Friesian Care

Ocala, Florida, United States

Regal Legacy Farms

Preserving History with the Integrity of American Excellence

Understanding & Caring for the Friesian Horse

With a flowing mane and tail and jet-black coat, is there any horse lovelier than a well-groomed Friesian? They are beautiful, but of course, if you’ve ever tried to keep that mane and tail tangle free, you sometimes ache with frustration.

So what is the secret to the gorgeous horse in books and movies? Like most things, this secret is really simple--day-to-day care and attention to detail.

Daily grooming requires little expense, but pays off not only with beautiful black hair, but also improved health and soundness, including increased skin circulation. In addition, the grooming process is your ideal opportunity to thoroughly inspect your horse and catch little things, such as cuts or rubs, before they become a big problem.

Here's What You Need To Know About Friesian Horse Temperament

Friesian Horses are one of the oldest horse breeds in Europe, dating back to Roman times. They were originally bred in Friesland, in the Netherlands. Friesians have been influential in the development of a variety of breeds. Knights during the medieval era chose Friesians to ride because of their beauty, commanding presence, and elegance. If you want to feel like the aristocracy, a Friesian Horse is a wonderful breed for you.

For a Friesian to be a desirable family horse, it must have a calm personality and be receptive to being handled by all family members. The Friesian is a horse for all types of riders including dressage, trail, sport, pleasure, and drivers. Friesians are highly intelligent and require a dedicated handler to keep them focused.

The Personality of the Friesian

Within the Friesian breed, there are some different personality types as there are with people. Friesians are described as being mischievous, loving, and playful. Horse lovers often describe them as being majestic with a commanding presence. It takes a handler with experience and patience to train Friesians since some of them have a tendency to be stubborn. Horses are beautiful, gentle creatures but like any other animal can be insecure at times or frightened, especially by sudden, loud noises. Friesians are brilliant animals, are sensitive, and have the ability to learn when handled by someone experienced with a genuine love for horses. One trait that many horse owners love about them is that they develop strong attachments to their owners.

Influences of the Breed

The Friesian was originally bred as a hardy, forest horse, ridden by knights in the Crusades. As the breed developed, they were bred with Andalusians. They became the foundation breed of many horses in European countries. Among the breeds that developed from Friesians are the Shire, Dutch Warmbloods, Oldenburger, Gelderlander, Old English Blacks, and Fell Ponies. Some people believe that Friesians were the ancestors of the American Morgan Horse.

A Sought After Breed

Friesians are one of the world's most expensive horse breeds and are desirable for breeding and compete in an array of programs including Western, walk-trot, costume, English, and tandem competitions. Considering their massive size, they are very agile and move gracefully. Friesians are often ridden in competitions and games at Renaissance Fairs. Friesians are the choice of many production companies for use in motion pictures because of their spectacular coloring and appearance. Friesian Horses are popular in fantasy and historical films including Alexander, Ladyhawke, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Mask of Zorro. Horse trainers that work with production companies are partial to the Friesian Horse temperament because they have calm, pleasant dispositions, are eager to please their trainers, and are easy to train.

Training

The Friesian horse is an intelligent and very kind animal. They are fast-learners and can perform well in any discipline.

Friesian horses have delayed maturity in growth and development like they are 2 years behind in comparison with other horse breeds. This means a 4-year old Friesian horse is equivalent to having a 2-year old horse of other breeds. So, make sure that training them will follow a step-by-step process at the right timing. Take into consideration that they should not be pushed beyond their limits or this will backfire on you at a later time. Patience waiting for the right time and age for them to be trained is best. Since they are smart and easy to learn by nature, you can trust that they can cope up with other horses trained earlier than they have.

Nutrition

Most Horse breeds eat alfalfa hay, but the Friesian horses are don't eat this type of hay. One reason is that there is no alfalfa in Holland where most of Friesian horses are bred and grown. The Alfalfa is also a high-protein diet that is not suitable to Friesian Horses, and since this type of food is not natural to them, imported hay may cause allergic reactions to their gut. Being cautious is most important. What is recommended for the Friesian horse is a good quality grass hay following the general horse feeding rule of thumb. Boosting the energy of a Friesian horse can be done with small feedings of mixed grains accompanied by some trace minerals and salt blocks with plenty of fresh water. Always remember to not underfeed them, watch their weight, and not the physical body physique as it may be deceiving.

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How do you keep them from getting "scurf" or scratches in their long feathers?

