FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Registration and Transfer Information
Q. Where did Friesians come from?
A. Friesian horses originated in Friesland—a province of The Netherlands (Holland). The Friesian horse, one of Europe’s oldest breeds, was originally imported to North America in the seventeenth century but the breed was totally lost in North America due to crossbreeding. The Friesian was not reintroduced to North America until 1974.
Q. What can I use a Friesian for?
A. Friesian horses are very versatile and can be used in riding for pleasure and in competition, for dressage, driving for pleasure and in competition and even for light farm work. Unlike some other European warmbloods, Friesians have not been bred as jumpers, although some owners enjoy jumping their horses. For more information see our Friesian Characteristics and Use page.
Q. How tall are Friesian horses?
A. Friesian stallions must be at least 1.60 M (15.3 hands) by the age of four and mares and geldings must be at least 1.54 M (15.0 hands) to enter the adult studbooks. The height of 15.2 to 16.0 hands is average, although many horses are taller or shorter. Average weight is 1300 + pounds.
Q. How many Friesians are there?
A. There are currently more than 45,000 Friesians registered worldwide in the Dutch Friesch Paarden Stamboek. Approximately 8,000 of those horses are in North America.
Q. What colors do Friesians come in?
A. The only color a studbook-registered Friesian comes in is black, however this may range from very dark brown or black-bay to true black. Many Friesians appear black bay when their coats are shedding or when they have become sun or sweat bleached. Selective breeding minimizes white markings and the only white marking allowed on a studbook-registered horse is a small star.
Q. Is cross breeding allowed?
A. The rules of FHANA strongly discourage the breeding of KFPS registered Friesian horses with other breeds.
Q. What is a judging?
A. A judging (keuring, in Dutch) is an evaluation of horses here in North America, by officials from the Netherlands. Once a year, teams of officials qualified by the Friesch Paarden Stamboek are sent to North America to inspect or “judge” our horses. This is a thorough evaluation process that helps us to upgrade our breeding programs. The horses are judged in-hand and 60% of the evaluation is based on the quality of movement and 40% is based on conformation.
Most Friesians are judged twice in their life: once when they are foals—for entry in the Foal Book—and again when they are three years or older and eligible to enter the adult studbooks. When a foal or horse is judged, it may be awarded a premie, or “premium”. This is an award used to designate the horses with the most desirable characteristics. A first premium is best, second is very good, third is most common and some horses will not receive a premium. The premiums awarded to each horse appear on his or her registration certificate.
In addition to the premium, as each mare or gelding is judged for admission to the adult studbooks, it is ranked using a “linear score” sheet. This linear score assigns positive or negative point scores to many individual aspects of conformation, breed characteristics and movement as exhibited by the horse. The score sheet for each individual horse is given to the owner. In addition, the linear scores for all the offspring of each stallion are combined and published. This composite score provides a way of evaluating the strengths and weaknesses that each stallion passes on to his offspring. By matching the strengths and weaknesses of the mare and stallion, we can use the linear scores to choose the best match between sire and dam in order to continually improve the breed. (The linear score sheets issued by the FPS are, of course, in Dutch. For an English version of a linear scoring form, check here.)
Q. What is a “star”?
A. When a mare or gelding enters the adult studbook, the best 25 to 30% are awarded “Star” status. This designation appears on the horse’s registration certificate. The very, very best of the Star Mares can be awarded the designation of “Model”. Mares can receive the designation preferent (“Preferred”), if four of their offspring achieve star status or better. And mares with three offspring performing at the top levels in competitive sport can receive the designation of prestatie, or “Performance Mother”.
Q. How does a stallion get breeding approval?
A. In the registry of the Friesch Paarden Stamboek, only Approved Studbook Stallions can sire horses that are eligible for entry in the main studbook registers. There are approximately 100 Approved Stallions in the world today and about a quarter of those are in North America. The selection and testing requirements for a stallion to gain breeding approval are so rigorous that only a handful of young stallions are approved each year. And four years after approval, the stallion’s offspring must demonstrate to the studbook inspectors that the stallion makes a positive impact on the breed or his approval will be withdrawn. It is a merciless selection process that insures that only the very best stallions will influence the future of the Friesian horse.
Q. Where can I get a Friesian and how much will it cost?
A. The Friesian breed is becoming quite popular in North America with reputable breeders across the continent. You can find a list of some of those breeders listed under our “Breeders & Sellers” list found under “Horses for Sale”. Our online classified section is also a great place to begin your search for the perfect Friesian and see the going rates for these fine animals. Prices vary according to age, gender, inspection status, and levels of training.
Q. Are there any books about Friesians available?
A. Unfortunately there are not many books on the Friesian horse and the books which are available tend to be written in Dutch.
FHANA Transfer of Ownership and Registration FAQs
Q. I bought a Friesian and the seller signed the back of the laminated papers and handed them to me. How do I transfer the ownership to my name?
