Day 3 of the Stallion Show – World Champ Results
The competition for the 2009 world championship began early. Though everything started at 9, the arena was well on its way to being full at 8. They started off with the older stallions. I took a few shots from the “backstage” area and it was definitely like being back stage at a rock concert.
For the actual competition, the classes are broken up by when the stallion were approved. The stallions are judged on their performance tis day and ranked for their class. The top two from each class goes on to the finals. Below are the class rankings.
Class 1: Fully approved (i.e., approved on offspring) up to 12 years old. Note that this group no longer must compete for premies.
1. Sape 381
2. Wobke 403
3. Teeuwis 389
4. Rik 396
5. Tsjalke 397 – inspector said Tsjalke has the best breed type, but just did not perform well in the movements today
Class 2: The brand new stallions, just approved in late 2008
1. Stendert 447
2. Sake 449
3. Norbert 444
4. Olgert 445
5. Pier 448
6. Michiel 442
7. Sjerp 446
Class 3: Stallions approved based on performance (i.e., approved via short test). Note that these stallions are not eligible for the world campionship, so they do not come back.
1. Tsjalf 443
2. Tsjabring 429
3. Tietse 428
Class 4: Stallions approved in 2007
1. Maurus 441
2. Mewes 438
3. Lutger 436
4. Maurits 437
5. Jesse 435
6. Maeije 440
By the way, during a break here, the head of the KFPS (I think Mr. Rosemond) welcomed people by speaking to them in these languages: Dutch, German, English, Spanish and Friesian. And our translator – Anneke, could speak these too. I was impressed, and I also felt horribly ignorant. Like a stupid American.
Class 5: Stallions approved in 2006
1. Jerke 434
2. Loadewyk 431
3. Jense 432
4. Jisse 433
5. Jorn 430
Class 6: Stallions approved in 2005
1. Haitse 425
2. Gjalt 426
3. Harmen 424
4. Hinne 427
5. Felle 422
Class 7: Stallions approved in 2004
1. Eibert 419
2. Arjen 417
3. Dries 421
4. Beintse 418
Class 8: Stallions from 2002-2004 who have been aprroved based on offspring
1. Doaitsen 420
2. Beart 411
3. Aan 416
4. Bente 412
5. Wikke 404
6. Wierd 409
7, Rindert 406
Andries 415 (did not complete. do not know why)
So, the finalists and results:
The group got narrowed down from 14 horses (the top two in each of the classes above) to 8: Doaitsen, Gjalt, Haitse, Jerke, Maurus, Mewes, Stendert, Sape. Then they went down to 4: Doautsen, Gjalt, Maurus and Stendert. Then to two – Champion Maurus and Reserve Doaitsen. There was no doubt about it – Maurus flat out WON the championship. The more the crowd cheered, the better he performed. And the better he performed, the more the crowd cheered.
I am working on video of the final 4 through the end result now. It will take some time on this rinky dinky travel computer. Plus I am really exhausted. I will have lots more tomorrow. I have LOTS of video to process over the next few days/weeks – nearly every stallion. And I plan to take a bunch of Friesland pics tomorrow and the next day.
Time for bed…
Day 2 of the stallion show – MAGNIFICENT
Adel retires
We just got back from the Friday evening event. It was AWESOME. There were dressage exhibitions, marathon driving, the history of the Friesian horse, pas de deux, even a little foal with a puppet strapped astride it (yes, that is correct!). I have loads of video but I will have to process it when I get back to a big computer.
Of all the incredible events, the one that stuck out to me was the retirement ceremony for the stallion Adel 357. Adel was approved to breed but was disapproved on offspring (too much white) a few years ago. Nevertheless, it is thanks to Adel and his prowess in dressage that Friesians started being noticed at all as a riding horse. Adel was an incredible ambassador of the breed, competing effectively at the very highest levels.
Last year he became ill with an infected spine and quit competing. Showing his true fighting spirit though, he came back and competed once more. Tonight he was permanently retired, at age 17. He has two sons who excel at dressage and they came out with him. One son, Cas, will most likely be approved as a breeding stallion in 2009 (he only has to do the short test since he is already a dressage master).
Peter Spahn, Adel’s rider, did a short routine with Adel tonight. Then they brought out his two sons and presented Adel with a basket of apples, carrots and sugar cubes. The crowd gave him a standing ovation and I do not think I was the only one with tears.