We keep the hair very clean and very dry. We use an antimicrobial shampoo each day, and then dry the feathers thoroughly with a towel and finish off with a hair dryer so no wet hair sits on the skin of the legs. If your horse does develop scurf, don’t pick at the scabs. Instead, continue with the shampooing and then, when totally dry, apply a scratches ointment. At Iron Spring we use a specially formulated cream from our veterinarian. Some people make their own using a combination of Furacin, Desitin diaper rash cream and azium, but it’s always best to check with your vet before using any home remedies.

How do you keep their coats black?

Sun and poor nutrition are the worst enemies of a jet-black coat. We are very careful with turnout and try to avoid having the horses go out during the brightest part of the day in direct sunlight. If they go out during the day, they wear a flysheet and have shade. Ideally, we turn our horses out at night. If you have a problem with coat fade, there is a Henna dye especially made for horses to help keep the coat black. There are some feed supplements, such as "Black as Knight", which may help, however we have not used them. It’s also important for your horses to have a proper nutrition plan. A healthy diet definitely promotes shiny, rich color for all horses.

How do you keep their mane and tail looking nice and tangle free?

We groom the horses daily, which includes a complete mane and tail brushing. Use a wide tooth comb and start from the bottom and work your way up, so you don’t rip out the hair. Use a silicon product, such as Show Sheen, as a detangler. If your horse has a really long mane, you may want to keep it in a French braid so it doesn’t catch on something or become tangled.

When showing a Friesian, do you braid the forelock or leave it loose?

You can do it either way, but most people, ISF included, braid the mane and leave the forelock unbraided.

My Friesian doesn’t sweat very much. Have you encountered that problem and how do you handle it?

Friesians seem to be more prone to anhydrosis (lack of sweating) than other breeds. During the hot months, all of our Friesians are on a products that help to promote sweating, ensuring that they stay cool.

One last note, be sure to check with your veterinarian before feeding any supplements or using any topical ointments, as you do not want to inadvertently feed or use a banned substance.

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The Digestive System & the Gut

It is useful to remind ourselves that horses evolved as forage eaters, grazing for upwards of 16-17 hours each day and traveling considerable distances as they grazed. The horse's digestive system is well suited to this feeding behavior--the stomach and small intestine are designed to cope with the almost continual entry of small amounts of food, while the large intestine is geared toward the extraction of maximum nutritional value from fibrous feeds.

Now consider how the pressures of domestication have dictated changes in a horse's diet and feeding behavior: Continual access to pasture is but a dream for most horses, and many spend a considerable part of the day in a stall. As well, our own work schedules dictate feeding programs. Rather than continual grazing, horses are often fed large meals in the morning and at night. The high energy requirements of the performance horse have necessitated inclusion of more energy-dense ingredients such as cereal grains and fats in horse diets. All of these factors can contribute to digestive upsets, some of which can be avoided by returning the horse to a more "natural" feeding situation.

Twists and Turns

The basic components of the digestive tract are similar in all mammals--the mouth (including salivary glands), esophagus, stomach, small intestine, cecum, and large colon. We can divide the horse's digestive system into two sections. The pre-cecal section (esophagus, stomach, and small intestine) in the horse functions much as it does in man, dog, and pig. On the other hand, the cecum and large intestine work like the forestomachs of a ruminant (e.g., cow or sheep)--there is continual microbial fermentation of dietary fiber. For this reason, horses are classified as hindgut fermenters. In fact, normal function of the hindgut is heavily reliant on an adequate supply of dietary fiber. This is a key point--without adequate dietary fiber, the horse is predisposed to nutritional imbalances and colic problems.

The Digestive Process

Digestion begins with the prehension of food--that is, food is grasped using the lips, tongue, and teeth. When eating tightly packed hay, larger muscles of the head and neck are also used to grab and pull feed into the mouth. After prehension, the food is chewed (mastication). This is an extremely important part of the digestive process. Digestion is most efficient when hay and other fibrous feeds are ground into small pieces rather than being bolted or swallowed in large chunks. Proper mastication of whole grains such as oats is also important to ensure optimal digestion in the small intestine. This is why it is so important that the teeth are in good working order.

Poor teeth, a common problem in older horses, will result in decreased feed intake and weight loss, particularly in horses on an all-forage diet. Quidding, the dropping of partially chewed feed from the mouth, is a sure sign of dental woes. Choke (the lodging of a food bolus in the esophagus) and impaction colic can also occur when a horse has poor dentition.

