A Brave Knight In Cowboy Country

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 a riding career in various breeds and disciplines, this Region 5 rider found her true calling in the dressage ring with a very special Friesian cross.

By Sarah Wood

Hi, my name is Sarah. I’m 25 years old, and I’ve spent the majority of my life in the saddle. Horses have taken me through many chapters, from being a competitive hunter/jumper as a junior, working as a wrangler on a guest ranch in Wyoming, serving as an assistant trainer, and now, finding myself as a USDF Region 5 rider on my Friesian/Gypsy Vanner cross (Gypsian) gelding, Phineas KO. It was never on my bingo card to become a competitive dressage rider, or to own a Friesian. In the “Cowboy State,” opportunities like this are rare, but I landed myself right in the middle of one.

I grew up riding off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) and warmbloods in Florida, and my only exposure to Friesians back then was seeing them in parades, at big shows, or as beautiful “backyard ornaments” owned by friends’ moms. I always admired them from afar, but never imagined owning one. 

When I moved to Wyoming in 2021, I still had no real experience with the breed, as they’re not commonly used in ranch environments. That changed in 2024, when I met my trainer, Farrah Green, in Cody, Wyoming. Our barn is home to five Friesians and Friesian crosses, either boarded or owned by fellow students. I originally came to Farrah with my Gypsy/Quarter Horse cross, Odie, an incredible liberty and free-riding horse with a lot of talent for ranch work. I wanted to learn natural horsemanship, something I’d never been taught before. 

Over time, Farrah and I became close, as she began getting back into USDF-recognized shows with her Andalusian gelding. She built a small but ambitious show team.

In July of 2025, after Farrah returned from a Region 5 show, I was helping muck out her trailer when she casually asked if I’d ever want to get back into competing. I told her yes, but I didn’t feel it was fair to put my short-strided, pony-ish gelding up against big-moving warmbloods. She understood, and that’s when she brought up her Gypsian gelding, Phineas. She told me he was incredibly talented, but needed a strong, fit, and dedicated rider to bring out his full potential and go the distance with him. Then she said, “You should try him tomorrow so I can see how he does with another person riding him.” 

I finished mucking out the trailer, absolutely giddy at the thought of riding such a big, powerful horse. It had been years since I’d sat on a true performance mount, and while I knew I could never afford him, and had never even competed in dressage, I was equally excited and terrified that I might hold him back. The next day, I pulled on my full-seat breeches, dusted off my ancient Ariat field boots, and headed to the barn. 

When I went to catch Phineas for the first time, he nickered at me and walked right over, nudging my pocket for a cookie. I had no expectations beyond simply enjoying the ride, but the moment I sat in the saddle and saw that iconic Friesian neck arching in front of me, my heart caught fire. Later, Farrah said, “The heavens opened up and the stars aligned when I saw you ride him.” And that’s exactly how it felt.

There’s another part of Phineas’ story that makes our partnership feel even more meaningful to me. Before he ever became mine, Phineas and his two brothers came to Farrah after their original owner, an incredible woman who loved them deeply, was losing her battle with cancer. In her final months, she made the decision to ensure her horses would be safe, loved, and placed somewhere they could continue to thrive. That’s how all three of them ended up at Farrah’s barn. 

From the beginning, Farrah told me that Phineas was different. He was sensitive, intelligent, and felt attachment deeply. He needed his person. Someone who would commit to him fully, believe in him, and grow with him. After just a few weeks together, Farrah looked at me and said she could already see how much Phineas wanted me to be that person for him.

I struck a deal with my incredible parents, and everyone involved in the sale was eager to solidify Phineas’ and my partnership. Phineas would be mine, but under one condition: we had to win. From August to September, we worked relentlessly with one clear goal in mind: to be ready to compete at the Great American/USDF Region 5 Dressage Championships and Open Show in Parker, Colorado. My personal goal was simple, but daunting out of the starting gate: to earn a 65% at First Level. We did it – twice. 

Even more unforgettable was a comment from one of the judges: “This pair has the clear ability to go to the upper levels.” I will never forget that feeling, walking out of the ring knowing we had truly earned it. Not just the scores, but the quiet, overwhelming certainty that this partnership was real, that we were only just beginning. 

My most ambitious goal is to be able to do upper-level freestyles; I already have a two-hour-long Spotify playlist of very unique songs to choose from when the time comes. I would love to rock USDF by doing a freestyle to music never before heard on a dressage stage. From Black Sabbath, to “War” by Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, to traditional Nordic throat singing as the most unique. But this summer, I am hoping to earn my USDF Bronze Medal and surpass Phineas’ previous scores at Second Level. 

My partnership with Phin has changed a lot of things about my horsemanship and riding abilities. I have never ridden a horse as extroverted as he is; he truly has no stop button. So, I have to remind myself not to overdo it, even though he doesn’t seem tired, and I try to limit my rides to 45 minutes or find a good stopping point. I am the strongest I have ever been riding-wise, and I need to be stronger for him and for our goals. He has gotten me back into the gym, and specifically training my core and stability, which is needed for his absolutely massive extended trot. 

I would also say that I take everything I feel and do with him into the saddle of every other horse I ride. I know how a correct shoulder-in and travers feels, I know how to build up to a half pass, and I know how to start teaching collection now. As someone who rides five or more horses a day, it is very helpful to have him teach me so I can teach other horses the correct way. 

The most precious thing about Phin is how much he loves my ten-month-old colt; they share food together, and he puts up with Kilmer’s antics like an old babysitter gelding. He also loves to play in the pasture, and on the ground. I was teaching Odie to Spanish Walk, and Phin came marching out in front of us as if to show off to Odie. He is so eager to please, and genuinely likes to make me and everyone else laugh. 

Phineas makes me feel like a brave knight and a princess all in one. We have shared so many quiet moments together. I’ve cried on his back in the moonlight when outside circumstances felt crushing, and he has leaned into me when he needed reassurance that he wasn’t alone. I truly believe this horse will carry me through my highest highs, like a princess waving to the crowd from her beautiful steed, and also through life’s hardest battles, reminding me that I am a brave knight when I need to fight. 

I would tell anyone looking for a Friesian or Friesian cross to compete with that they are absolutely worth your while, but only if you’re ready for their power, athleticism, and big personalities. Since buying Phineas, I’ve worked with multiple Friesians and Friesian crosses, and while each one is completely unique, they all seem to share the same core traits. They genuinely aim to please, they are incredibly powerful with expressive, big movement, and they feel deeply, especially when it comes to their people. They aren’t just beautiful horses, they’re partners in the truest sense of the word. And if you’re willing to rise to what they ask of you, they’ll give you everything they have in return.