Main Studbook
This is the primary book for all mares, geldings and approved stallions which are older
than 3 years. Within the studbook there are also status ratings for exceptional quality horses such as Premies, Ster,
Model, Preferent and Performance. In order for a Friesian to be eligible it must be able to show 3 generations of Studbook
parentage on both sides. The studbook adheres to a set of strict guidelines relating to conformation, movement, colour,
temperament and soundness. It is the highest level of the registers and the purest, it denotes the ‘best’
of the Friesian blood based on ancestral lines.
Veulen Book (Foal Book)
This is the registry for Friesians stallions that did not gain entry into the studbook,
and also for all friesians under the age of 3 years that can prove 3 generations of studbook parentage and those that have
not yet been graded. Basically this is the beginning register for all horses who would also nominally qualify for entry
into the studbook when they reach 3 years of age. The progeny of Foal Book mares are eligible for inclusion in the Foal
Book, and later studbook, but, any colts born of Foal Book mares, are not eligible for Studbook entry as stallions, unless
the mare is upgraded prior.
Stamboek (Mare Book)
This refers to the tracing of Mare-lines, which can be quite useful when studying pedigrees
and looking at some of the more influential stam lines which have produced a number of approved stallions over time.
The mare-line is the bottom line on a pedigree – dam, grand-dam, great grand-dam etc. A paper is said to be “Full”
when at least the 3 previous generations from the horse’s Stam-line are rated at Ster or better.
B-Book 1
The B-Books were created for countries that do not have a large number of Friesians
and do not possess a sufficient number of Studbook stallions. Horses eligible are those sired by a Foal Book Stallion
with a restricted breeding permit from the FPS (also known as B-Book Approved Stallions) and Dam is also registered Studbook,
Foal book or B-Book 1. A horse may also be eligible if the Dam is B-Book 1 registered and the sire is a studbook stallion.
B-Book 1 has all the same status ratings as the Studbook and is open to mares, geldings,
stallions, and foals. There is the potential for a B-Book 1 horse to be upgraded to the Studbook register if the previous
3 generations of Sires were all studbook and the horse meets the required qualifications.
B-Book 2
This is a register to recognise friesians that are purebred, but not of significant
ratings or breeding quality, and are generally a product of a Foal Book Stallion, or B-Book stallion with no breeding approval
from the FPS and out of a friesian mare registered in any of the books. Also a B-Book 2 mare who is put in foal to any
Friesian stallion from any book will produce a B-Book 2 foal.
It is highly discouraged to produce such horses, and they do nothing to contribute in
a positive way to the friesian breed and is recommended that they neither be intentionally bred, bought, or sold, but act
as a last resort to recognise that the horse is still of pure friesian blood, but not necessarily quality.
Premiums (Premie)
This is a rating open to all purebred friesians. Friesians generally will be graded
at least twice during their lives, once as a a foal where they may receive a premium rating, and then again as adults at age
3 or 4 years. Premiums may be awarded at inspections to those horses who possess enough characteristics desirable of
the FPS score sheet to signify excellence, horses are judged individually against an ideal breed characteristics list, they
are not competed against each other, and those that score well will be given a premie rating dependant on score. A third
premium is awarded to approximately the top 25% of horses. A second premium is a horse which has exceeded criteria
expectations and is of very good quality, approximately 15% of friesian horses will receive this. A first premium
is for those which show exceptional quality over all aspects and only the top 5% of friesians will receive this award.
Those who receive a 1st or 2nd premium as an adult may also receive a honorable ‘ster’ status.
But not all friesians will receive a premium status, only those that can show enough desirable characteristics which inspectors
believe are good for the breed and not all will be entered into the studbook if they do not meet the requirements.
Ster (Star)
Ster is a rating given to mares and geldings in the studbook and unapproved stallions
in the foalbook. It is awarded to those horses that show ideal movement and conformation, and only a small
number of all friesian horses will be good enough to receive this status. To receive a Ster status, a horse must show
totally correct conformation, correct extended movements with good extension, straight walk, powerful and flexible with good
reach from the shoulder. Hind legs are equally powerful and brought well forward underneath the body. The trot
must be extended and elevated, with power from the hindquarters, light footed with a moment of suspension and good flexion
of the hock . Within a Ster rating, horses will also be given a Premie status of 1st or 2nd Premium
depending again on exactly how much of these ‘ideal’ characteristics they possess.
Model Mare
A predicate which can be awarded to Ster mares of exceptional quality which represent
a ‘model’ for the Friesian horse. Not only do they possess superior movement and conformation, but
the mare must have born a foal to prove fertility and pass an IBOP test (one day suitability). The IBOP requires the
mare is at least 1.58m (15.2 ¼ hh) and she scores at least a 77 or more shown either under saddle or driving for the test.
You can also elect to perform the AFBP test which is a 5 week aptitude and ability test). She is a fine example of the
best of her breed in all aspects and very few will receive this prestige.
Preferent
Preferent can be given to both Mares and Stallions, but not geldings and it is awarded
to very few horses based on the superior overall quality of their offspring. Qualifications for preferent mare and stallion
differ.
For a mare to become preferent she must be in the studbook and have produced at least
4 quality offspring with a rating of star or model mare, star geldings, or studbook stallion with a breeding license or which
has reached the second round of the inspections.
For a studbook stallion to become preferent his oldest offspring
must be at least 10 years of age and there must be sufficient numbers of offspring to judge sport performance and consistency
in passing on quality genetics and also have at least one or more sons as approved studbook stallions. The selection
process for stallions is a lot more rigorous including an analysis of the number and performance of his quality rated offspring
which will be compared with all other studbook stallions over the same time period, everything from sporting results, testing,
sore percentages, fertility rate of at least 50%, temperaments of offspring, size of mares plus many other factors are taken
into consideration before a decision will be decided. To get an understanding on how difficult it is for a stallion
to actually achieve this exquisite elite level, there are currently actually only 2 living Preferent Sires in the entire World,
Feitse 293 and Leffert 306.