The type of feed also has a dramatic effect on the speed of ingestion. For dry hay, a horse will chew between 3,500 and 4,500 times per kilogram (one kilogram equals 2.2 pounds), taking about 40 minutes to eat each kilogram of hay. Therefore, if 26 pounds (12 kg) of hay is provided each day, the horse will spend at least eight hours eating.

When grains and other concentrate feeds are substituted for fiber in the diet, the total time spent feeding will be markedly re-duced. One kilogram of oats (2.2 pounds) can be consumed in 10 minutes or less, requiring only about 850 chews.

So, a diet of seven kilograms (15.4 pounds) of hay and five kilograms {11 pounds) of oats will decrease feeding time by two to three hours compared to an all-hay diet. Such reductions in feeding time are thought to cause boredom and other behavioral problems (e.g., stable vices). This is another reason why fiber is such an important part of the horse's diet.

The horse produces saliva while chewing. Saliva moistens the ingesta {ingested feed), thereby easing the passage of food from the mouth to the stomach. Saliva is also rich in bicarbonate, which helps buffer the acid secretions produced in the stomach.

The nature of the feed is also important--on a dry matter basis, twice as much saliva is produced when horses eat hay or grass compared to grains and other concentrates. Diets high in grain and low in forage will therefore decrease saliva flow and result in lower gastric pH values (higher acidity), which is a risk factor for the development of gastric ulcers.

A limited amount of digestion occurs in the stomach. The stomach's main job is to further liquefy the incoming food and "feed" the ingesta into the small intestine, where digestion gets cranked up. However, gastric acid in the stomach helps break down some of the feed particles, and the enzyme pepsin initiates protein digestion.

In fact, the stomach produces gastric acid on a continuous basis--this works well when horses are grazing or nibbling on hay for much of the day because the incoming feed soaks up the gastric juices. However, if the horse is fed "meals" (morning and evening), the stomach will be empty for long periods of time. In that situation, the unbuffered acid can cause injury to the non-glandular portion of the stomach lining, with gastric ulcers being the end result.

The actual extraction and absorption of nutrients begins in earnest once ingesta enters the small intestine, a tube-like organ 60-70 feet in length. Despite this considerable length, the ingesta traverses the small intestine quickly. Some food enters the cecum within one hour, and much of the ingesta will reach this "fermentation vat" by three hours after eating. This rapid transit reflects the coordinated activity of the nerves and muscles contained within the walls of the small intestine.

Factors such as meal size, feed type, and exercise will influence transit time. Big grain meals result in rapid gastric emptying and intestinal transit and a reduction in the digestion of the available starch (more on this later). Exercise also results in a moderate acceleration of intestinal transit.

Sugar, Starch, Protein, and Fat

The small intestine is the primary site for the digestion and absorption of sugar, starch, protein, and fat. The fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), calcium, and some phosphorus are also absorbed from the small intestine. Let's first deal with sugar and starch.

Molasses is perhaps the best-recognized source of dietary sugar for the horse--some "sweet feeds" are up to 10% molasses, although the current trend is for lower amounts. Pasture grasses are by far the most important source of sugar; a horse grazing full time could consume up to 4.4 pounds (2 kg) of sugar (nutritionists use the term water-soluble carbohydrate or WSC). Sun-cured hay has a lower WSC content, as there is loss following harvest.

Starch is the plant world's version of glycogen, the body's storage carbohydrate. A huge number of glucose molecules are linked by chemical bonds, forming a single structure. Starch is a major component of cereal grains--oats are about 50% starch, while corn is 65-70% starch.

The simple sugars in molasses and grasses are easily digested; glucose from them is absorbed directly into the bloodstream while enzymes located on the small intestine's lining make other sugars available to the body.

Starch is a slightly different story; the first step involves its breakdown to smaller sugars. Then, enzymes on the intestinal lining act on the smaller sugars until they are in an absorbable form. Amylase, an enzyme released by the pancreas when ingesta enters the duodenum, is the catalyst for the first step. Unfortunately, compared to other mammals, amylase is in short supply in the horse. As a result, the horse has a limited capacity to digest starch--the upper limit probably varies among horses, but as a general rule, a single grain or concentrate meal should contain no more than 2 grams of starch per kilogram of body weight.

Here is an example calculation: A horse weighing 1,100 pounds (500 kg) is to be fed oats. Based on our rule (2 grams of starch times 500 kilograms of body weight), the maximum amount of starch we want to feed this horse per meal is 1,000 grams. (Remember, 1,000 grams is the same as 2.2 pounds or 1 kg.) Since oats are 50% starch, a single meal for this horse can be up to 4.5 pounds (2 kg) of oats.

