Friesian Sport Horse

Home , Friesian horse

FRIESIAN 62020 SPORT HORSE goud goud 2 goud 3 De Mersken goud 4 BREEDING STATION, TRAINING STABLE AND SALE OF FRIESIAN HORSES

CONTENTS 62020

Photo by Kit Houghton FEI news IJRC news The KFPS golden boy golden KFPS The No no feet, horse insurance Equestrian Underwriting Ashby With journal business and Legal Must have WSI news news International JustWorld Elias 494 explains Veterinarian

40 42 BREEDING 28 UPDATES 20 26 32 36 38 39 Katrina Wüst Katrina watch to ones The Jackie Siu Talking to HellingaIds Open secrets Certification Eye on Nick Burton Nick Editorial People and places and People with Q&A

33 34 6 12 18 22 5 FEATURES TALKING TO NICK BURTON TO TALKING Nick Burton has been involved in the equestrian world in an amazing variety of roles; Teams International for Director judge, eventing and dressage rider, event international and 2012, London to up run the in Selectors Senior of Chairman and Dressage British for performance manager, name to but a few from the extensive list. How did this impressive career start and what unique perspective has this wealth of knowledge given Nick on the future? its and world equestrian

able

+31 683440570 +31

ment by the publisher, its its publisher, the by ment DESIGN Tom Reed PRODUCER Kim Kreling Kim Pim Koudijs Pim www.bcm.nl ADVERTISING Lorraine Blake Lorraine BCM MEDIA BV SUBSCRIPTIONS Alex M. Wiersma M. Alex Inge van der Net Inge van der Net EDITORIAL OFFICE OFFICE EDITORIAL EDITORIAL OFFICE EDITORIAL Fax: 508-698-6811 Fax: Jeannette Martens butors. All Rights reserved. No part of Email: [email protected] Email: SUBSCRIPTIONS AND Studio BCM MEDIA BV JustWorld International JustWorld Email: [email protected] [email protected] Email: SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES: Classic Communications Classic

National Championships. National Telephone:+31 683440570 Telephone:+31 Telephone: +31 683440570 +31 Telephone: Telephone: WITH THE OFFICIAL NEWS OF NEWS OFFICIAL THE WITH Telephone:40 +31 844 7644 ADVERTISING CONTACTS USA CONTACTS ADVERTISING 5692 EB Son, the Netherlands www.horse-international.com Science Park Eindhoven 5051, 5051, Eindhoven Park Science Ingeborg Klooster andHoppe van de can be accepted for loss or damage. Email: [email protected] Email: Email: [email protected] Email: Telephone: 508-698-6810 ext. 12 MANAGING DIRECTOR – PUBLISHER – DIRECTOR MANAGING Outside Europe: Euro funds €129,95 funds Euro Europe: Outside www.classic-communications.com not imply endorse imply not need to publish views from all sections of the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland (WSI) Ireland of Studbook Warmblood [email protected] outside Europe: Euro funds only €129,95 only funds Euro Europe: outside efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Internationale Equestre Fédération on spec but must be accompanied by a stamped International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) Club Riders Jumping International this publication can be accepted by the publisher, International yearbook L’Année Hippique, Hippique, L’Année yearbook International copyright owner. Unsolicited articles, photographs Unsolicited copyright owner. Horse International’s editorial policy recognises the the recognises policy editorial International’s Horse this publication may be stored in a retrieval system, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or or recording photocopying, mechanical, electronic, expressed or implied, solicited or un-solicited, does does un-solicited, or solicited implied, or expressed reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by means with name and address. Every effort will be made to take care of material submitted but no responsibility otherwise without the prior written permission of the the of permission written prior the otherwise without addressed envelope if the material is to be returned. employees, agent or any other individual associated Demro Stables competingat Dutchthe 2014 editor or contri with the publication in any way. While all reason and letters on any suitable subject may be submitted Please clearly mark all manuscripts and photographs photographs and manuscripts all mark clearly Please COVER: or refraining from action as a result of any material in Netherlands: € 84,95, inside Europe: € 104,95, Six issue of Horse International and the Horse Horse the and International Horse of issue Six responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting equestrian world. The publication of opinions, whether opinions, publication of The equestrian world. Nick Burton Text by Jeannette Martens TALKING TO TALKING Photo by Kit Houghton Nick Burton competing The Soup Dragon at Badminton. knowledge given Nick on the famous player, and he went on to equestrian world and its future? become a very successful businessman ick Burton has been involved in as well. So he inspired the competitive the equestrian world in an Runs in the family side in me, as well as how to run a Namazing variety of roles; Horses have always been a part of business with horses.” international event rider, dressage and Nick’s family. “My mother was the one eventing judge, Director for with the love for horses. She was a Together International Teams for British Dressage leisure rider and got involved with local “The pony club was something mum and and Chairman of Senior Selectors in the pony club activities with me as well as I did together, I rode in the pony club run up to London 2012, and joining the local hunt,” tells Nick. The teams and she was always very performance manager, to name but a competitive side really came from his supportive as well as actively involved. few from the extensive list. How did this father, who was an international rugby We just had a really good relationship, impressive career start and what player for England and the British doing something together. And because unique perspective has this wealth of Lions. “In his day he was quite a of my dad’s involvement in sport, all of us

