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Frederiksborg |
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Frederiksborg |
Originating in the cool temperate environment of Denmark, the Frederiksborg is agile and strong, and has an aptitude for light draft, as a carriage and riding horse. It is a horse of the mesomorphic type with a docile but lively temperament. Even though used as a riding horse today, the Frederiksborg has retained is characteristic high carriage action, which has been described as "strong and sweeping." The Frederiksborg is an honest, strong athletic breed which has been used throughout Europe as a cavalry and high-school mount and as a harness horse. Over the last 100 years this breed has been close to extinction.
It stands 15.1 to 16.1 hands, averaging about 15.3, and its coat is always chestnut, though one of my sources indicates there may be other colors by stating that "chestnut is most common." Another source states that other colors are rarely seen. Its large, plain head is well-proportioned with a straight or sometimes convex profile. Its big ears are pricked up, its face straight, and its eyes expressive, indicating intelligance, but its head is otherwise plain and plebian. The well-proportioned, relatively short and upright neck is slightly arched, muscular and well set-on, blending into fairly flat withers characteristic of a harness or carriage horse. The broad, muscular, and flat withers are quite pronounced with the whole forehand suited to harness usage. Its broad chest is high, full and fairly deep, with the front short. The muscular, upright shoulder is nicely sloping and powerful, resulting in a strong, high action, more suited to harness than riding. It has a long, strong, deep body; straight and strong back; broad loins; and a broad, flat croup that is rounded with a well set-on tail. With a relatively long body and an acceptable girth, the Frederiksborg is considered "on the leg." The well-muscled legs have broad joints of good bone, which are usually acceptable, and a well-shaped, strong and small foot of tough horn. The well-shaped hooves are one of the breed's good features.
During the 16th century, the elegant Frederiksborg saddle horses of Denmark were prized as quality military chargers. King Frederik II of Denmark was a keen horse breeder, founding the Frederiksborg stud in 1562. He developed the breed to perform the high-school work which had become popular in the courts of Europe. The Frederiksborg was based on Spanish Andalusians and, later, related Neapolitan stock. The Spanish stock provided great elegance, showy action, and an imposing presence to the Frederiksborg. Oriental and British half-bred blood was later introduced. Pluto, a founding stallion in the Lipizzaner breed, was a white Frederiksborg, born in 1765. The Frederiksborg has been used to improve many other breeds, including the Jutland draft, where it was used to increase this breed's activity.
Highly prized as a good school horse because of its reliability and elegance, the Fredericksborg is suitable as a high-class carriage horse and for military parades. These characteristics made the Frederiksborg popular throughout Europe as a high-school, cavalry and harness horse. The Frederiksborg has contributed extensively to the development of other breeds, which include the Lipizzaner, the Jutland, and the Orlov Trotter. The Frederiksborg was described by Count Wrangle in "Die Rasen des Pferdes" (1908-9) as being admired for his "elegant conformation, his lively and kindly temperament and his strong, sweeping and high action." With his straight and high action befitting a carriage horse, the Frederiksborg's trot is considered his best pace.
The Frederiksborg was famous during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries and was exported to such an extent that the home based stock became depleted. Many countries have used the Frederiksborg to upgrade their national breeds and for foundation stock. In 1839, the Frederiksborg Stud turned to breeding the Thoroughbred-type horses. The breed suffered a period of decline, thus breaking the continuity of the breed. Private individuals kept and continuted to breed and raise Frederiksborgs for use as smart carriage horses. So many Frederiksborgs were exported that the Danish stud was forced to close after almost 300 years of successful breeding.
The breed reappeared in 1939 and was further developed by other breeds. First, Friesian blood was introduced, then that of the English Thoroughbred and Arabian. There are only a small number of representatives of this old breed remaining in Denmark today. Due to the demands for riding horses, it is likely that these old-type Frederiksborgs may disappear forever as a breed. Efforts are being made today to preserve this prestigous Danish breed.
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Published December 1998 in the North West Breyer Horse Club newsletter. (em)
© 1997-2019 NW Breyer Horse Club
& Refiner of Gold Creations
Equinealities in place since 1997, Section in place 2001, Updated 1/27/2019
