Visions of Friesians Dance in My Head…
Well, yes I have fallen horribly behind in updating the web site. It is not that nothing is happening. In fact, the opposite is true. We have been busy, Busy, BUSY! The main thing monopolizing my time is working on the new barn and paddocks. You see, we now have a 2nd Tanbark Acres location. There is the big farm where Dee and Carlton and Carole (my mom, dad and sister) have their horses, and then the little place where I (Jeannine) live and now have my horses. The big farm is in Cana, Virginia and my place is 1 hour north, in Christiansburg VA, right by Virginia Tech (Go Hokies!). Since my place is still sort of under construction, and since I do the web updates, unfortunately the web updates have fallen behind. But here is the latest news.
Foals from last spring all sold
Beau and Tsjip, discussed in my last post, are sold and no longer available. Tsjip stayed local so we get to see him grow up. Beau’s new owner is my niece Meghan, who just stayed in love with Beau (see Beau and Meghan on Beau’s first day in this world). So he will stay on the big farm and if you come visit us you will be able to meet him.
New Foals Coming for 2009
We have some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that Hiltje lost her foal within a few weeks of conception. This is a rare occurrence – especially for Hiltje (she has had six foals already in her life) but these things do happen. We’ll rebreed her in the spring.
The good news is that we have two very pregnant mares now halfway through their pregnancies. Oeke (Wierd x Tsjerk), a 2nd premie ster mare, is in foal to Mintse. That upcoming foal has some of the best bloodlines imaginable. Oeke’s sire Wierd just won the harness championship for Friesian stallions for the 2nd year in a row over in the Netherlands. Damsire Tsjerk was just named preferent – and thus is one of only 2 living preferent stallions. And the upcoming baby’s father Mintse is a former world champion and scores out of the park on the trot. And Oeke’s damline is one of the most successful and well known in all of Friesland. Awesome!
Coriander (Wander x Lute), our 1st premie ster mare, is in foal to the very famous and coveted Heinse. Heinse is a legendary breeding stallion as well as 4th level dressage and two time Dutch driving champion. He has also sired four (yes FOUR) approved sons including TWO approved last year. Everyone wants to breed to Heinse, but alas, he is really hard to breed to due to poor semen quality from the old guy. In fact, I think it is possible that last spring was his last breeding season. Only 3 mares in the country are pregnant to Heinse – and Cori is one of them! We crossed Cori with Heinse before and got a dynamite colt (Wikke), now 18 months old and drop dead gorgeous. So we’re super excited about this baby.
Heinse’s latest approved son, Meinse 439 now in America!
The stallions approved in 2007 were just incredible – I have not seen a stallion group that good since the Doaitsen group a few years ago. I mean every single one made your mouth pop open. Well, one of them, Meinse, was just imported to America. He may be breeding here in 2009 – we’ll have to see. Meinse just won Friesland’s young stallion competition in dressage with a score over 70%. And since he is a Heinse son, and Heinse is incredible, I think Iron Spring made a wonderful purchase. It is great for them and great for America! I just happened to find the video I took in January 2008 of Meinse’s debut at the stallion show in Friesland. Here ya go!
