FSA Mission Statement & Breed Standard

Friesian Sporthorse Association:

Mission Statement

The Friesian Sporthorse Association (FSA) is the first and only registry dedicated exclusively to recognizing and promoting the true Friesian Sporthorse. We are also the only registry to be recognized as a breed registry, with specific guidelines for the breeding, registration, and development of the Friesian Sporthorse. Over the years the Friesian Sporthorse Association has established itself as the premier registry choice for registering sport-bred high quality Friesian crosses.

It is our goal to encourage and recognize quality Friesian crossbreds bred especially as sporthorses, based on established sporthorse and Warmblood breeding practices and registration guidelines. We are not just another registry for recording Friesian crossbreds, we are a registry devoted exclusively to the Friesian Sporthorse, and devoted to the recognition and development of the Friesian Sporthorse as a breed, and we are the official studbook holder for the breed. We will continue to build the reputation of the Friesian Sporthorse as a legitimate, reputable breed thru our strict Registration Guidelines, Breeding Approvals, and performance recognition. We aim to encourage people to breed with a specific sporthorse goal in mind, blending the wonderful qualities of the Friesian with breeds such as the Warmblood and Thoroughbred, to create the best of both worlds, a true Friesian Sporthorse.

The Friesian Sporthorse Association aims to support, guide, and encourage breeders, owners, and Friesian Sporthorse enthusiasts.

The Friesian Sporthorse Association will provide breeding guidelines, record keeping, support, encouragement, and a "home" for those who are breeders and owners of Friesian Sporthorses, while maintaining the integrity of the breed and the registry.

The Friesian Sporthorse Association will stay free of politics. All aspects of the registry will be handled with fairness and integrity. The FSA is run by a Board made up of a diverse group of members representing decades of experience with Warmbloods, Sporthorses, and/or Friesians. The board members have extensive backgrounds, knowledge, and experience with one or more of the following: Warmblood and Sporthorse breeding, Friesian breeding, and/or the sporting disciplines of dressage, driving, eventing, and hunter/jumper. This enables us to handle issues in a fair and balanced way, free of politics and self-interest, and with the best interests of the Friesian Sporthorse always as our priority.

The popularity of Friesian crossbreeding led to rampant growth. Unfortunately, during the early years of this unchecked popularity explosion, not much existed to educate, guide, encourage, or support breeders or owners. As people continued experimentally crossbreeding Friesians, some began to breed Friesian crossbreds specifically for sport, and these quality horses began to set themselves apart from the other Friesian crossbreds. They began attracting attention from people who were interested specifically in these sport-bred higher quality Friesian crosses, which would come to be known as Friesian Sporthorses. However, there was no system or registry in place specifically for these breeders, owners, or their Friesian crossbreds. The Friesian Sporthorse Association was developed to fill this void -- providing breeding guidelines, record keeping, support, encouragement, and a “home” for those who breed, own, and enjoy Friesian Sporthorses. As a breed, the Friesian Sporthorse has a great deal of potential. The goal of the Friesian Sporthorse Association is to encourage, document, and maximize that potential -- offering a legitimate, reputable registry option for Friesian Sporthorses worldwide.

Friesian Sporthorse Breed Standard / Breeding Objective

The goal of breeding a Friesian Sporthorse is to create a quality horse of sporthorse type, building on the qualities of the Friesian. Friesian Sporthorses are bred to excel in the FEI recognized sport disciplines of dressage, combined driving, eventing, and jumping, as well as hunters. Breeding stock should be carefully selected for their sporthorse qualities and potential to create sporthorses, and should meet the pedigree requirements set forth by the FSA. As with any good breeding program, only top quality horses should be used for breeding. The crossbreeding of Friesian, Warmblood, and carefully selected Thoroughbred stock has proven to be the most successful for creating a true Friesian Sporthorse. However, based on the success of crossbreeding the Friesian with a few specific non-traditional sport breeds, allowances have been made to accept limited percentages of blood from these specific non-traditional breeds (more details can be found under "Registration Guidelines" and in our "FAQ's".) Friesian Sporthorses must have a minimum 25% Friesian heritage (exception, the Friesian Warmblood Book.)

