Can Friesian horses be white?

Do you like horses? How about a tall, big-boned horse, having feathered legs and a thick mane and tail while having its body all hued in white – appearing to be a Disney character? That is, in fact, a White Friesian horse! While most Friesian horses are black, you may be shocked to learn that they also come in white. It is a rare and costly horse, but it is well to invest in since it is one of the most magnificent and gorgeous horse breeds in the world.

White Friesian Horse Overview

Key Features

Size: 15 to 17 hands

Weight: 1,200 to 1,400 pounds

Suitable For: Beginners

Personality: Loyal, calm, and friendly

Lifespan: About 16 years

Before we continue, a little explanation is in need to prevent any confusion: White Friesian horse is not itself a breed; rather, it is a group of steeds within the Friesian breed distinguishable for their entirely white coat. As a result, except from coat color, there isn’t much difference between white, chestnut, and black Friesian horses.

Physical Features

The bodies of white Friesian horses are big. They are all white with no markings or patches anywhere on their bodies, giving them a spectacular appearance.

They have long, arched necks and well-chiseled ‘Spanish’ heads with small ears. Their shoulders are strong, compact, well-muscled, and sloping in appearance. They have low-set tails on their back, while at the bottom, the legs are short but strong with a layer of feathering over them. These featherings are a cynosure in Friesians and are common to all, regardless of their colors – be it a Chestnut or Black Friesian.

Most Beautiful Horses?

Numerous authors and horse aficionados consider White Friesians to be the most attractive horses. These steeds have been a part of movies, books, blogs, and numerous other writings.

Personality and Temperament

Despite centuries of usage as war horses, all Friesian horses have a cool and quiet demeanor. Couple such demeanor with the graceful appearance of White Friesian horse, and we get a million reasons to love this creature.

The personality of a white Friesian horse might be defined as very sociable, lively, and affectionate. When it comes to training, these horses are highly patient, making them outstanding students. Nonetheless, although some of them may be naughty and defiant, the majority are well-behaved and often in a pleasant mood.

History

The Friesian horse, which originated in Friesland, the Netherlands, is one of the most popular Dutch horse breeds. These horses were one of the most renowned medieval battle horse breeds and had been valued by military men throughout history. During the 17th century, they took on a new function when Spanish breeders discovered them to be an excellent choice for classical riding. They are an excellent dressage horse breed for beginners due to their quiet demeanor. These steeds were almost extinct during World War I, but they made a return. They are becoming more popular nowadays.

The original Friesians were either black or, in rare cases, chestnut. Brown and white hues were eventually introduced by the injection of blood from different breeds. Around four decades ago, the  Germany-based Hilner family was authorized by the Queen of the Netherlands to mate a Friesian mare with an Arabian stallion. This produced Negus, who later gave birth to Nero, the first White Friesian horse. It captivated the audience during 2007 Equitana with its stunning color and excellent stride.

White Friesian Horse Care

Diet

A well-established rule is that horses should not consume more than 2% of their body weight in hay. Based on this, since White Friesian horses weigh about 1,400 pounds, you should never give them more than 28 pounds of hay every day. Given that a flake of hay weighs five pounds, White Friesian horses should not be given more than five flakes of hay every day.

This Bermuda Hay Bale is an excellent source of vitamin A and calcium for your horse’s daily diet.

Grooming

Friesian horses are often high-maintenance. White Friesian horses must be maintained everyday to maintain their beauty. Brush the feathers on their legs, tail, and mane on a regular basis. Apart from daily brushing, your Friesian horse will need to be bathed on a regular basis. In the winter, instead of thoroughly bathing them, spot clean them. You may also use a horse blanket to keep things clean.

This waterproof and breathable horse blanket will not only keep your horse warm but will also keep it clean without impeding its mobility.

Health

White Friesian horses, like the rest of the Friesians, are powerful and healthy. Nevertheless, they are prone to some medical complications resulting from genetic issues closely related to inbreeding and anatomical structure. They are as follows:

• Aortic Rupture: It is a rare but lethal disorder caused by an aortic wall rupture.
• Dwarfism: Disproportionate dwarfism in Friesians can shorten the stature and limbs while broadening the chest. While the horses afflicted may have a decent quality of life, no therapy is available.
• Hydrocephalus: It produces an abnormal accumulation of proteins in the brain. It causes foals to have dome-shaped heads. There is currently no available therapy.
• Megaesophagus: It expands the esophagus, which is a tube through which food passes. Consequently, it becomes difficult to push the food down the stomach.

In addition to these Friesian-specific issues, White Friesian horses can also suffer from the diseases common to all horses. Here are some examples:

• Arthritis
• Back issues
• Colic
• Dental problems
• Laminitis

Did You Know?

Due to selective breeding, Friesians generally die while they are young. This has also led to a higher than usual prevalence of genetic disorders in this breed.

White Friesian Horse Price

Friesian horses are among the most costly horse breeds. White Friesian horses can be even more expensive owing to their distinctive looks, breed factor, and desirable personality features. Age, gender, and pedigree are all possible influences.

The average price for all Friesians is between USD 3,000 and 30,000. Besides from being higher than this range, white is also difficult to obtain. Moreover, stud-approved Friesian equines are somewhat more costly, reaching the USD 50,000 threshold.

White Friesian Horse Uses

Although Friesian horses were formerly employed for warfighting and hard draft labor, they are now commonly utilized for pleasure and leisure riding, as well as entertainment.

Unlike in the past, Friesian horses are now used both under saddle and in harness, but most notably as a dressage horse breed. Their graceful gait, prowess in lifting knees, and lovely coats make them very popular, even with inexperienced riders.

Friesian horses can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour and are often used in trotting events.

Friesians have also made appearances in films. White Friesian horses are used for pulling and ceremonial occasions in several parts of the globe. They are well-known for their athleticism; nevertheless, they are not known to show exceptional performances in the field despite their energy and activity levels. As a result, they have become unfashionable in agriculture while remaining popular in leisure and sporting activities.

Final Words: White Friesian Horse

Originating from the Netherlands and resulting from crossbreeding, White Friesian horses are an excellent choice for equine lovers who can afford them because of their majestic appearance and personality characteristics. They are often said to be the most beautiful horses in the world.

If you have a white Friesian horse or any white horse and are having trouble naming it, go through our list of the most stunning white horse names to discover a perfect title for your White Friesian horse!

Related Questions

• Is a white Friesian horse rare?

  Frisian horses are a rather uncommon breed. Although considered to be fairly popular dressage and carriage horse, there are currently less than 1,000 Friesian horses registered in North America, according to some estimates.

• Can Friesian horses have white?

  White markings are uncommon in Friesians. While pure black is often sought for the Friesian breed, most Friesian registries refuse to register horses with excessive white markings. Most white marks are regarded by registries as indication that the horse is not a pure bred Friesian.

• What colors can Friesian horses be?

  Friesians come in what colors? A. The only color available in a studbook-registered Friesian is black, which may vary from extremely dark brown or black-bay to full black. As their coats shed or they get sun or perspiration bleached, many Friesians seem black bay.

• How much are white Friesian horses?

  A good friesian horse that is young, healthy, and has standard conformation costs about $20,000 and above. If you are looking to get a registered breeding stallion you are looking at around $200,000.