I'm in the process of buying my first horse (although I've been riding for 15 years now) and I'm closing in on this friesian. I checked him out yesterday and he has the sweeeeetest personality and I've always ADORED that breed, but the owner was at a show so I will be riding him on Monday. I plan on asking her this question, but thought I'd give it a go here first.
He is 4 years old and has been in professional training for 6 months. I'm fairly certain that he's what's considered the "modern" type, not the baroque type.
Now, to my question: I do not compete in jumping (though I once did) but are friesians sound for light, occasional, casual jumping? I know that physically they CAN, but there just is a problem with their tendons, because they weren't BRED for it, but the problem is that I'm really looking for versatility in terms of, a horse that I can do all aspects of English with, without competing. There wouldn't be any heavy show jumping, just casual occasional jumping. I know that many people say it also depends on the individual horse, and he looks like one of the slimmer/sleeker/less drafty friesians. He is definitely pure-bred though, he has FHANA papers.
Here's the kicker: I actually don't like dressage very much..I actually PREFER jumping; I just think dressage gets so boring and jumping has more excitement. But I think it would be good for me to have a horse that is naturally good at dressage (where I need work) but that I can casually jump as well.
He is pure-bred though he looks like a sport horse to me. I know that this breed is technically in the "draft" category, but I realllllly don't see that, sorry. I've seen youtube videos of friesians jumping and it really actually looks like they handle the landing better than warmbloods, so I'm just a little confused.
Oh and I'm not concerned about his age/green-ness. I've ridden just about everything. Practically every breed, every problem, every disposition, every size, every discipline.
He is 4 years old and has been in professional training for 6 months. I'm fairly certain that he's what's considered the "modern" type, not the baroque type.
Now, to my question: I do not compete in jumping (though I once did) but are friesians sound for light, occasional, casual jumping? I know that physically they CAN, but there just is a problem with their tendons, because they weren't BRED for it, but the problem is that I'm really looking for versatility in terms of, a horse that I can do all aspects of English with, without competing. There wouldn't be any heavy show jumping, just casual occasional jumping. I know that many people say it also depends on the individual horse, and he looks like one of the slimmer/sleeker/less drafty friesians. He is definitely pure-bred though, he has FHANA papers.
Here's the kicker: I actually don't like dressage very much..I actually PREFER jumping; I just think dressage gets so boring and jumping has more excitement. But I think it would be good for me to have a horse that is naturally good at dressage (where I need work) but that I can casually jump as well.
He is pure-bred though he looks like a sport horse to me. I know that this breed is technically in the "draft" category, but I realllllly don't see that, sorry. I've seen youtube videos of friesians jumping and it really actually looks like they handle the landing better than warmbloods, so I'm just a little confused.
Oh and I'm not concerned about his age/green-ness. I've ridden just about everything. Practically every breed, every problem, every disposition, every size, every discipline.