Advices of animal technician Print

Many private owners or those who only thinks about buying a friesian horse contact Russian Frisian Association with questions about the care of Frisian horses. We were asked Tatyana Zaripova – a specialist who has been breeding Friesians for several years to answer some of the most frequently asked questions. We put below what she told us.

Features in the care of Frisian horses

It seems that Friesians require special treatment and care... I’d like to dispel this myth.

1. Friesians have magnificent "feathers": long, silky hair on the lower legs. They say that it causes the development of fungi and bacteria on the pasterns.

I assure you, it’s not true. On the contrary, hair protects the skin from fungal infection and prevents mud fever. All the dirt with bacteria and fungi settles on the "feathers". Therefore mud fever (even in a damp period) affects Friesian much less often than sport horses.

2. Friesian horses have a long, beautiful mane, forelock and tail. But the care for it is very labour-consuming.

Actually it's not so. Here are the simple rules:

* if you have the opportunity daily attend to the horse, you'd better plait it's mane and forelock (and maybe tail) for the night, just unplait and comb it out in the morning;

* if there’s no possibility, you may plait for 6 days, the last day remain free;

* for tail care use hair conditioner and comb out 2-3 times a week.

3. Friesian hair is black and accumulates dust, dandruff.

To remove it just make thorough grooming and use hair conditioner 2 times a week, and the horse will look like a black pearl.

4. Hoofs are large, black and often don’t glitters. Often overdried under the "feathers". Can be damaged because of the horse's big weight and activities.

Friesian's owner can avoid these problems. It's nesessary to pare the hoof ones in 45 days or rarely (if the walls grows slower). If the farrier complains that hoofs are hard you can smear clay on the sole in 2-3 hours before shoeing, the wall will immediately softened. Not necessarily use expensive hoof polishes for glitter; it's enough to put hoof vegetable oil (better inexpensive olive). It's nesessary to put oil also under the fetlocks, in front and on the heel. This will contribute to good and proper regrowth of hoof wall, hoofs will acquire glitter.

We want your horse make you happy with its perfect condition and excellent state of health.

Next time we’ll inform you about feeding Friesians.