Friesian owners a breed apart

WASILLA— More than a dozen rare, majestic black steeds line up for roll call.

Not in the military, these horses at times train like they are — especially prior to being judged by European and American horse experts.

At the Twin View Farm in Wasilla, area Friesian horse owners brought their rare equines to the arena inside the farm’s barn to be judged and hopefully officially registered as full-bred beauties. At the Wasilla judging, the horses are competitors against a standard of excellence designed so the stellar characteristics are carried on for another millennium.

Horses were tested for their disposition, appearance, temperament, walking, trotting and confirmation.

Valerie Keeler has five full-bred Friesians and a few half-breeds. She’s the owner of Paradise Ranch in Wasilla, a horse breeding sanctuary she and Jeff Duffield run year-round.

Keeler began her love affair with Friesians after watching the movie “Ladyhawk” as a child. She wanted to be Michelle Pfeiffer, riding a majestic black horse of her own one day.

“It’s a corny movie, but it has a Friesian in it, so I fell in love,” she said.

Friesians were used in the Middle Ages to carry knights in armor.

Keeler said Friesians are the best horse for new owners because of their gentle nature. “These horses are definitely a different style, but they get along with almost all kinds of people and animals.”

Judgings help keep the breed’s standard at its highest and ensures breeding can happen with an FHANA stamp of approval, Keeler said.

Keeler showed off Glacier on Friday, a 5-year-old full-bred who was purchased as a carriage horse. Glacier stands more than 6 feet tall and has long, wavy hair that rests over her eyes. She was bred to work, but on Friday, Glacier took a break to pose for the judges.

“She’s big and she moves really slow. The dust is bad today,” Keeler said, brushing and adding a coat of shine to Glacier. “But she’s ready to go.”

Ronin, another 5-year-old, is the father of many of the younger full- and half-breed Friesians in Alaska. Owner Kacey Cooper bought Ronin in July from Paradise Ranch.

“I’ve wanted one of these since I was 10,” Cooper said. “Ronin is a phenomenal trail horse and it was definitely his personality that attracted me to him.”

Ronin was gelded earlier this year.

“He was getting too excited and it was time to mellow him down,” Cooper said. Ronin possesses what Cooper describes as an “animated gate,” or a lofty and unique walking style, lifting his legs at command and riding with a confidence for which traditional Friesians are known.

Typically, judges look for confidence in a Friesian and take off points for excessive shyness, Cooper said.

FHANA and FPS judges looked over the assembled horses with care and precision, marking notes and mumbling comments under their breath as they inspected the horses. Many of the Friesians seemed unaffected by the attention.

“I’ve never had horses as gentle as these,” said Dan Wiggins, owner of Eclipse, a half-bred Friesian, and Sonje, a full-bred.

Native to the Friesian province of the northern Netherlands, the breed saw a decline in population as it was replaced as a work animal by tractors and cars, according to Wikipedia.com. They made a comeback during World War II, when fuel rationing brought back more use of horse-drawn carriages and working farm animals.

Friesians can be difficult to find for sale. Imke Maring’s 5-year-old full-bred Friesian, Inka, came from Canada more than two years ago. Maring, an Anchorage resident, purchased Inka from Keeler.

“She’s in heat now,” Maring said, brushing Inka’s short, black coat. “If I had the room, I’d breed her. But for now I like just riding her and driving her in the cart.”

Inka received a thorough brushing Friday before being hustled into the ring for judges to inspect.

“When a horse is judged, it’s worth more,” Maring said. “Most owners of Friesians just want them to be registered, to be legit with papers.”

Inka is valued somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000, Maring said.

With that kind of investment and worth, showing and caring for Friesians isn’t for the faint of heart.

FHANA is the North American arm of the original Friese Paarden-Stamboek (FPS). The FPS is recognized as the European Mother Studbook of the Friesian horse and is the worldwide authority on the breed. The rules of the studbook are complex, as are those of the FPS.

According to FPS, the purpose of judging is to preserve and improve the breed. Judges on Friday evaluated full- and half-breed quality foals and adult horses, while a Dutch judge looked at a combination of a horse’s movement (60 percent) and conformation (40 percent).

All animals passing inspection receive an electronic identification chip in the upper left neck, midway between poll and withers. The chip code is on the horse’s registration paper. Even with all of the primping and preening, only 3 percent of Friesians mares are judged to be a “model” of the breed.

Maring said Friday’s judges looked for the standard Friesian trademarks of a long, uncut tail, completely black coats, feathers on the hooves and other appearance-based characteristics.

“They really are gentle giants,” Maring said of the animals, which are large enough to carry heavy workloads, but patient enough to put up with judges poking and prodding.

Patrice Weinmeister from Anchorage also had a pure-bred Friesian at Friday’s show. Lysje, a 4-year-old from Idaho, was purchased in utero by Weinmeister.

“I used to read about these horses from fairy tales and always wanted one,” Weinmeister said. “Plus, black is slimming.”

Lysje isn’t a big eater, consuming less than 100 pounds of hay each week, Weinmeister said, adding that having Lysje on the registry helps promote the breed and solidifies the integrity of the Friesian.

These Alaskan Friesian owners are determined to so their part to ensure this breed of serene steeds never faces extinction again.

Contact J.J. Harrier at valleylife@frontiers-man.com or 352-2269.