Breeders of quaility Friesians and Friesian Warmbloods

Providing quaility agistment for all horses

Retailing herbal products online

Antyk Equestrian Services is the home of Antyk Friesian and Friesian Warmblood Horses. We also offer, horse agistment, horse float hire, local horse transport, and Equine herbs online.

Antyk Equestrian Service is based in Bridgetown, Western Australia. Our business is owned and run by horse people for horse people and our aim is to provide products and services to maintain a happy, healthy horse while offering a personalised service to owners.

About Friesian Horses

Brief history of the Friesian Horse

The Friesian horse developed many centuries ago in Friesland in North Western Europe which is now part of the Netherlands, because of their strength and agility the Friesians were coveted war horses and they carried knights and crusades into battle.

At various times in their long history the versatile Friesians were used in the classical riding schools of Europe, were bred as racing trotters, were included in royal stables as elegnt coach horses, thrilled European crods as circus horses and also had to perform as light draft an dall-purpose horses.

The breed faced extinction on serveral occassions, but was saved in 1913 by a dedicated group of breeders in Friesland. At the time there were only three studbook stallions left in the world Age 168, Ritske 202 and Tetman 205. Nowdays there are over 80 FPS approved stallions in the world.

The breed standard is pure black with the possibility o a small white star on its forehead. Typically Friesian Horses have long heavy manes, tail and fetlocks. The Friesian is very strong and muscular and it stands between 15 and 17 hands. Friesians are known for their excellent dispostion, they are extremely friendly and intelligent horses.

Styles of the Friesian Horse

Modern Friesian (Sport Horse)

Overall look is fine and elegant

The chief requirement for a riding horse is the ability to carry a rider without too much effort. The traits of a modern Friesian are: the neck often makes a horizontal impression, the top line must show good muscle development to allow easy adjustment in moving, the back should not be too long, an oblique shoulder and well developed long withers guarantee a horse standing over much ground. The shoulder should not be too steep: 45 degrees, chest normal to broad allowing space for heart and lungs, the croup has 1/3 of total body lenght with an angle of 10 to 15 degrees. The croup should not be higher than the withers. Long gaskins enable the horse to pull the hind legs under the body. Joints need to be big in both directions and strong.

Classic Friesian

Overall look is similar to the modern Friesian but heavier.

Harness horse and riding Friesians have a lot in common. The loins are the same but often less development, the same build, but generally speaking more vertical in appearance. The back is short to middle in lenght, neck is long and starts lower from the chest. As the head is carried high this horse has a natural elegant appearnce, the shoulder needs to be long to allow for good use of the forelegs. The chest is broad and the withers is medium development, croup 1/3 lenght of body or shorter and is more hoizontal, normal angles in stifle and hock and the joints are board in both directions. The body weight should be in harmony.

Baroque Friesian (Warhorse)

Overall look is short, compact with a lot of muscle.

The baroque Friesian has a short, broad back. The neck is short and heavy to ensure pulling power. Shoulder laid back, long and steep. The chest is very broad, withers not very developed. The croup is 30% of the body length, 15 degree angle. The forearm is short to facilitate the pulling power, the angle of the stifle and hocks is normal to steep to allow transmitting of power.

About Friesian Warmblood Horses

The Friesian Warmblood horse which is defined as a sporthorse and must contain at least 25% Friesian. The objective is to blend the charateristics of the Friesian such as temperment, strong bone composition, balanced elastic movement blended with a complimentary breed to increase agility, lightness and stamina for example Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods.

The movement of the Friesian Warmblood should show sufficient power in all gaits, the walk should be large and active, the trot should be a large springy elevated trot with a small moment of suspension, the canter should be a smooth transition that is accomplished with enough power from behind to sustain the movement.