Training and the Friesian Keuring
Yesterday our three year old fillies – Ock and Oeke – headed south for a two month training session. Since we are not professional trainers ourselves, we send the three year olds to a professional for training in harness and under saddle. This is timed so the horses will be in peak physical condition just as they go to their Friesian breed inspection (“keuring”). The keuring happens once per year. For us, this year’s keuring will be September 25 in Morristown, TN.
For a keuring, breed inspectors are brought in (generally from Europe) to judge horses against a breeding standard. This is not a competition between horses – each horse is judged on his/her own merits. After about 15 minutes, where the horse is judged on conformation as well as movement through the walk and trot, the horse is given a rating. The horse will also get a detailed “report card” in the mail in a few months time.
Babies are rated, and this is interesting and fun, but babies can change a lot over time so one takes these ratings a little less seriously. It is the rating for an adult, age 3 or more, that is of huge importance for a Friesian. Ratings vary from “not registerable” up to “studbook” then “3rd premie”, up to “2nd premie” and finally “1st premie”. An exceptional, and rare, rating of 1st or 2nd premie (1st or 2nd premies are also called called “ster” or “star”. You are very lucky to have a star quality horse – only about 1 in 5 can make this ) is quite something and can make the value of a horse – broodmares especially – rise 50% or more. So, when we take a 3 year old filly for star, it is a very big deal for us.
We select the trainer based on the trainer’s strengths and the needs of the horse. This year both Ock and Oeke are going to Wiebe and Amy Dragstra of Dragstra Stables in NC. Wiebe himself is Friesian and understands Friesian horses through and through. He is also a tremendous harness trainer – the best I have ever seen. I think he performs magic with these horses. Amy works with her husband Wiebe on the horse’s ground manners and does all the under saddle work. They are not cheap but they are, in my opinion, the best Friesian trainers on the east coast.
Look to this spot soon for pictures/videos of Ock and Oeke as they progress in their training. We are very excited!
