I've loved Friesians since watching "Ladyhawke" at age 8. Around age 12 I was researching them feverishly. And I was always fascinated by their early history as racing trotters in Friesland (even though I'm not a racing fan). They are still raced today, both in harness and under saddle. I have some photos that I love from a prominent barn and I thought I'd share w/everybody. Please, remember, this are NOT my photos, so I placed a watermark on them. Visit the website to see much more!!
The Golden Whip winners, Friesian gelding Christiaan with Klaas Postma, with a time of 2.12.7 on the 1100 meter run. He also won the Golden Whip in 2002 and 2003.
Traditionally Friesians were raced in sjees, but modernly in sulkies.
The ridden trot races became popular in the late 17th or 18th century when Friesians lost their ground as farming horses. They were starting to become the wealthy man's carriage horse, but the farmers who still loved their "Dancing Plow Horses" would race them at circuses or events.
Here is an event where they show off Traditional ridden-trot attire on horse and rider. The Friesians went only in Driving blinders w/ traditional Rose bit and a small orange blanket and were ridden bareback!
Wow, gorgeous pictures. I would imagine that it would be hard to sit bareback on them when they are in a racing trot. Especially as animated as they are. WOW. I love fresians, they are so gorgeous.
Never been impressed with the breed, they are pretty, but not very smart. My first horse was a friesian/tb cross that was a little off his rocker, and most of the purebreds at the farm I got him from were even worse.
Lol...I know the girl in that last photo: she and her sister are good friends of the people who bred my horse Both of them are very involved with the historical events and competitions over in Friesland.
