Sake from the Stallion Show – January 10-12, 2008

For a Friesian lover – and especially a breeder – the “hengstenkeuring” (stallion show) is the highlight of the year. Held in an arena in Leeuwarden Friesland in January each year, the newest young stallions are judged to determine which, if any, will go to the “finals” of stallion selections. The “finals” is actually a 70 day intensive test. In 2007, about 1500 young stallions tried for breeding privileges and only about 100 made it to the hengstenkeuring. Of those, about 30 made it to the test. Five of the 1500 were eventually approved.

Making it as far as the hengstenkeuring is an immense achievement in and of itself. This year 71 young stallions came. Of these, 26 made it through and will be going to the 70 day test. As a breeder, having a stallion get this far is a big deal. And if the young stallion can actually pass the test and be approved for breeding, you have yourself one of the top 100 Friesian stallions in the entire world.

Another huge part of the show is the judging of the already approved stallions. Up until the age of 13, these stallions come and compete against each other to see who will be named “World Champion” that particular year. Stallions who do well will likely be booked in large numbers during the breeding season – something that is obviously very profitable for their owners. So, the competition is a serious one.

For the spectators, both the young stallion selection, and the approved stallion competition, is just incredible. This year my friend Sara, who bought Cori’s foal Wikke, came along. I just read her comments from her flickr photo gallery. I think she describes it well:

“This was my first time to attend the hengstenkeuring…it was VERY exciting.

The people really take their horses seriously; the arena was packed on the last day. Add to that a haze of smoke, thunderous cheering and clapping to very loud music, and the whole thing had the air of a rock concert.

The horses really got in to it too: they were kittens in their box stalls and lions in the arena. You could really tell that they enjoy showing off as much as the people loved watching them. “

Over the next week or two I will add more info about the stallions and the show. Today I want to salute my friends Walter and Gryt Bruinsma. A few years ago their mare Teuntsje, who (at the time) lived in the farmhouse where we stay when we visit, was bred to the stallion Doaitsen. I remember telling Walter that I thought this would be a fine cross. After the foal was born, I asked him what he thought of it. “Very nice foal”, he said. “First premie. But”, he sighed, “it is a boy, so he will go to the stallion man.” Walter, the ultimate breeder, only keeps his females. I could tell he was a little disappointed that such a nice foal was a boy and not a girl. Alas.

Since that time, Teuntsje came to America and now lives in Texas. Teuntsje’s colt, named Sake (“SOCK-uh”) grew to be a wonderful young horse. We read the preliminary testing reports with glee as he made it to the first round of evaluation, then on to Leeuwarden and the stallion show! Last week I got to see Sake in the arena in Leeuwarden. He was magnificent and was one of the 26 who made it through to the “finals” – the 70 day test. That means that of about 1500 three year old stallions in 2008, he is in the top 26. Fantastic.

So, as my first video, here is Sake at the hengstenkeuring in his final pass by the inspectors. Congratulations to Sake’s owners, to the Bruinsmas, and to the Dumfords, who now own the fantastic Teuntsje. I am very happy for them all.