Shimmering jet-black skin, brawny physique, athletic look, and all in all, absolute beauty is the Friesian horse. As rare as they may come, Friesian Horses are surely one of the most in-demand elite horses. All this leads to the question; how much do Friesian horses cost? Are they expensive?
Well, if you’re looking to buy a horse as extraordinary as the Friesian, then you ought to have all its specifications and pricing noted down.
Friesian Horse Price Range
A purebred Friesian Horse with a proper studbook designation may cost anywhere between $20,000 and $48,000 or even higher, depending on its pedigree. A Friesian horse’s price also depends upon its age, the status of studbook designation, and registration with FHANA and FPS. Looking at the less expensive side, the Friesian horse may cost as low as $3000 to $6000, if it is a mare in its mid-life, aged, or is a gelding.
| 2 to 3 years old | $8,900 – $18,900 |
| Geldings 3 years+ | $16,900 – $29,000 |
| Star geldings/mares | $18,900 – $39,900 |
| Mares 3 years+ | $13,900 – $22,900 |
| Model mares | $39,000 – $99,000 |
| Qualified stallions | $199,000 – $599,000 |
Why Does a Friesian Horse Cost This Much?
Well, if it weren’t for its elegant Black color and distinguished physique, you would not be familiar with the Friesian horses (and this article wouldn’t exist). Friesians are considered the prettiest of all the horse breeds.
Friesians are bred under immensely strict measures and rigorous inspection methods. Some of the highlights of why a Friesian horse is purchased at costs higher than most breeds are listed below. Also, many factors affect the cost of a Friesian Horse which are mentioned below.
Class of Friesian
There are 2 main classes of purebred Friesian; Sport and Baroque. The sport type is more athletic, lean and as its name suggests, used in sporting events. The Baroque on the other hand is slightly short, stout, and muscular, related more to the war horse pedigree.
Generally speaking, the sporting type costs a bit higher. Thus, before buying a Friesian horse, make sure to have a sound evaluation of all the types so that you are sure of what you are looking for.
Breed
A purebred Friesian having a genuine bloodline would certainly cost more. Breeding standards are set through rigorous inspections which mostly involve DNA tests, behavioral patterns, and movements. A premium rating is awarded to foals, mares, geldings, and stallions if their inspection scores are high.
Color
The Purebred Friesian is dark in color ranging from pure Black to Dark Brown. The darker its color, the more expensive it is.
Others may also have white patches on their forehead. However, their skin is vulnerable to sunlight. An interesting fact worth mentioning is that the Friesian horse is symbolically used in funerals.
What could a horse symbolize at a funeral, you ask? Well, the jet-black color of a Friesian symbolizes mourning which is why it is used for funeral carriages.
Temperament
Friesians are warm-blooded, humanistic, and possess a stalwart temperament. Their sympathetic yet athletic temperament is the reason why they are most favorable for dressage. Friesian Horses are Intelligent, cunning, and docile creatures that can be handled rather easily by any person, professional or not. To qualify for being a good horse, it must have all the ingredients of a calm personality.
Rarity
Being one of the rarest horse breeds on the planet, that was close to extinction during a particular period in history, Friesians are an exceedingly desirable breed. There are currently just over 45,000 Friesian horses worldwide (registered). This is one of the great reasons why Friesians cost more.
Height
Stallions aged around 4 often stand 15.3 hands tall while mares are around 15.0 hands. The heights of Friesians meeting the standard set by FPS are more expensive.
Health
Beware of the price tag! If it’s too cheap considering the horse’s age and physique, the horse might have health issues. Commonly arising health issues in a Friesian are Dwarfism, Hydrocephalus, and Mega-esophagus. Relatively prevalent genetic disorders include Anhydrosis. However, the chances of infliction are minuscule since Friesians generally stay quite healthy.
Training
A horse’s training is one of the most important factors that determines its pricing. A highly trained horse is more expensive than an untrained or lesser trained one. As far as Friesian horses are concerned, they are exceedingly easy to train. Thus, it may even be desirable to buy an untrained Friesian horse and later have it trained, to avoid premium costs.
Show Ratings
Since a Friesian’s gain really stands out, therefore, this breed has stunning show records in dressage, riding, and competitive horse sporting events. A Friesian horse having better show records is priced considerably higher than other horse breeds.
Additional Maintenance Costs of a Friesian Horse
Just like a brand-new automobile that you purchase will require recurring expenses for its gas and maintenance, similarly, a Friesian horse does require additional expenses(for keeping them rims shinin’).
Friesians, as they look in photographs, do so because of extremely good grooming. It is not nearly as tiring and expensive an effort to purchase a Friesian horse as compared to the effort and cost of lodging one and looking after its daily needs.
Friesian horses require rigorous hair care which can be expensive. Apart from that, the hard work required to keep their mane untangled is immense. The average cost of keeping a horse at home or the average maintaining cost of a horse in a household may range between $4,500 and $10,000.
Health and Veterinary Examination
Routine blood tests, X-Ray scans, and vitals checks are essential for maintaining a proper track record of the health of the horse. It is, therefore, necessary to have a medical examination at least once every 6 months. The average annual expenses of veterinary examination can be around $490-600.