6 pony club rally or any competition, so she would not be in the field on the day and we could not catch her,” he recalls. Another horse named Macandy meant Nick’s introduction into national eventing in the lower junior levels; “I started to event at novice level; they did not have anything below novice those days, now you have BE80 and BE90 and so on, but back then we just started at plain novice level.” for the British team. Christopher Bartle was our On to the highest level dressage coach then. At home, Carl Hester Nick’s eventing career started to take off when lives only a few miles away and we are good he went onto two other horses called Nightlife friends, so Carl has been hugely influential not and Darwin, who were his first more serious only as a coach but as a friend as well, horses that he could ride up to advanced someone on the ground to talk to, to watch level and learn the ropes on. Nick went on to and ride and train horses. He can not only do it win Punchestown as a Young Rider, firmly himself, but he can teach other people to do it putting him on the stepping stones to riding at and train horses to do it, which is a pretty clever the high level. “The best horses I had, breaking talent. So I have learned a lot from him.” The through into what was then 4* level, were The most important lesson Nick gained from Soup Dragon and Bertie Blunt. I rode at training with all of them, is that it takes patience Badminton and Burghley, and Bertie Blunt I and time. “It is a process. There are always also rode on the British team at the European areas you can improve on, maybe more championships.” precision or straightness or softness. You are always learning and always trying to improve.” Fascination What drew him about eventing originally was All about athletic ability the excitement of the cross country, but as When asked if he has a favourite type of horse, Nick grew older he became more and more Nick makes an important point; “I do not have interested in the training of the horses and a favourite type of horse. I love horses and I how they were moving. “I became much more love seeing sport horses performing fascinated with the training aspect, and that athletically and well in what they do best. That led me, many years later, into dressage and is my favourite kind of horse; it does not need judging at international level, more so then to have Thoroughbred or Trakehner, it is really eventing. It fascinated me even as a about athletic horses doing well, that is what I youngster, I always wanted to train my horses like to see.” well for the dressage, I loved teaching the flying changes more than say the jumping Hartpury College phase, and it still fascinates me.” In 2005 Nick was appointed by the renowned Hartpury College in Britain to develop a sport On the path of dressage programme in dressage, jumping and Nick also competed in dressage nationally, up eventing for young people that want to come grew up outside, running around with either to Small Tour with a couple of nice, though not into fulltime education with a college, horses or a rugby ball,” he laughs. Nick has top, horses. One was Donner Duet (by university or masters degree in an environment one late brother and a sister who were not so Donnersong), who did very well, but was not with top trainers and excellent facilities. Astier much interested in riding. Nick’s late brother going to stay strong enough to compete Nicolas for example was one of the students, was more interested in rugby and his sister Grand Prix, so he was sold to have an easier who has gone onto win two Olympic medals rode a little bit, but was not as committed. “So life competing at lower levels. This lead Nick at the 2016 Rio Games. Olivia Oakeley is that meant that I could have more ponies, on to the path of becoming an international another example, who rode in the British which was great!” dressage judge as well as eventing judge. dressage team for Young Riders. The sport and education programme became very The first pony It is a process successful and it is still running today. Nick left Nick remembers his first pony, a very naughty Over the years, Nick has had quite a few in 2015 after being there part time for ten chestnut Anglo-Arab cross mare called trainers. “I went to Gatcombe Park as a years, in addition to his own coaching and Kerrygold. “You could never catch her, so we scholarship rider for a year, so I was trained by riding, but Nick still advises for Hartpury on a needed to get her in three days or so before a Captain Mark Phillips when we were preparing consultancy basis.

7 Ids Hellinga Director of the Royal Friesian Studbook

Text by Kim Kreling

Q To mention a few special Friesian A Elias 494, who is an approved stallion, sport horses like Adelprag Anders, who Wirdmer fan ‘e Boppelannen and two took part in dressage at the 2014 World horses stationed in Russia: Marcus in ‘t Q AND A riesian horses have developed Equestrian Games under the saddle of Rietveld and Martinus HO are four our the enormously: from harness and Chere Burger; which other such current poster boys. They are the highest Faristocratic carriage horses to sport trendsetters have there been? ranking Friesian horses in the FEI horses. What do ‘role models’ have to do with modern Friesian horse breeding, how does the KFPS give a boost to the genetic progress of Friesians and what does the movie ‘Zorro’ have to do with it? We spoke to Ids Hellinga, director of the Royal Friesian Studbook (Koninklijk Friesch Paarden Stamboek, KFPS).

