Freiberger
{{Short description|Swiss breed of horse}}
{{About|the breed of horse|people with the surname Freiberger|Freiberger (surname)}}
{{Infobox horse breed
| name = Freiberger
| image = Swiss national stud farm Avenches-IMG 8518 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt = a chestnut horse with four white socks at the trot
| image_caption = At the {{ill|Haras National Suisse|fr|Haras national suisse}} at Avenches
| image2 =
| image_size2 =
| image_alt2 =
| image_caption2 =
| status = {{ubl|FAO (2007): not at risk{{r|barb|p=139}}|DAD-IS (2023): at risk/endangered-maintained{{r|dad}}}}
| altname = {{ubl|Franches-Montagnes|Franc-Montagnard|Cheval du Jura|Jura}}
| country = Switzerland
| distribution = {{ubl|Switzerland|Belgium{{r|dad3}}|France{{r|dad2}}}}
| standard =
| extinct =
| use =
| colour = usually bay, less often chestnut; rarely other colours{{r|elise|p=202}}
| height =
| male_height = 155 cm{{r|dad}}
| female_height = 147 cm{{r|dad}}
| weight =
| male_weight = 650 kg{{r|dad}}
| female_weight = 550 kg{{r|dad}}
| note =
}}
The Freiberger or Franches-Montagnes is a Swiss breed of horse of light draught type. It originates in the Canton of Jura in north-western Switzerland, and is named for the Freiberge or Franches-Montagnes District in the south of that canton. It is widely distributed in Switzerland, and is also present in France and Belgium.
It was formerly used principally as a farm horse or by the Swiss army; it is now used mainly for driving and riding. The {{lang|fr|Marché Concours|i=no}} is an annual fair for the breed held in Saignelégier, capital of the Franches-Montagnes District.
History
File:Der dreijährige Hengst Farand - CH-BAR - 3239951.tif (1910s photograph)]]
File:2004-Saignelegier-Marche-Concours-Freiberger.jpg
The Freiberger originates in the historic Jura region of Switzerland; use of horses in agricultural work and as post-horses is documented there from about 1620.{{r|isa|p=23|fm2}}
By the early nineteenth century, there were active breeders in the district of Franches-Montagnes. In 1817, there were {{val|4,000}} breeding mares. The horses were bred for use in agriculture and by the army as pack animals and artillery horses. There were imports of Anglo-Normans in 1821, and of Hanoverian, Oldenburger and other horses from England and France in 1830, all with the aim of correcting the perceived faults of the native breed – a heavy head, a short neck and a sloping croup – although its overall build was considered good.{{r|jobin|p=25|duerst|p2=64}}
The name Freiberger appeared in the late nineteenth century, used for the three types of horse previously named after the districts of Franches-Montagnes, Porrentruy, and Delémont. These types were called "cheval de Jura" and later "Franches-Montagnes" regardless of the district from which they originated. They had also been known as the race welsche.{{r|poncet|p=30}}
Until the early twentieth century there were named sub-types, such as the Anglo-Jura – with Thoroughbred blood - and the Normand-Jura, with some Anglo-Norman ancestry. It was only in the late twentieth century that the name (Cheval des) Franches-Montagnes became official.{{r|poncet|p=33}} The {{lang|fr|Marché-Concours des Chevaux|i=no}} in Saignelégier, a combined show, race and market dedicated to the breed, has been held annually since 1897.{{r|marche}}
Some cross-breeding with imported Swedish Warmblood stock took place in the 1960s.{{r|cabi|p=467}}
A stud-book was established in 1960.{{r|blw|p=15}} It was closed to any external admixture in 1997.{{r|pro}} In the same year a breed association, the Schweizerischer Freibergerverband or Fédération suisse d’élevage du cheval de la race des Franches-Montagnes, was established.{{r|fm}}
Although the Freiberger breed is not at risk, with an estimated total population in 2017 of about {{val|30000}}, of which approximately {{val|25000}} were in Switzerland, the original type – those with 2% or less of foreign blood – is endangered.{{r|elise|p=202|save2|p2=299}} An interest group for the preservation of this stock was formed in 1996 as the {{lang|de|Interessengemeinschaft zur Erhaltung des Original Freiberger Pferdes|i=no}} or {{lang|fr|Communauté d’intérêt pour le maintien du cheval originel des Franches-Montagnes|i=no}}.{{r|int}} In 1999 the total number of such horses was decreasing rapidly, with a remaining stock of about 300 mares and 30 stallions.{{r|save2|p=299}} In 2003 a conservation programme for the original type was established by the interest group, in collaboration with ProSpecieRara and with the {{ill|Haras National Suisse|fr|Haras national suisse}} at Avenches.{{r|cabi|p=467|pro|int}}
Characteristics
The Freiberger is variable in type, from a riding horse to a light draught horse conformation.{{r|cabi|p=467}} Mares average {{val|550|u=kg}} in weight and {{val|147|u=cm}} in height at the withers; the average height and weight for stallions and geldings are {{val|155|u=cm}} and {{val|650|u=kg}}.{{r|dad}} The usual coat colours are bay and chestnut, with only minimal white markings.{{r|cabi|p=467}}
Use
The traditional uses were as a draught horse for agricultural work, or as a military horse, either as a saddle horse or as a pack animal.{{r|cabi|p=467}} In the twenty-first century it is used both as a riding mount and for driving.{{r|cabi|p=467}}
References
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{{Horse breeds of Switzerland}}
Category:Horse breeds originating in Switzerland
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