Friesian Horse Lifespan and Temperament

If you’re thinking about getting a friesian horse, you might be wondering what their lifespan is like and what kind of temperament they have. Well wonder no more, because this post has all the info you need to make an informed decision! You’ll learn everything from gender ratios to how long they’re typically in training and how long they live. It also talks about some common personality traits of friesians and shares some fun facts that you may not know. Like that the word “friesian” comes from Dutch or kentish meaning “Frisian”. Friesians were originally bred as all-around horses, but now they are mostly used for dressage competitions. A really interesting thing about Friesians is that they tend to get along well with other breeds, so if you have another type of horse you’re thinking about getting, don’t worry! Friesians can make excellent breeding horses too.

Friesians are about 14.4 hands high (4.53 meters or 14 feet) and usually weigh around 1,800 pounds or 835 kilograms. Here is what you should know about friesian horse lifespan and temperament

LIFESPAN

Long term average lifespan: between 12 and 15 years of age.

Average life expectancy in the horse world: 11-12 years old.

Average life expectancy in the human world: from 20 to 25 years old.

Friesian Temperament:

They are very trainable and have an extremely calm endurable temperament. They are very easy to ride, as most friesians are calm, very smart and gentle. If you want an all around horse, this is it! The only downside of course is that they don’t tend to be very athletic and so they may not always keep up with the pace of other horses at the same level of skill, they may not be as fast or strong in a race if you’re looking for that. Also their races average around 10 minutes long, which is significantly shorter than a horse like a hunter will take. They are typically used in different disciplines of eventing, though they can also be slow riding.

Friesians are not often used for showing due to their lack of speed, but they do make excellent dressage horses. They have a very steady gait so it is perfect for dressage, as well as an easy trot and a strong canter with a long frontlegs. They are cute to look at and have a smooth movement, being very good all-weather horses!

How to increase the lifespan of your friesian horse

Maintain balanced nutrition

It’s important to keep an eye on the diet of your horse to make sure that it’s getting a healthy amount of nutrients and calories. Some horses will have a more difficult time digesting feed, so it might be necessary for the owner to increase their calorie intake in food or give additional supplements. This can help increase the lifespan of their horse by several years! It’s important to make sure your horse is getting a healthy diet, because this can affect its lifespan. You should also keep an eye on its weight and exercise regime – decreasing weight too quickly (and/or overeating) can also lead to early death.

Exercise regularly

Exercising at least once or twice a week is important for your horse’s health and well-being. It keeps it in shape, burns calories/converts fat into muscle and makes it mentally happier. It’s important to note that intense exercise should be avoided, and a long walk is better to keep your horse happy while keeping its muscles healthy.

Maintain a healthy weight

Maintaining your horse’s weight is important. If you have a high-maintenance horse, it might be necessary for you to occasionally restrict its food (although this should be done very carefully), or reduce the calories of their food by adding extra fiber (cereal) or water. It’s also important to keep an eye on your horse’s weight when it’s too high. If your horse is obese, it’ll face several issues. Obesity can affect the joints of older horses, and makes them more prone to injuries and arthritis. It also increases the odds of having problems with muscle wasting and/or heart problems.

Keep its exercise evenly distributed over the day

This “rule” is a bit controversial, because there are some horses that prefer to exercise during specific times of the day (needing extra rest during nighttime). The rule applies when this is not the case. Some horses have different preferences for exercising during the day or at night, but it’s best to keep your horse’s activity evenly distributed over the day (with a couple of hours at least before you go to bed). If you walk your horse too late in the evening, it might overeat and become overweight – which can lead to health problems (especially if you make your horse eat extra hay). This goes hand-in-hand with exercising a bit before going to sleep.

Reward good behavior

The final tip is to reward good behavior. It’ll help build trust between you and your horse, which will become happier and more energetic. If a horse is happy, it’ll be easier for you to work and train it. This is also the best way to “train” your horse (because the reward system makes more sense to the horse than a punishment system), and makes dealing with negative behavior easier during training sessions. It’s also important to note that rewarding good behavior can include giving your horse a break every once in a while, or giving them extra food. This “treat” doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should make your horse happy

Avoid over-working

It’s important that you avoid over-working your horses (meaning working them before they reach their limit). Whether you’re a professional or an amateur rider, this can be avoided by taking breaks during working hours. Rushing to go home could lead to muscle/back problems for your horse, and might be the beginning of the end for it. It’s also important to know your horse’s limits, otherwise it might give you bad habits or unhealthy work-habits (meaning giving up on exercise).This is the most important tip of all when it comes to longevity. If you push your horse too much, it won’t last as long due to the increase in stress and injuries – which can be hard on both you and your horse.

A friesian horse can live for 10-16 years. A bit shorter than average but still, with the care and attention they need from their own owners, it is possible to have a confident, healthy and happy horse that will live a long life. Groomers often say that Friesians are more difficult to deal with in comparison to other breeds of horses because of their temperaments which are not as strong or forgiving of mistakes as some other breeds. However if you properly understand friesian horse themselves and work toward showing them love and respect then they will return that love many times over in return. Friesians have an inherent ability to love and care for others which is a great trait to have in a horse. Friesians are often described as calm, sensitive and intelligent horses who are able to pick up on things very quickly. They learn quite easily and when they understand what you want of them, most will perform for you with very little direction.