The starch story is further complicated by the fact that the digestibility of starch varies between the grains (see "Processing Effects on Starch" on page 72). For example, the starch in whole corn is not very digestible. Fortunately, most manufactured feeds contain grains that have been processed to greatly improve starch digestibility in the small intestine. Even so, with grain feeding (particularly with large meals), there is a risk that undigested starch will reach the large intestine (more on this later).

The digestion of protein and fat is more straightforward. Enzymes from the pancreas and those present on the intestinal lining digest proteins to their constituent amino acids, which are absorbed into the bloodstream. Even though the "natural" equine diet is very low in fat, horses can digest fairly large quantities of it. Studies have shown that horses can tolerate a 10% fat diet (total diet), although if fat supplementation is needed, there should be a gradual increase to this level to allow the digestive system to adjust.

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The Boiler Room

The large intestine begins with the cecum, a structure that lies in the right flank area. This organ is three to four feet long and holds up to 15 gallons (57 liters) of fluid and ingesta. Adjoining the cecum is the large colon, the largest single structure in the digestive tract (about 40% of total capacity). Like the rumen of a cow, the cecum and large colon work like a fermentation vat. Billions of microorganisms (bacteria and protozoa) do the digestive work, producing enzymes that are able to break down the fibrous portion of the diet. This process is much more time-consuming compared to digestion in the small intestine, as ingesta dwells in the large intestine for 36-48 hours

Dietary fiber is the portion of the ingesta not affected by the horse's own digestive enzymes. There are many (confusing) chemical and physical definitions of dietary fiber, but basically we are talking about the structural components of plant material. Some of this fiber can be digested by microbial enzymes, particularly cellulose and hemicellulose. On the other hand, lignin--another fiber form--is not digestible and will be passed in the feces. The type of dietary fiber greatly influences its nutritional value.

For example, over-mature grass hay will be relatively high in lignin, which depresses digestibility of the fiber. Other fiber sources such as young grass, beet pulp, and soy hulls are highly digestible.

The products of fermentation are the volatile fatty acids(VFAs)--acetate, butyrate, propionate--heat, water, and gas. The VFAs are absorbed into the bloodstream, providing an important source of energy for the horse. Microbial enzymes also break down undigested proteins that then enter the large intestine, although these proteins are not used by the horse. Instead, the main end product of this process--ammonia--is used by the bacteria to produce proteins needed for their own growth and survival. On the other hand, vitamin K, another product of microbial activity, is absorbed in the horse's bloodstream. As a result, in most circumstances the horse does not require vitamin K in his diet.

Another very important function of the large intestine is the absorption of water. Each day, a huge quantity of water is secreted into the small intestine during the digestive process--about 30 gallons (114 liters) for a 1,100-pound (500-kg) horse. As the ingesta moves through the large colon, much of this fluid is reabsorbed, allowing the formation of semi-solid fecal material. The final step in digestion occurs in the small colon, where waste material is formed into fecal balls that are evacuated through the rectum and anus.

The Starch Problem

Proper function of the horse's "fermentation vat" is highly dependent on the health of the microbial population. Things work well when the horse is in its natural environment eating pasture, or is fed an all-forage diet. Heavy grain feeding can upset this delicate environment, sometimes with disastrous consequences. When undigested starch enters the large intestine, it undergoes fermentation, the end product of which is lactic acid. The build-up of lactic acid decreases the pH of the cecum and colon (makes it more acidic).

A large drop in pH can radically change the makeup of the microbial population, killing organisms that cannot survive at a low pH, which might then release endotoxins by the dead bacteria. There can also be damage to the large intestine's lining, allowing absorption of the endotoxins. In the worst-case scenario, the horse can develop diarrhea, colic, and/or laminitis.

The bottom line is that the horse's digestive system functions best when it is fed a predominantly forage diet on an almost continuous basis. Problems are more likely when a horse is fed a high-concentrate, low-forage diet, particularly when given two (or even one) large meals per day. Yes, the performance horse needs more energy than can be supplied by an all-forage diet, but try to reduce the amount of dietary starch by using highly digestible fiber sources (such as beet pulp) and by adding fat to the diet. If possible, spread the daily grain allotment over more meals. Finally, allow the horse to nibble on hay (or better, pasture) as much as possible.

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Regal Legacy Farms

Preserving History with the Integrity of American Excellence

The Friesian Horse

History

Socialize

History

care

Socialize

History

Socialize

Socialize

Socialize

Understanding & Caring for the Friesian Horse

tips

The Friesian Horse

The Digestive System & the Gut

Learn More