{"id":573,"date":"2010-08-09T04:00:25","date_gmt":"2010-08-09T04:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theequinest.com\/breeds\/?p=573"},"modified":"2025-02-08T13:06:34","modified_gmt":"2025-02-08T13:06:34","slug":"freiberg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theequinest.com\/breeds\/freiberg","title":{"rendered":"Franches Montagnes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Intro<\/h3>\n

Also called Freiberger and Jura, the Freiberg horse is a light to middle sized warmblood that was developed in Switzerland around the end of the 19th century.
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Origins<\/h3>\n

The breed began when local Jura mares were crossed with English Thoroughbred<\/a>, Anglo-Norman, Breton<\/a>, Belgian Draft<\/a> and Arabian<\/a> animals. The result was among the first light draft breeds developed in western Europe. The bloodlines were systematically crossbred until 1910, when selection narrowed to purebred animals only. <\/p>\n

The Freiberg was instrumental to the Swiss during both of the World Wars and continued to serve the locals as transport animals and farm aids in steeply sloped areas. This underlying usefulness encouraged breeders to maintain strict quality control over bloodlines and to consistently breed to type. Over the years two different types of Freiberg emerged, a heavier, more muscular type for pulling carts or agriculture and a smaller, lighter type for riding. <\/p>\n

Since the advent of the mechanized age, need for light draft animals has declined considerably so breeders have focused their efforts on perfecting the smaller, riding type of the breed. The old examples below show the different types fairly clearly and how different some of the strains were, from concave to convex profiles. <\/p>\n

Features<\/h3>\n

Average height 14.3 – 15.3 Hands<\/p>\n

Physique<\/h3>\n

Head is noble and intelligent
\nNeck is well muscled and well placed
\nChest is deep
\nLegs have good bone and well proportioned joints
\nFeet are well shaped and strong<\/p>\n

Traditional Colors<\/h3>\n

Chestnut<\/a>, black<\/a>, bay<\/a>, brown<\/a> and pinto<\/a><\/p>\n

Temperament<\/h3>\n

Honest and uncomplicated
\nLikes to learn
\nSurefooted and calm<\/p>\n

Use<\/h3>\n

Eventing horse
\nDriving
\nPleasure mount
\nTransportation
\nMilitary
\nTherapy animal<\/p>\n

Helpful Links<\/h3>\n

* all links open in a new window<\/small>
\nSwiss Freiberger Association, SFV<\/a>
\nHouse of Switzerland<\/a><\/p>\n

More Images<\/h3>\n
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\n\"Freiberger\n<\/div>\n
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\n\"Freiberger\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Video<\/h3>\n