Hi everyone,
I am going to look at a friesian cross / Arab, 50/50 won’t be too big around 15 hands. I am a little nervous as I have read up on fresians and there myriad of potential health issues. :(. I was wondering about people’s experiences with the crosses and if the crosses also tend to have as many problems. Thanks for any advice / experiences / input!
I am involved with one of the registries (Friesian Heritage Horse) and our board members have been involved in Friesian cross breeding for over 10 years. We watch health issues closely (as well as reproduction issues), and are seeing that the crosses tend to not inherit the health issues - very much like cross breeding dogs, you get a “hybrid vigor”. The only exception is the multi-generational crosses that are 3/4 to 7/8 Friesian, where at least the reproduction weaknesses start to show up again.
This is by no means a scientific study, but it is something we are all aware of. Having said that - I’ve owned several purebred Friesians and none of them had the health issues that are so often discussed. It may be because they were always out - I have wondered if stalling them leads to higher health problems?
My crosses have been pretty hardy and healthy - I keep track of most of the youngsters I’ve sold over the years, and so far, so good. But mine are all 1/4 to 1/2 Friesian, so not a high %.
I would also point out that MOST breeds have their specific health issues. And in most cases, outcrossing helps lower the risk of those issues.
There are a few breeders that are doing Arab/Friesian crosses - I know of one who did combined driving with them and another who is showing dressage on the Arab circuit. At least for those horses, they are sound, healthy, and doing well.
Thank you Mystic oak for your input. Just curious does it get real hot and humid in your part of California? I am in the northeast and was worried about the temps and humidity possibly being a factor but you have alleviated some of my fears. ;). Thanks again!
If you look in my sig, there is an album full of photos of my half Arabian/half Friesian mare.
She has been nothing but healthy since I got her a year ago. Shiny, perfect feet, no skin issues, no colic, no heaves, etc…
She’s 14.3. A little sports car!
[QUOTE=MLK1;7670321]
Hi everyone,
I am going to look at a friesian cross / Arab, 50/50 won’t be too big around 15 hands. I am a little nervous as I have read up on fresians and there myriad of potential health issues. :(. I was wondering about people’s experiences with the crosses and if the crosses also tend to have as many problems. Thanks for any advice / experiences / input![/QUOTE]
My husband has a Friesian walker cross. I’ve shown dressage on him, and done well. His primary job is as the husbands mountain/hunting horse. Never had any health issues with him at all. Never, ever needs shoes. He’s a hair over 15.1, size 2 feet and really easy kept. He’s the go to horse for packing out game. Has brought many elk off the mountain, and could care less. He is absolutely not replaceable. I’ve been looking for a Friesian Arab cross for a while as hubby wants another one, just a little narrower through the barrel. The only issue I’m having is the must have list! Must be black, a colt and 2 or under age wise. I keep telling the husband that we’ll be looking for a while to find that exact horse!!!
Thanks everyone, you are making me feel a lot better!:winkgrin:
A lot of issues arise due to homozygosity, which increases with inbreeding. Other issues are just due to the founder effect (small initial gene pool with detrimental genes). I can’t speak to which issues with Friesians are due to one or the other, but I suspect most are due to inbreeding, so outcrosses shouldn’t have issues, as folks above have explained.
I have a 12 yr old Friesian x (arab/Hanoverian mom) & one of the reasons I am so happy with her is that she is so healthy & sound. knock on wood- she has never been sick (she has been at the same place her whole life) & is sound sound sound. No issues at all, doesn’t even need shoes. Even the PPE vet was impressed with her sturdiness.
She is the only Friesian or cross that I have known, but she’s a good’un. She is just about 16 H & medium wide. She was, ahem, wider when I got her, but after she slimmed down a ton ppl were surprised that she wasn’t as drafty as their initial impression.
[QUOTE=MLK1;7670741]
Thank you Mystic oak for your input. Just curious does it get real hot and humid in your part of California? I am in the northeast and was worried about the temps and humidity possibly being a factor but you have alleviated some of my fears. ;). Thanks again![/QUOTE]
Not a lot of humidity, but heat, oh my… Our Summers are often over 100 degrees, ugh, double ugh! A normal day in July and August is mid-90s, and we see to get 10 to 20 days of 100 to 110 throughout the Summer months.
I have a 17hd grey Friesian/Percheron cross for my husband and have had zero issues with him health-wise. He’s got great feet; doesn’t seem overly susceptible to the heat especially for his size; being grey helps I think versus being black coated. The big black full Percheron mare I owned previously had a terrible time with the heat and flies in deep South; nothing funky, she was just hot and miserable.
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