A. FHANA rules state that it is the Buyers or Sellers’ responsibility to transfer the horse into the buyer’s name and pay the transfer fee. We will accept a complete transfer of ownership from the buyer if that is what has been decided between the buyer and seller.
The top left hand corner of the back side of the papers must be filled out with your (buyer) name, address, and phone number. If the seller did not sign the back of the papers (Blue Main Book or Grey BBII Papers), a transfer of ownership form must be completed and submitted online; the laminated papers must be sent to the FHANA office. The transfer information must be accompanied by the $100 transfer of ownership fee. There is a $50 late fee if the transfer is not submitted to FHANA within 45 days. If the buyer does not wish to join FHANA, they can select Non-Member and pay the additional fee.
A bill of sale, signed by the seller, can be submitted in lieu of a trasfer form
Trasfers take 2-4 weeks to complete and be mailed out.
Q. I just bought a horse that was imported. The importer never transferred the horse into their name. What do I do?
A. The buyer needs to fill out an Authorization to Import form online, then send the laminated registration paper to the FHANA office. The horse will be transferred directly to the buyer’s name. The time frame is generally the same for either an import or transfer of ownership.
Q. I am the sole owner of a Friesian, but I just bought another one with a friend. How do we list ourselves as co-owners?
A. The co-owners will need to have an active Full or Business membership with FHANA. The new horse will be put into the 2 individuals’ names and/or the business name, if one exists. If the horse is ever sold, both signatures will be required on the transfer of ownership.
Q. I just got married and I want to add my spouse’s name to my horse’s registration paper. What do I have to do?
A. You will need to notify the FHANA office in writing, an email is fine, that you would like to add your spouse’s name to the current membership. The fee to update the registration paper is $15 per horse. You just need to mail the laminated paper with a letter requesting the update with the fee.
If you list Jane and John Doe, both signatures will need to be present when the horse is transferred to someone else. If you list Jane or John Doe, either signature can be used to transfer the horse, both will not be required. You can also use and/or which means any combination of the above is acceptable when transferring a horse.
Q. I want to transfer all my horses to a family trust. What do I have to do?
A. The trust must become a Business Membership with FHANA. Then you (current owner) must fill out the transfer of ownership form listing the trust as the new owner and send that, with the laminated registration paper and the transfer fees to the FHANA office. If you are the current owner and you’re transferring the horses into your trust, then the transfer fee is $30 per horse.
If you are purchasing the horses from a 3rd party and would like the trust to be the new owner, then the fee is the normal transfer of ownership fee.
Registration FAQs
Q. How do I register my foal?
A. Please see the FHANA website under Registration Forms for a detailed description of the foal registration process.There is no “registration form” for main book foals that the office can send you. All birth registrations take place using the FHANA Member Portal and selecting “Foal Registration”. From there you will select the mare that was bred and follow the steps. If your mare does not appear in the list, please contact the stallion station to have the breeding added. Please note you have 30 days from the date of birth to register the foal. After 30 days, there are late fees that will be automatically added on to your registration fee (FEES) This deadline is even more important the closer to inspections the foal is born.
Q. I sold a foal in-utero, do I have to register the horse under my name and then pay for a transfer of ownership too?
A. No, you can list the foal’s owner as the owner on the birth announcement. As the owner of the mare at the time of foaling you will still be listed as the breeder, but that will bypass the transfer forms and fees. Please indicate with the birth announcement where the DNA/microchip kit is supposed to be sent. Otherwise we will send it to the current owner of record for the foal and it will be their responsibility to get the kit to whoever has the foal.
Q. Do I have to take my foal to be inspected this year? Or can I wait a year?
A. You do not have to take your foal to be inspected. If you have a filly you have the option to take her as a yearling, two-year-old, and then again as a three-year-old for Studbook. If you have a colt then he can be inspected as a weanling, yearling or two year old prior to his adult inspection. Colts can only earn a premium at their weanling or yearling inspections. Beyond that, they will be Ster or no Ster, without a premium.
Q. My vet does not have a microchip reader, can I borrow one from FHANA? Does he have to read it after he implants it?
A. You can rent one from FHANA for $50 (plus shipping) if you are in the continental US, if you are outside the continental US the fee is $60 (plus shipping). You must submit the Microchip Reader Rental Agreement that can be found under Horse Forms on the FHANA website.
FHANA always recommends that the vet reads the microchip before and after implanting. Before to make sure it still works after being mailed and after to make sure it’s not too deep into the muscle or was damaged while implanting. The forms that are required to be returned to FHANA ask the vet to sign off that the microchip was read after being implanted. If, for whatever reason, the vet cannot find the microchip after implantation please call the FHANA office for another chip. The foal must have a microchip in him that can be read. If two are implanted, both microchip numbers will be listed on the registration paper just in case, if down the road, the first microchip appears and can be read.
Q. My foal died before I could register him, does FHANA need to know about that?
A. FHANA asks that you fill out the birth registration on the portal listing the reason the foal died. There is no charge for this birth registration.