Dutch judges travel to U.S. to inspect young Friesians

Marshfield — September 26 turned out to be a gorgeous fall day for the Friesian Keuring  held in Marshfield, WI.

Each year Dutch judges fly to the United States to inspect the foals and the 3-year-olds for entry into the (KFPS) Kloninklijke Vereniging ‘Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek’, which has registered Friesians since 1879.

The Friesian’s beautiful carriage, willingness to work and eagerness to learn make today’s horse a highly favored carriage and dressage horse. They were once used for war horses, trotters, coach horses and on farms as draft horses.

Every breeding of a Friesian mare with a Friesian stallion has to be registered with the KFPS. The KFPS will then provide FHANA (Friesian Horse Association of America) with a birth notification that's then sent to the owner.

The owner has 30 days to send the birth notification back to FHANA with the appropriate registration fee and chosen foal name with the designated first letters. The owner then receives the Birth Conformation along with a microchip kit and DNA test to be implemented by a licensed veterinarian. This information is sent to the KFPS and once the information is processed, the owner receives laminated papers.

A horse, by it’s characteristic front, abundance of hair, black color and roomy, elevated gates (knee action) makes a luxurious and proud impression. The horse is placed in a rectangle with a ratio between front end, middle section and hind end of 1:1:1. The inspection is over. The horses are out in the pasture again and the wait is on for next year’s babies