Friesian crosses.

[Celtic Hill]

Talk to me about Friesian Crosses. Im sure it has already been established that the SB/Friesian cross is amazing. But what about the other crosses out there? What do they look like? How is their movment, confo? Are they more warmbloody or more carriagehorse/saddle horsey?

Arabian x Friesian
Shire x Friesian
Stock/paint x Fresian
Warmblood x Fresian

[Tazsprout]

well, I guess I would tempoize on this a bit. Not all SB Freisans are amazing, some are pretty weird looking creatures. This is not a slam at Friesans OR SBs, but whenevery you cross horses of really different type, pretty much anything can happen (and will). This is also a big problem for people who breed draft/TB crosses.

Also, the Freisans themselve are of variable "type." There weren't that many Friesans that actually survived the war (I've heard various estimates from various Dutch vets, but none of the number suggested a viable gene pool) and when the breed was resurrected, they had to a lot of "not mentioned in the romantic mythology of these horses" outcrosses. Remember the Europeans are less goofy about "purebreed" thatn we are, they are masters of breeding for type. But there were (and are) divergent types, from the 19th century version of smallish light draft/carriage types (breed standard at one point was the equivilant of 15 hands) to the "modern" type more prized today.

I've ridden really nice Morgan/Friesan cross. He was fun and comfy, but definately of cob type. I rode a Arab/Friesan cross in which the Arab part was pretty much invisible.\; he was just a somewhat finer Freisan. I saw a Friesan/TB CDE mare that was one of the loveliest horses I've EVER seen, but you couldn't really see the Friesan, she just looked like an oldenburg.

I've also seen a collection of Friesan crosses that were.. um.. unfortunate. Very unfortunate. So it just depends.

I read about somebody doing percheron/Friesan crosses, but that sounds like draft to draft to me. Its fun to go on Equine.com and search on Friesan cross.. lots of things come up.

[Peris Mom]

Recently, I saw a Friesien/Andalusian cross on YouTube. He was GOREGEOUS! I think there was some fancy name for the cross, but I've forgotten just what it was. Again, since these are both "heavier" breeds (for the most part), the extremes of type are less of an issue, so I think the cross would be one of the safer ones.

[dedicatedhorsemom]

Friesians are so beautiful by themselves, it's hard for me to even think about crossing them. We have two babies coming in a couple of weeks -- can't wait! Sorry -- I'm just of the opinion, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Purebred Friesians are my idea of perfect!

[shayna]

Friesians are gorgeous horses but if I ever get one (highly unlikely) it would have to be a cross! I don't think I could ever afford one! The only ones I've seen have been incredibly expensive!