Thank you Adel. All of us who love Friesian horses owe part of that love to you.
Here is a video of Adel’s final routine. Wen I get back I will try to lighten it up.
From Day 1 – Harmen competes in harness
A lot of you folks have been interested in the stallion Harmen and I admit, I love that guy too. Yesterday he competed in the final harness test. Though the cumulative results for harness competition put him in 3rd place overall, last night he was magnificent.
Here I have a video. It is dark and I am sorry – when I get home on a real computer I will try to lighten it.
He was a real scene stealer last night. The hairy, barouque stallion also stole a lot of hearts.
Day 2 of the stallion show – 3rd round results
Today started with a couple of clinics. Unfortunately, we missed out on some of them – mom and dad were so tired that they had a hard time getting out of bed. Regardless, there was a good session on breeding. I just missed out on an excellent session on judging, but this summer there3 is to be a 5 day clinic here in Friesland. I am going to try very hard to save enough money so I can attend.
Starting at 2:30pm, the yound stallions who had not already been eliminated from contention were shown in hand in the 3rd round. Those that pass this step will make it to the coveted final 70 day performance testing to be held next fall in Ermelo, Friesland. Obviously, this is a huge deal for the breeders and owners of these 3 and 4 year old horses. The horses still have a massive obstacle to cross before they are allowed to breed, but look how far they have come! Already they are in the top 2% of all Friesian stallions in their age group.
The judges comments are intereting. For most horses eliminated, the common themes were “built downhill” and “no enough use of rear” or “too heavy on forehand”. It is obvious they want more athleticism and lightness of foot. Also, these guys are much taller than I remember from the groups just a few years ago.
I have recorded the results for you. The horses who made it through the 3rd round and will enter performance testing next autumn:
1 Volkert ut ‘e Reiden (Jacob x Oltman)
2 Talent fan Henswoude (Abel x Riemer)
3 Thomas van de Sanning (Folkert x Pike)
4 Vasco van Plexant (Olrik x Oltman)
5 Thymo JH (Onne x Rypke)
6 Tsjalf fan Fjildsickt (Mintse x Brandus)
7 Trotske L van de Sprong (Tsjalke x Ouke)
8 Tjardo V (Time x Lolke)
9 Theodor van Visser (Wikke x Feitse)
10 Vlip C (Beart x Anton)
11 Tjeerd vd Peester Hoeve (Beart x Djurre)
12 Tinus RM (Beart x Bonne)
13 Tjeerd fan de Wijde Blick (Bente x Oege)
14 Thorn van de Noeste Hoeve (Andries x Lefftert) – son of mare owned by US Lisa Schuler
15 Titus L ((Andries x Leffert)
16 Tesse fa ‘e Coulissenhoeve (Andries x Melle)
17 Thijs (Doaitsen x Jasper) – video in cage in my blog yesterday…
18 Tsjerk Lauwers (Doaitsen x Jurjen)
19 Timme Z (Felle x Djurre)
20 Tsjelke RK (Felle x Jillis)
21 Ulrik fa ‘e Vesta Hoeve (Dries x Tsjerk)
22 Tomke ‘fan Panhuys (Jasper x Fabe)
These 4 year olds made it too. Since they are more mature, their 70 test will be this spring rather than in the fall:
23 Reinder fan Augsbuurt (Andries x Oltman)
24 Reinder (Aan x Sierk)
25 Ruben van Erve Pootstad (Aan x Fabe)
26 Sjouke V (Doaitsen x Jelte)
I personally really like the Mintse son (6 above), the Doaitsen x Jurjen (18 above) and I have to root for a horse from a Melle mare (16 above).
An interesting side note: the KFPS selected a set of stallions at ramdom for drug testing afterwards. I had not heard of that before (of course, this year we have an english translation headset so I understand more of what is going on). BTW, the english siml-cast translation is being done by Anneke and she is *fantastic*.
Day 2 of the stallion show – clinics
We are heading out soon. I have been using Walter and Gryt’s computer this morning and managed to upload a few (crappy) photos and post a blog story from last night. I did take some video last night but will probably have to process it when I get back.
On the blog here, to the right, are photos from the show. I hope to add more today and tomorrow. Flickr set on this link.
Clinics today and a big show tonight. Should be great!
