A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO FRIESIAN HORSE BREED STANDARDS AND GRADINGS
Friesian horses are graded, at events called ‘keurings’, by a team of qualified inspectors from
the Koninklijke Vereniging “Het Friesch Paarden -Stamboek (KFPS) (The Royal Friesian Horse
Studbook). In the Netherlands this can be either at Breeders’ Days organised throughout the
summer by the regional Breeders’ Clubs (such as the prestigious Blauwhuis keuring), at
Studbook organised keurings, or in some cases at private foal inspections held at the larger
stud farms. Overseas Organisations may organise regional Breeders’ Days or annual central
inspections. FHAGBI is responsible for organising the annual Inspections in the UK / Republic
of Ireland, usually held in early September.
FOALS:
Colt and filly foals are entered into the foalbook (Veulenboek, vb) and graded at the side of their
dam, aged between 6 weeks and 6 months (or weaning). They can receive a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd
premium (known as a ‘premie), or no premium, following assessment by the inspectors on
quality of movement, racial type, conformation and development..
YEARLING & 2 YEAR OLD FILLIES:
Yearling and 2 year old fillies may be presented for premium grading and are judged along the
same lines as the foals. Those gaining a 1st Premium and Youngstock Championship Titles at
Breeders’ Days are entitled to enter the Central Mare Show, held each October in the
Netherlands.
YEARLING & 2 YEAR OLD COLTS:
KFPS Inspectors will “watch” yearling and 2 year old colts and comment on their racial type,
conformation, development and movement. However, colts are not graded at this age.
MARES FROM 3 YEARS OF AGE:
STUDBOOK (STAMBOEK STB) & STER
Having been inspected as foals and entered into the Foalbook, mares of sufficient quality can
be judged a second time, for entry into the main studbook, at three years and older provided
they have attained a minimum height at the withers of 154cm. A Linear score form will be
completed by the inspectors, taking into account various racial, conformation and movement
characteristics which form the basis of the grade given as shown in the table below. Mares
gaining a 1st or 2nd Premium, with a height at the withers of at least 156 cm are eligible for the
STER Predicate. Mares attaining a 3rd Premium will be entered into the studbook, but do not
get the prestigious STER Predicate, and are often referred to as ‘Studbook mares’.
In addition to the linear scoring system, inspection gradings consider the following points with a
mark out of 10 for each:

Racial Type
A jet black colour with no white markings (only a small star is permitted), a noble head
with small attentive ears slightly inclining towards one another, a vertical swan neck, a
luxurious long flowing mane and tail, and a proud bearing.

Frame
Harmoniously built and well proportioned. A strong back joining a croup of good length
which should not slope too much. A sloping shoulder and good depth of girth with well
sprung ribs. An ‘uphill’ built horse with an ideal height at the withers of 160 cm at 3 years
old.

Legs and Feet
Strong, clean, correct legs and feet with a well developed forearm.

