BREED DESCRIPTION 

of the 

MODERN FRIESIAN HORSE   

CONFORMATION

HEAD  - Relatively short and of good width. Small, alert ears, with tips slightly   pointing towards each other. The eyes are large and bright. Preferably, the nasal bone is somewhat hollow or straight. Roman nose, not desirable.

The nostrils are wide, the lips are closed and the teeth meet to form a level bite. Jaw bone not too heavy and well spread. The head should be especially dry (no excess fluid or fleshy areas) and expressive, joining smoothly with the neck.

The neck is of good length allowing considerable sideways movement of the head. The head is set well on the neck with adequate space for the throat.

THE NECK - Slightly arched and crested, the neck should be of proper length and adequately muscled. High set without bulging lower neckline.

THE WITHERS - Well-developed and in particular blending gradually into the back. The withers should not be too flat. (Friesians do not have a highly pronounced wither and efforts should be made to ensure the wither does not become too flat).

THE BACK - The back is not too long and is well muscled. A slightly low back is allowed.

THE LOINS - Wide, strong and well muscled blending smoothly into the croup.

THE CROUP - The croup is of good length, slightly sloping downwards, wide and muscled. Not overly rounded or pointed. The tail should not be set too low. In particular the gluteal muscle should be long and well developed.

THE SHOULDERS - The shoulders are of adequate length and sloping. The points of the shoulder are set wide enough so that together with the breast bone and well developed muscles they form a strong, free moving shoulder, allowing sufficient upward movement and reach. The chest is neither too wide nor too narrow.

THE RIBS - The ribs are of good length and curved, providing space for heart and lungs. The belly is not rotund and has sufficient depth towards the rear.

THE LEGS - The front legs are properly positioned. Viewed from the front they are perpendicular with a hoof's width at the ground. Viewed from the side they are perpendicular down through the fetlock joint; the pastern is at a 45 degree angle to the ground. The cannon bone of the foreleg should not be too long; the forearm however should have good length (a forearm that is too short will restrict elevation and extension as well as adversely effect the overall balance of the horse). The pastern is of good length and is resilient. The hooves are hard, wide and sound, not overly large but also not too small. Hooves are always black. Viewed from the rear the hindlegs are straight. Viewed from the side they are properly positioned, strong with good strong hooves. The hind cannon is slightly longer than the front while the gaskin is of sufficient length and well muscled. The joints of the forelegs as well as of the hindlegs are well developed, dry (not too fleshy or spongy), with ample strength. At the hock the angle should be approximately 150 degrees while at the hindlegs the pastern is at an angle of approximately 55 degrees to the ground.  

CHARACTERISTICS THE KFPS RECOMMEND TO  BE MAINTAINED AND IMPROVED, TO WHICH BREEDERS SHOULD PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION.

- strong, well brought under hind legs.

- not too heavy, luxuriant horse with elevated, sustained movements.

- sufficiently long, sloping shoulders.

- hard, dry legs.

- light-footed movements with a moment of suspension.

- size neither too small nor too large. Ideal height at withers ranging from 1.59m to 1.63m.

- sufficiently long, muscled forearm and gaskin with cannon bone of front legs not   too long.

- proper transition from loins to the croup with long, well developed gluteal muscles, good wide hooves and proper heels, good head-neck connection.

- honest character, good willingness to work.

- stamina.