member KFPS/FHANA 1996-present.
-
Initiator/creator of many of today's
chapter concepts.
-
Member GLFHA chapter 1996-2009.
-
Manager, creator/think tank for 3 years
Great Lakes Friesian Horse Association FHANA chapter (GLFHA) 2002-2004.
-
Founder/5-year Manager, creator/think tank
for South Central Friesian Horse Association FHANA chapter (SCFHA)
2005-2009.
-
Founder/Owner Anneke's Friesians
2005-present.
-
KFPS Interpreter/initiator of this service at annual KFPS Stallion &
Anniversary Shows 2008-present.
-
Translator Dutch-English and v.v.
(German also available) specialized in Friesian materials, 1996-present.
-
Creator/initiator of the Friesian Fun days concepts, 2009-2011.
Now independently as our Quarterly Friesian
Educational Clinic Series /
Raising, Training & Riding the Friesian (click
for clinic details on the home page).
-
Founder/Member Black Magic Friesian
Performance Troupe 2010-present.
-
Member Hopkins County Rodeo
Committee 2011-present to further promote the Friesian horse at local
rodeos while making
closer community connections and contributions.
-
Find more information about Anneke's
Friesians on the About Us
and Friesian Love
pages.
Quick
History of the Breed
Text
soon.
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Source: we started with a KFPS brochure and adapted/added to the text
and headers based on our 31 years of KFPS experience. There is more
to come/edit and we are re-incorporating some of our former Friesians-101 info by
popular demand.
Photo header: Jorrit
363 by Cally Matherly.
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