The World's Most Beautiful Horse Is in Danger Due to Inbreeding and Greed in Friesland

The Friesian horse, renowned for its jet-black coat and flowing mane - named the most beautiful horse in the world in 2016 - is in serious trouble. Inbreeding driven by profit is producing foals with severe deformities.

Former breeder Wierd Peter Visser set up a reporting center for health problems in Friesian horses. It is overflowing with cases of esophageal, eye, intestinal and stomach issues. "I'm afraid that in ten or twenty years, our descendants won't be able to enjoy the Friesian horse if this continues," he says.

The breed dates back to Roman times, used originally as war horses and later for agriculture in Friesland. A strict studbook was established in 1879 to preserve pure bloodlines, with no crossbreeding allowed. Today, every Friesian horse traces back to just three or four original bloodlines.

In 2022, more than a third of all foals were descendants of just ten popular stud stallions. The breed now has over twenty known hereditary defects: hydrocephalus, esophageal blockages, aortic ruptures, and cerebellar abnormalities that cause foals to be born like zombies.

Some breeders are quitting in despair. Stephanie Dietrich, who lost a foal, describes how the vet had to saw off the foal's front legs to remove it piece by piece from the mare to save her life. One straw of semen from a top stud stallion costs around 1,500 euros.

The KFPS (Royal Friesian Horse Studbook) acknowledged the problem. Their own breeding council recommended limiting top stallions to 120 matings and allowing more outside stallions. The board rejected the plan, citing legal concerns and doubts it would reduce inbreeding. A new breeding plan is due by October 1.