Shipping
Friesians are mostly imported from the Netherlands and require shipping surcharges, handler’s fees, and provision costs. However, importing a Friesian horse straight away from its native homeland has its pros and it’s often a better way of getting a true purebred. Importing your horse directly may cost you around $10,000 for a mare and $8,000 for a stallion or a gelding. Bear in mind that these charges are shipping charges which are added to the retail cost of Friesian horses.
Saddle and Bridle
With great things come both greater and smaller responsibilities. A Friesian horse without its bridle and saddle is as futile as ejection seats on a helicopter. A good saddle costs anywhere between $150-350 and a bridle, $75-125. Add that to your purchasing list as well.
Lodging
To make the Friesian Horse feel like home, the stables should be well-built; windy and provide shade from sunlight. It would be no exaggeration in saying that a horse of such a class deserves an equally classy accommodation.
If you already have your own stable, then adding an extra horse may not cost as much. However, admitting your horse into a boarding facility or creating a stable from scratch would burn a considerable hole in your pocket.
Grooming and Beautification
Antibacterial shampoos, soaps, and body wash are a daily requirement to keep your Friesian’s skin in proper health. Otherwise, due to its dense hair, an infection may occur and cause skin irritation leading to Dermatitis.
The primary reason for a Friesian Horse’s beauty is its jet-black coat. Sunlight can cause its coat to bleach, therefore, avoid rolling your Friesian out on a bright sunny day. You may also want to provide it with a properly nutritious diet containing antioxidants. This is why many horse enthusiasts get their horses administered with doses of Vitamin E once every 6 months.
Another point worth mentioning is that Friesian horses are known for their incredibly long manes. This too comes with the responsibility of brushing out its tangle-prone mane with a wide-tooth comb. All of these ancillaries add further to the total cost of keeping a Friesian horse.
Is It Really Worth Buying a Friesian Horse?
Now that we’ve come from its cost breakdown to auxiliary charges and maintenance, all this begs a question; is buying a Friesian horse really worth it? Well, no kidding, if you are that much into buying “Rare” and beautiful horses, then Friesians are as rare and beautiful as they come. Being the prettiest horse of the entire horse breed, and considering its rarity, it’s certainly worth spending the dollar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Friesian horses may cost anywhere between $20,000 and $48,000. Depending on the pedigree and breed their cost of purchase may be as low as $3000 to $6000. As of now, there are only around 45,000 pureblood Friesian horses registered in the FHANA Studbook designation. One of the reasons why Friesian horses cost more is because of the minuscule number.
Since the Friesians are warm-blooded and benign in temperament, they get along perfectly with household and family members. They are suitable for both beginner and professional riders. Also considering their temperament, Friesian horses are incredibly easy to train for multiple disciplines which include dressage, sporting, riding, and carriage.
Because of their unmatched elegance and dressage, Friesians are popularly used in movies and television shows. Apart from being pretty, they are also used to tow carriages. The Friesians are also used for funerals by royalties. Friesian horses’ expensive cost of purchase is also one reason for its fame. Speaking of beauty, they are second to none. They possess an exquisite mane that looks scintillating when they leave their trial while running. Apart from all this, its shimmering jet-black color gives it an unmatched beauty.
The average lifespan of a typical Friesian Horse is 16 years. This is actually one of its intriguing traits and one may wonder as to why the Friesians have a lifespan of 16 years instead of the usual horse lifespan of 25-30 years. Well, it has to do with nature and genetics. Friesians are prone to multiple maladies such as collagen diseases and this may also account for another reason for a short lifespan.
The beauty behind the Friesian horse also holds a low-key secret, it occasionally suffers from certain collagenopathies affecting mostly their gut; especially the esophagus, which may lead to choking. Apart from this, Friesians are also prone to inherited diseases such as Hydrocephalus, Anhydrosis, and Dwarfism. The cost of a Friesian price is highly subject to its state of health.
Friesians, being athletic and agile, are equally gentle and docile. It ought to be gentle enough to be called a fairy-tale horse. From being warhorses to carriage towers and dressage horses to funeral horses, Friesians are surely multi-purpose mounts; the cause of their gentle and meek personality.
This gorgeous breed was originally famous for carrying medieval knights. Since then, it hasn’t lost it as it is the prettiest horse of all the horse breeds to run on the planet.
The horse breed nearly went extinct during the early 20th century and until the second world war, only 3 purebred stallions were left. Fortunately, timely efforts were taken for their preservation, which continued until their number increased. However, they are still considered endangered and hence, are rare.
Talk about being expensive, Friesian horse possesses all the ingredients to be called a royalty horse. Their high-stepping trot and majestic gait attract a lot of likenesses. Its thick curly mane which is deliberately left uncut also gives it an unmatched beauty. Add all this to its mesmerizing color and rarity in find, which explains why Friesian horses are expensive.
Perhaps the only horse breed that has long-standing fame of being featured multiple times in movies and television shows, is a Friesian horse. In fact, the horse itself has a character role in “Albion: The Enchanted Stallion”. Apart from that, the Friesian horse has also been featured in the popular TV show “Game of Thrones” as the Hound’s “Handsome Black Stallion”.
