Horse
Pronunciation:
ˈēst ˈfrē-zhən
Breed Description:
The original "old" East Friesian breed, a heavy warmblood used as a carriage and farming horse, is now extinct. The East Friesian breed of horse of today is a more elegant and refined all-purpose horse. It has an attractive, smallish head with a Roman profile, intelligent eyes, and mobile nostrils. It neck is relatively long and somewhat arched, chest broad, back straight and long, and both shoulders and hindquarters gently sloping. The legs of the East Friesian breed of horse are somewhat short but muscular, with strong tendons and unusually hard feet. East Friesians have free movement and notable knee action. They come in solid colors ranging from the commonly found chestnut to bay, brown, gray, and black.
Temperament:
The East Friesian breed of horse is considered to have a good, even temperament.
Height:
The East Friesian breed of horse stands 16 to 16.2 hands high.
Origin:
The East Friesian breed of horse, originally found in the Federal Republic of Germany, was developed along similar lines to the Oldenburg breed until the political division of Germany at the end of WWII. This early type of East Friesian was a heavy but spirited carriage horse. It originated from a mix of Spanish, Neapolitan, Anglo-Arab, and Thoroughbred blood.
More recently, however, the East Friesian breed of horse was crossed with Hanoverian bloodlines with the aim of developing a larger sport horse with spirit and elegance. Not only has the horse itself become "Hanoverian," the East Friesian breed registry joined the Hanoverian registry in 1975. At present, broodmares of the East Friesian breed of horse are bred with stallions of Arabian, Hanoverian, or East Prussian blood. 