Friesian Sporthorses are generally of a middle weight sport or Baroque type, often with the higher and more arched neck set of the Friesian. They frequently have the thicker mane, tail, and feather of the Friesian. The gaits are generally expressive, with a tendency towards a more animated leg action. Although frequently black, all colors and markings are recognized and accepted. (Note: Some colors cannot be achieved without the use of non-approved non-sport breeds, which is not recommended.)

These horses tend to inherit the friendly, people-oriented personalities and level-headed temperaments purebred Friesians are famous for, making them a popular choice for amateurs as well as professionals. It is recommended that only horses with good interior qualities (temperament and trainability) be used for breeding.

Friesian Sporthorses may be presented in the more traditional manner of Friesians, with long manes and feathers; or they may be presented in the more traditional sport manner, with shortened and braided manes and trimmed feathers. It is entirely a matter of preference, as each is equally correct for a Friesian Sporthorse.

The common abbreviation for Friesian Sporthorses is "FSA" or "FSAs" to indicate they are Friesian Sporthorses and properly registered.

"Learjet"

Main Book / Elite Book

Friesian Sporthorse colt

25% Friesian, 25% TB, 50% Warmblood

________________________

by Lexington (Main Book / Gold Elite /

Approved for Breeding Friesian

Sporthorse),

out of Katrichta (Dutch Warmblood

by Bolivar.)

Breeder: Camelot Warmbloods /

Daniela Hofacker

Main Book, Gold Elite, Friesian Sporthorse - Ducati CH

Kendhall Park

Romance

Main Book, Bronze Elite

Sire: Hilwert L (Friesian,

by Nanning)

Dam: Balgownie Sonata

(Friesian Sporthorse, by

Maurits Friso)

Owner: Tashlin Hall /

Kendall Park Friesians

Lexington

Main Book, Gold Elite

Approved for Breeding

Sire: Baron von Kolderveen (Friesian, by Reyert 337)

Dam: Denver Miss (Thoroughbred, by Denver Kid)

Owner: Gigha Steinman /

River Oaks Farm

Ducati CH

Main Book, Gold Elite

ridden by Brooke Cramton

Sire: Kristian (Friesian,

by Lukas)

Dam: Shotsy (Friesian Sporthorse, by Windsor)

Owner: Brooke Cramton

Nico

Main Book

Approved for Breeding

Sire: Tamme 276 (Friesian,

by Jochem 259)

Dam: Cindy (Dutch

Warmblood, by Samber)

Owner: Sherry Koella /

Hidden Promise Sporthorses

Gunner

Main Book, Bronze Elite

ridden by Sammi Jo Stohler

Sire: Joris W

(Friesian, by Wicher 334)

Dam: Nuroso (Dutch

Warmblood, by Cocktail)

Owner: Patrick Orlaska

Americus ROF

Main Book, Bronze Elite

as featured in Dressage Today magazine, 2010 Baroque Issue

Sire: Nico (Friesian Sporthorse,

by Tamme 276)

Dam: Miramar (Friesian Sporthorse, by Pieter fan

Lutke Peinjum)

Owner: Oscar Fragoso

Lily ROF

Main Book, Bronze Elite

Sire: Lexington (Elite Friesian Sporthorse, by Baron von Kolderveen)

Dam: Natasha (Dutch Warmblood, by Jacobean)

Owner: Carrie Simmons

The goal of breeding a Friesian Sporthorse is to create a quality horse of sporthorse type, building on the qualities of the Friesian. Breeding horses should be carefully selected for their sporthorse qualities and potential to create sporthorses. As with any good sporthorse or Warmblood breeding program, only top quality horses should be used for breeding. The crossbreeding of Friesian, Warmblood, and carefully selected Thoroughbred stock has proven to be the most successful for creating a true Friesian Sporthorse. ....

Friesian Sporthorse™ is a registered trademark of the Friesian Sporthorse Association LLC. © Friesian Sporthorse Association, LLC. www.FriesianSporthorseAssociation.com ~ FSAFriesianSport@aol.com