Walk
Straight, with sufficient length and power, elegant and smooth

Trot
Characterised by a high knee action, powerful, long, balanced and supple.
The average scores reflect the premium (Premie) given.
Ave. score
<6
~6
~ 6-7
~7
>7
Rosette
Yellow
White
Red
Orange
Premium
Not entered in studbook
Studbook no premie
Studbook 3 rd Premie
Ster 2 nd Premie
Ster 1st Premie
However, horses with one or more characteristics rated as 4 or less may well be rejected
regardless of their other scores, and if a horse receives a score of 5 in a series of scores, it will
not receive the title of STER, even if the average score is over 7.
PREDICATES:
CROWN (Kroon)
A Crown predicate may be awarded to mares 3 years and older of exceptional quality. In
Holland the mare must achieve a first premium at both a Breeders’ Day and a central inspection
within the same year. In the UK she must first of all achieve a first premium at the annual
inspections, she must be at least 3 years old and have a height at the withers of at least 158cm
to be considered for provisional Crown status. The definite Crown status is given once the
mare completes an AFBP test (intended to establish the horse’s aptitude as a dressage and/ or
harness and/ or show driving horse, primarily aimed at horses from 3 through to 5 years, and
also assessing willingness to work and stable manners over a period of 33 days, or for an
abbreviated version of the test, of 15 days) or an IBOP test (a performance test intended to
establish the suitability of a horse for a certain use be that dressage, harness or show driving,for
horses aged 4 years or older. ), before the end of the next calendar year with a minimum score
of 77 points and an average of 7.0 for the walk and trot, or to have acquired the Sport title in the
same period of time. To complete the AFBP test a mare would currently have to return to
Holland. At present only the IBOP test is offered at the UK inspections.
MODEL
A Model predicate may be awarded to mares 7 years and older of really exceptional quality
(being of an even higher standard than Crown). The mare must achieve a first premium at a
Breeders’ Day and at the Central Inspection within the same year (or a 1st Premium at the
Annual UK inspections), have a height at the withers of at least 160cm and must have suckled
or be suckling a foal to be considered for provisional Model status. For definite Model status,
the provisional model mare must complete an AFBP or IBOP test, before the end of the next
calendar year, with a minimum score of 77 points and an average of 7.0 for the walk and trot, or
to have attained the Sport title in the same period of time.
(Model Mare – Femma L)
GELDINGS FROM 3 YEARS OF AGE:
Foalbook geldings from 3 years of age can be judged for entry into the Gelding book (ruinboek
Rb) and for premium grades provided they have attained a minimum height at the withers of
156cm. Those achieving 1st or 2nd Premiums, with a minimum height of 158cm can also be
awarded the STER predicate. A foalbook STER stallion which has been castrated retains his
STER predicate.
STALLIONS FROM 2 ½ YEARS OF AGE:
Stallions are graded from 2 ½ years of age for STER status, provided they have reached a
minimum height of 158cm, although they remain in the foal book (veulenboek vb). The best
young stallions are referred to the Central Keuring in the Netherlands. A handful of stallions are
selected for a ridden and driven performance test and only those scoring highly enough will be
approved for breeding. Approved stallions must be at least 158cm at the withers at 3 years of
age and at least 160cm at the withers by 4 years of age. The approved stallions have to be
active in dressage or driving competition, and their offspring are monitored for quality and
performance. Young approved stallions up to the age of 13 attend the Hengsten Keuring
(Stallion Inspection), held each January in Leeuwarden, where they compete against their
contemporaries for 1st Premium status and entry to the Championship. Approved studbook
stallions aged 13 years and older, and approved on offspring also attend the Hengsten Keuring,
and are paraded on long lines, but not graded nor entered for the championship, as they are
deemed by this point to have lifetime approval.
SPORT PREDICATE:
The sport title is given to mares, geldings and stallions excelling in competitive sport. The title
can only be awarded on results achieved at shows registered with the KNHS (Royal Dutch
Equestrian Sport Federation). The minimum requirements are
-
Dressage (Z1 + 5 points),
Show Driving (cat. I &II honorary class and cat.III open class, in a single season
placed 6 times as prize winner in the “green season” (15th April – 1 October).
Dressage in harness (Z + 10 points).
Combined Driving (Class 3 + 10 points…but it must be agreed with KFPS and KNHS
in advance which horse is being entered for Sports Predicate).
For horses competing in sports outside of the Netherlands, comparable requirements will be
applicable and will be evaluated by the KFPS Sports Committee / Inspection Jury.
PREFERENT MARES:
Preferent status may be awarded to Foalbook, Ster, Crown and Model mares if they have
produced four high quality offspring, defined as Ster, Crown or Model mares, Ster geldings, Ster
foalbook stallions, Approved Studbook stallions, and/or Stallions through to the second round of
the Central Stallion Judging.
Preferent status may be given posthumously and can be requested by either the mare owner or
the owner of the offspring.
PREFERENT STALLIONS:
Approved studbook stallions may be given Preferent status on the basis of the quality of their
offspring. To gain Preferent status, Approved stallions must score in excess of 1000 points
based on the following weightings
Predicate
factor
1. Ster predicate (Mares, geldings, stallions)
2. Crowm predicate (Mares)
3. Model predicate (Mares)
4. Sport predicate (Mares, geldings, stallions)
5. Preferent Mares
6. Performance dam
7. Approved Studbook Stallion
8. Studbook stallion approved on offspring
9. Dams of Studbook stallions
weighting
1
5
10
15
15
20
25
50
20
However, to gain Preferent status, the character and work-willingness of the stallion and his
offspring, the percentage of offspring with white markings, and the overall contribution to breed
standards will be taken into account, particularly for stallions with between 700 and 1000 points,
whose owners apply for the Preferent title.
PERFORMANCE DAM (PRESTATIE MOEDER):
This is given to mares who have produced three offspring which have been awarded the Sports
title.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
For more comprehensive information on Keuring regulations, Central Inspection regulations,
IBOP and AFBP tests, please visit www.fps-studbook.com . Select KFPS from the menu on
the left hand side, and then select KFPS regulations from the drop down menu, followed by the
link to the information that you require (printable in PDF format).