(1910s) 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. By the early nineteenth century, there were active breeders in the district of
Franches-Montagnes. In 1817, there were 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. 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. 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. The in
Saignelégier, a combined
show,
race and market dedicated to the breed, has been held annually since 1897. Some
cross-breeding with imported
Swedish Warmblood stock took place in the 1960s. A
stud-book was established in 1960. It was closed to any external admixture in 1997. 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. Although the Freiberger breed is not at risk, with an estimated total population in 2017 of about , of which approximately were in Switzerland, the original type – those with 2% or less of foreign blood – is
endangered. An interest group for the preservation of this stock was formed in 1996 as the or . In 1999 the total number of such horses was decreasing rapidly, with a remaining stock of about 300 mares and 30
stallions. In 2003 a
conservation programme for the original type was established by the interest group, in collaboration with
ProSpecieRara and with the
Swiss National Stud Farm at
Avenches. == Use ==