The fairytalesque Friesian! Throughout the month of February, we are featuring Friesians and Friesian crosses.
Did you know… dressage riders who compete with a member of this stunning breed are eligible for special awards through the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards program? The Friesian Heritage Horse & Sporthorse International, Friesian Horse Association of North America, Friesian Horse Society, Friesian Sport Horse Registry, and Friesian Sporthorse Associationare all participating organizations!
After unexpectedly falling in love with a Friesian cross mare sold at a trail horse auction, this rider from Region 1 wishfully hoped she’d see her again – and she did!
By Kate Seufer
I wasn’t looking for a young Friesian cross when I began my hunt for a second horse for my farm in Virginia. On paper, I was looking for the exact opposite.
After relocating from California in 2020, and coming off an eight-year hiatus from riding after an accident and life changes, my goal was to find something “sensible” – slightly older (five- to ten-years-old), smaller (around 16 hands), and experienced, so my friends and family could ride with me. Most importantly, I wanted a partner to help me regain confidence as I worked through the challenges of starting my other energetic young mare under saddle. Little did I know, I would find something that checked a box I didn’t think about: finding absolute joy and fun in the saddle again.
In April 2021, I headed to a nearby trail horse sale. It is a big, well-run auction that is known for quality all-around horses. There were loads of beautiful Quarter Horses and draft crosses. But, as soon as I saw the tall, dark bay three-quarter Friesian, one-quarter Standardbred mare, I was hooked. Though she was only just turning four that month, and stood at a wide 16.3 hands, that towered over the other horses, her movement and kind eye were enchanting.
I watched her all day. I saw children, older riders, nervous amateurs, and knowledgeable dressage riders all climb aboard. She carried both balanced and unbalanced riders alike quietly in the sea of excitement around her, not taking advantage of anyone, nor looking dull and withdrawn. At the end of the day, I reached through the bars of her stall to stroke her muzzle, and she was still soft, receptive, and bright.
When I mounted up the next day, I had already long forgotten about my “sensible” checklist. She felt like a perfect match under me, and I had a huge smile on my face after we cantered. What a fun horse!
As it was my first horse auction, I set a strict budget for myself going into the bidding ring. The price went over my top number with one bidder, and with a heavy heart, I watched the hammer fall for them. I tried to be rational with myself – I had only met this horse two days prior! I would have to buy so many hair care products! She wasn’t what I was looking for anyway! – but I was truly heartbroken.
Over the next month, my sadness persisted. I tried several other horses, some of them Friesian crosses, but none of them felt the same to me. I joined all the Friesian and Friesian cross Facebook groups, harboring a secret, slightly irrational hope that I might see her soulful eyes again.
Somehow, it happened! She had gone to Ohio, and her new owner realized that she wasn’t their perfect match. The next few weeks were full of dizzying emotions; I was second in line, then the owner wavered on selling because she was just such a nice mare. I told her plainly (possibly slightly pleading): “If anything changes, I am ready. I already fell in love with her, and I’ve been regretting not purchasing her since the sale.”
Another month passed before the call came. My truck was in the shop, but my best friend didn’t hesitate – we hooked my trailer up to her truck and drove the seven hours to Ohio. I didn’t need a trial, and I didn’t even need a vet check. I just needed to bring this mare home. When we arrived in Ohio, she hopped right on the trailer with the “let’s go!” attitude that I now know to be one of her intrinsic characteristics. I didn’t name her until she came home, and we settled on “Freya” – the goddess of love, war, and beauty – appropriate for a beautiful mare with a bold personality, yet kind nature.
Bringing along a young Friesian/Standardbred cross in a dressage program has had some challenges (as all breeds have). She was started in a heavy leverage bit and has a relatively high neck set, so our first hurdle was her tendency to dive behind the vertical. We’ve spent a lot of time working on trust in the contact and finding a true reaching stretch. She was also started with large spurs and did some driving, so we had to teach her to listen to the lightest aids. She is incredibly smart and willing, so none of these challenges were insurmountable.
I had never shown dressage until I moved to Virginia, nor any sort of recognized horse sport, for that matter! I do not believe I would have continued showing if I had not found Freya. In our first year out, we had a lot of anxiety and tension (mostly mine), and I look back at the photos of our first show together, remembering how Freya really tried to do everything I asked of her despite the noise, excitement, and my inner panic. We continue to build our relationship, and while I still have some moments of that same panic, Freya and I share a mutual trust that can only be built over time with the right partnership.
For me, the “why” of dressage has always been the journey rather than the destination. That said, my long-term goal is to earn my USDF Bronze Medal on my own horse that I have trained (of course, with help from my fantastic trainers!). There is a profound sense of accomplishment knowing that every movement and transition has been built on the foundation of mutual confidence that we have created together. We have worked from Training to First Level, and our goal is to debut at Second Level this fall.
The most special thing about Freya is her willingness to try. I am not a perfect rider, but she is a kind and forgiving soul. She never holds a grudge for a mistimed aid; she continuously offers more. She is an incredibly happy horse, and I truly feel we go forward with joy. She may not have been the horse I was looking for, but she is the horse I needed.
If you are looking for a dressage partner, do not overlook a Friesian cross. Freya has given me the confidence to believe we can move up in the sport, even as an amateur with a full plate of other responsibilities, working full-time, and owning a farm. Most importantly, she has taught me that sometimes the best partnerships start where you aren’t expecting.
