Wierd 409’s Daughter – Oeke’s Story

A couple of months ago, the stallion Wierd 409 won a major Dutch harness championship. Son of the wonderful world champion Folkert 353, Weird has finally started to get some recognition. As a 3 year old his stallion scores summed up to 83.1 with the highest being in the trot (8.3) and Show Driving (9.0). The judges said “He is an honest, spontaneous stallion, who loves to work. He often starts with lots of spirit, and is dedicated to his work….He is a striking show horse”. When Wierd recently won the driving championship, it seems the Dutch noticed him for the first time.

Wierd is now about seven years old and her will soon go for offspring testing. Perhaps he will be approved, perhaps not. But his chances are a little better now.

A few years ago my sister and her husband pulled together every nickel they could muster and bought a Wierd x Tsjerk filly. That filly is now 3 and goes to the keuring in a few weeks. She is very pretty and smart, and is still developing her strength and balance. Two weeks ago she went to the trainer to be broke under saddle and in harness, and will hopefully be in peak condition for the keuring. My sister adores this horse and is working 3 jobs so she can afford to pay the trainer.

Yesterday we visited this filly. After only two weeks, her balance has improved immensely. She needs more hindquarter work, but should start pulling a sled next week. This is the best training I can think of to improve the hindquarters. And Wiebe Dragstra, the trainer, is the best Friesian harness trainer I know. Oeke’s progress has been impressive – I am very excited for her. My sister could not go to see her filly – she had to work.

The filly’s name is Oeke. It is Friesian for “sweetheart”.

I have posted a video from yesterday. Oeke looks so much like her father Wierd, it is, well, wierd: