Conference noted::equitation

    
    
    	I was looking for the discussion note on Friesians to 
    	enter this, but it is sortof press, so....If any of you
    	have noticed the movie `A Ghost in Monte Carlo' that is
    	airing on TNT (Turner) this month, (the movie's okay,
    	kinda `soap-ish'...) - there is a BEAUTIFUL matched pair
    	of Friesians pulling a carriage in the movie - they were
    	quite impressive...
    
    	(of course, i guess it's not all that hard to match a 
    	pair of Friesians, it is....?)
    
    	Sherry
    

    Anyone know of any Friesian breeders in New England? My friend
    Megan is very interested in them, and with a brand new barn and
    paddock area she'd love to bring one home to keep her Standardbred
    gelding company. Are they actually as large as Belgiums, etc? Forgive
    the ignorance, I know precious little about them. I do know she
    intends to do trail riding and driving with it, and she absolutely
    adores the looks of them....
    

    
    	There is a breeder in West Boylston, MA, but she has a 
    	looooooong waiting list - last I heard prices were about
    	8-14K...The Yankee Pedlar spotlighted this breed last
    	year, I have the article if you want a copy.
    

    Speaking of Freisians in the movies.
    
    	The bold stead ridden in Lady Hawk was a Freisian, I belive.

    Hello!
    
    I am looking to breed my TB mare to a Friesian next season.  Is this a
    good cross?  I am looking for a good sized horse (I am 5'11") with alot
    of heart and gentile.  My TB mare is very quiet and unlike most retired
    race horses that I have been around.  I think it would be a good cross. 
    What do you think?
    
    Virginia

    That could be a good cross in terms of disposition and substance. 
    Friesian's aren't real big horses though. I think they are typically
    a little under 16 hands. They make good riding horses as well as
    light carriage horses. It's hard to predict what a cross of such
    different types of horses would look like. It could look like a
    Friesian... or a TB...or mix & match....
    
    The key question is where the heck are ya gonna find one? They aren't 
    real common in the US.
    
    If your mare is tall, you're more likely to get a tall foal. I remember
    reading somewhere a formula for predicting the adult height of a foal using
    the height of the parents. It was something like:
    
    foal height = X% of Dam's height + Y% of Sire's height
    
    and X was MUCH larger than Y
    
    
    John

    John,
    
    Thanks for the support.  I just happen to know a Friesian breeder here
    in So. California.  They are in Coto De Caza and there is another one
    in 29 Palms.  I don't think finding a stallion will be hard.  
    
    As for their size, the ones I used to be around were a good 16hh.  My
    mare is about that but solid.  I would like to get a good solid, tall
    baby with good sence and strong bone.  
    
    Is there a registry for a TB/Friesian horse?  That would be the next
    problem.
    
    Virginia

    re .7
    
    What kind of horse do you want to get from your breeding exercise? What
    do you want to do with it? That will determine more than anything what
    would be a "good" cross, if any exist. It depends on the individual
    breed registry as to whether they accept thoroughbred crosses or not.
    Personally I wouldn't spend an extra dime for a "papered" horse but
    then I am not into breeding or showing.
    
    This past weekend I witnessed a Friesian, a Fjord and a Percheron all
    bolt in separate incidents at the Massachusetts Equine Exposition at
    Northampton. I don't believe there are any "quiet" horses left.

    Even the quietest of horses will `bolt' from time to time.  It just
    happens.
    
    What I hope to get from the breeding is a big strong animal that can do
    whatever I put it to do.  At this time I don't have any intentions of
    showing the animal.  The purpose of registering the offspring is for
    the mare's and stallion's prodigy.  If it were a colt, it would be
    gelded anyway so breeding wouldn't be the purpose of the offspring at
    all.  I used to ride jumpers many moons ago and would like to have a
    horse that I can take out and jump from time to time but could still
    handle the work on the farm.
    
    Nothing special.
    
    Virginia

    Have you actually talked to the stallion owners? Last I heard, Friesan
    breeders are very strict in their desire to keep the breed pure, I
    wonder if they will accept a non-Fresian mare at all, even a
    Thoroughbred? Im probably wrong about that, but Id find out just to be
    sure before getting my heart set on it.....it does sound like a nice
    cross, still there are many other breeds you could cross with a TB mare
    and get 'just a horse' that can do a little of everything, and probably
    for a lot less money. If you want exotic, though, a Fresian would
    probably be the way to go! :-)
     

    A few years ago I worked with the farm owners.  They said if I ever
    wanted to breed my horses to thiers just to ask.  At that time I had
    strickly Quarter horses.  I don't plan on breeding her untill next
    season so I will wait to check with them.
    
    I did read in the Horse Trader about a few Friesian owners that were
    breeding to anything.  That is kind of where I got the idea.
    
    Virginia