Friesian horses, which come from the Friesland Province of the Netherlands, are known for their elegance and agility which has made them a top choice for the sport of dressage. But it's their majestic looks, powerful muscles, and high intelligence that make Friesians for sale attractive to the eyes of Hollywood directors.



In the right hands, Friesians are easily trained, making them great animals to work with on the set. They learn commands quickly, move with purpose, have excellent body control, and are simply powerful looking animals with a commanding presence. Their calm demeanor also makes them preferred by trainers as well as for use as show horses where they are in close proximity to people.

Friesians were once used as war horses in Europe during the Middle Ages, so it makes sense that they are portrayed as such in Hollywood period war epics. However, because of their great physiques, Friesians have also been portrayed as being used in times and places where they never existed.

For example, the Friesian is used in the film 300, a retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae. The Battle of Thermopylae occurred in 480 BC, thousands of years before the Friesian breed as we know it today even came into existence.

But to the general audience, a horse is a horse is a horse. A misplaced breed of horse is unlikely to be as noticeable as, say, a jet's contrail streaking through the sky above Herod's temple in the first century. The reality is Spartans probably weren't as large as their actors portrayed them to be either. But when it comes to creating epic battle scenes, a little freedom is taken by directors, and they can be forgiven for wanting to use such a majestic looking animal in their film.

The Friesian Horse in Popular Culture

The movie 300 is just one of many films that the Friesian has starred in. Perhaps the big breakthrough roll for the Friesian occurred in 1985 when a Friesian named Othello was used for the role of Goliath in the film Ladyhawke. That breakthrough appearance ignited a worldwide interest in Friesians.

The movie Alexander, which takes place in 331 BC, also made use of Friesians. Other popular films where the Friesian was the star horse include Eragon, The Mask of Zorro, and Chronicles of Narnia among others.

Wherever you see Friesians for sale, you can be sure that buyers will be scrambling to buy so that they, too, can take part in the grandiosity of such a fine horse.