1. From where do Friesian horses originate?
Friesian horses originated in Friesland, the most northern province of the Netherlands but can now be found all over the world.

2. What colour is a Friesian horse?
Black, Black and Black.  The only permissible whitemarkings are a few white hairs on the forehead or a small star.  Any other white markings will preclude the horse from entering the main studbook.

3. How tall are Friesian horses?
Friesian stallions must be at least 1.60M by the age of four and mares must be at least 1.50M. However, between 1.58M and 1.65M is considered ideal.

4. How many Dutch registered Friesian horses are there in Great Britain and Ireland?
There are currently nearly 200 Friesian horses in Great Britain and Ireland with numbers increasing steadily. Numbers vary at any given time due to imports, births, deaths etc.

5. What is an Inspection?
An Inspection is an evaluation of horses here in Great Britain and Ireland by official judges from the Netherlands. Once a year qualified judges from Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek ("FPS") are sent here to inspect, register and grade our horses. This is a thorough evaluation process which helps us to upgrade our breeding programmes.

6. How do I know I am buying a Quality Registered Friesian Horse?
The FPS is the ONLY registry for Friesian Horses world-wide. This Registry was founded in 1879 and today's Dutch registered Friesian horses are the result of over a century of rigorous evaluation and selection of breeding stock. A horse whose papers are not issued by the FPS will not be recognised as a Friesian horse. Prospective purchasers should obtain a photocopy of the papers before going to look at the horse to ascertain that the horse was indeed registered at Drachten.

After 1986 it became compulsory for registered horses to have a number tattooed on their tongues. (Although not compulsory, many horses born before 1986 were also tattooed.) Foals born and registered since 1997 have been given a unique microchip by the FPS instead of the tongue tattoo. You should ensure that the tongue number or microchip number recorded on the registration paper is the same as that of the horse.

7. From Where Can I Purchase a Friesian Horse and What Will It Cost?
Friesian horses are still something of a rarity in Great Britain and Ireland with only a handful of breeders and there is a big demand. While Friesian horses are quite expensive, prices vary widely depending on age, breeding, gender, quality, training and vendor. Should you purchase a horse in the Netherlands, a very rough guide might be: £2,000 for a colt, £3,000 for a filly, £4,000 for a gelding, £5,000 for a studbook mare, £6,000 for a star gelding and £10,000 for a star mare. You could of course pay less or a lot more! The Association cannot refer you to specific farms but many breeders who have stock for sale advertise in Phryso.

8. Is Cross Breeding Allowed?
Cross Breeding Friesian horses with other breeds is absolutely forbidden and registration papers cannot be issued to the offspring resulting from such cross breeding. Only approved breeding stallions can be used as sires and only to FPS registered mares. FHAGBI has a list of approved stallions.

9. My FPS Passport does not have a section IX relating to medicinal treatment record and choice for slaughter or not for human consumption?
The older FPS grey/yellow passport does not contain this but on application to Julian Atkins an insert form can be supplied to conform to DEFRA regulations. Please contact him on JCCA2000@aol.com

10. What is the Cost of Membership for 2008?
Full Membership £50*
Friend Membership £20* Download Application Form

Memberships run from 1st January to 31st December

New members will have to pay an additional "one off" payment of £20.00 to cover the costs of the various Rule Books and the initial administration costs between FHAGBI and the FPS.