Originating from the province of the Netherlands, the Friesian horse is a beauty to behold. refined and nimble in size these horses where once in great demand for warfare driving them to near extinction. If you are looking to purchase a Friesian you should take a few things into consideration.
These horses (like any other) have been subjected to a great deal of ‘cross breeding’ throughout the years, so if you are looking for a ‘pure bred’ then you are going to want to keep a few things in mind.
If you reside in the US then you are going to want to belong to the Friesian Horse Association of North America (FHANA), and then straight to the Netherlands to register with the KFPS. All registered horses will either have a tongue tattoo (before the 1999 year period), and more recently the horses were given a microchip. Some older horses may have to be checked for both. The tattoo, or the chip must be matched to their passport, and unless you have all of the proper paperwork – the deal should be off right there.
Determining whether a Friesian is a ‘good’ investment or not is going to take so work. Horses that come from a first, second or even a third premie studbook will be of a better standard. There are also “training day inspections” that you can attend (and should) which will offer you a lot more information. Additionally, if the horse was a ‘premie’ grade, you’ll need to know if this was recent, when it was a foal, or as an adult
As with any purchase (that lives and breathes) you’ll want to make absolutely positive that your new Friesian is in good health. Friesian’s are not the same cost as taking your pup to the vet – it’s very, VERY expensive.
Some items that you should check for include; worms, aortal ruptures, hooves for unreasonable wear, as well as male castration. Other areas of concern, would include; mud fever, heel mites, skin conditions and stomach problems.
Remember when you’re buying a Friesian (under the age of 3) they are much different from other breeds, so when somebody tells you that their Friesian is ‘saddle’ trained, a red flag should go off. A Friesian may have ‘limited’ experience with a saddle, since at that age a Friesian is still considered to be a baby. It should (will) take you a fair amount of time and effort in order to get your new ‘baby’ where you want them to be regarding saddle riding.
When you purchase a Friesian you want to be certain you are getting the absolute best. Do not be afraid to ask for a second opinion on the horse’s health. Make sure that you know everything there is to know about the breed and the particular horse before you put down a deposit. Please see; Friesian Sale
Once again buying a Friesian is not like buying any other horse. The ‘average’ price is approximately $6,500 and can escalate to $125,000, and even up to $1,000,000+. At these prices it gives a new meaning to the term “doing your homework”.