Q The Friesians, the ‘Black Pearls’, were known for many years as harness horses in farming or as aristocratic carriage horses. Nowadays we see the Friesians more and more in the sport, mostly in dressage and driving. How important is it for the Friesians to be more involved in top sport? A We believe that equestrian athletes are looking for a talented sport horse, but at the same time also a horse that has a lot of charisma and is pleasant to work with. Appearance and character have been anchored in the Friesian horse for decades, which is why the focus has been on sport aptitude over the last 25 years. It is fantastic to see some Friesian horses now performing at the top. Which is great, because we all

need role models. In general, in many Veurink Remco by Photo species, we see a reduction of interest in breeding just for exhibitions or inspections. In the long run, I think, horse breeds that do not have an involvement in sports will become endangered.

18 “ And of course, when horses are judged the focus is on their sport ability, but still the prediction of sporting talent through a presentation in hand or free moving is not always accurate.”

dressage rankings. Moreover, the next A The KFPS nowadays registers Friesian horses generation contains many talented young in 85 countries on all continents. The largest horses to take over their position. Dressage is concentrations are located in Europe and available much earlier. As a result, the by far the largest discipline for Friesian horses, North America. The largest increase we see in generation interval in our breeding is lower but there is an increase in driving as well. the Central American countries. The people in compared to other studbooks. A more Show driving is the smallest, but has the this region love horses with great expression. accurate and faster selection strategy will give longest tradition within the Friesian breed. We Furthermore, no doubt, the impact of the Zorro a boost to genetic progress. see high genetic correlations between these movie has helped the promotion of the breed three disciplines, which helps to genetically enormously, especially in this region. Q Special Friesian horses get the ‘Sport Elite' improve all three disciplines at similar levels. title; what requirements does a Friesian need Q In the ‘KFPS Strategy 2019-2024’ it is said that to gain that title? Q Could you help us with some numbers: How “the gap between breeding and sport is more A The majority of the horses gain this title by many Friesians are there currently in the world likely increasing rather than decreasing.” What gaining a 60% score in Prix St. Georges five and how many of them are in the sport? And is the reason for that? times. Sport Elite can also be earned by what did these numbers look like ten years A I think this phenomenon is a factor in horse having the Sport predicate in all three ago? breeding in general. There is still too much of a disciplines in our breeding goal: dressage, A The world wide population of Friesian horses, gap between breeding and sport. Sometimes driving (dressage) and show driving. Even as registered in the KFPS, amounts to some it is good to hold up this mirror to your though we have been estimating breeding 70,000. Since the KFPS operates so breeders. More traditional breeders tend to values for our selection traits for many years internationally it is not easy to estimate the aim for good inspection results. And of course, already, the predicates still have a significant percentage of these participating in when horses are judged the focus is on their impact on mare selection. Predicates in competition sport. We do see a strong sport ability, but still the prediction of sporting general, and the Sport (Elite) predicate increase of Friesian horses in the sport. We talent through a presentation in hand or free especially, encourage breeders to utilise these have seen an increase of some 15% during the moving is not always accurate. mares in their breeding programmes. last ten years. Q In which way does the breeding policy of the Q Last year, 2019, the KFPS celebrated its 140th Q Over the last decades the development of KFPS differ from other horse breeds? How has anniversary. In year 141 the KFPS became a the Friesian horse has made it possible that we this breeding policy changed over the last member of the WBFSH; what does that mean can now see more and more of them in sport. years? to the KFPS? How would you describe the main areas of this A Two factors are important: in the first place A For us this feels like a long deserved development? we want to honour our breed's characteristics recognition of the Friesian horse as a sport A Without jeopardising the typical breed and the pleasant, cooperative character. In horse. We hope that cooperation within the characteristics, the Friesian horse has addition, we are a closed studbook, where we WBFSH and the exchange of knowledge will changed in conformation, into an athletically do not crossbreed with other breeds. lead to a further strengthening of the Friesian built horse. In addition, the main emphasis Nevertheless, in order to be competitive, we try horse as a sport horse. Membership also has been on improving the technique of the to be creative in our breeding programme. makes new stages accessible to compete on. gaits. The Friesian horse has always had Horse breeding is rather conservative. For We would, for example, be very eager to impressive, elevated gaits. Now we are adding example, in many studbooks the average age participate in the world dressage collection to this. of the breeding stallions used is quite high. We championships for young horses. attach more value to performance tests for Q The Friesian horse has been known since the young horses in stallion selection (both in the Q Could you ever imagine of a Friesian to be a 13th century and is the only horse breed approval of stallions, but also in the evaluation chestnut or a gray? native to the Netherlands. So it is naturally well of offspring) compared to sports data. Ability A No. We will always remain faithful to the spread in the Netherlands. Where else would (performance) tests do not only have higher unique characteristics of the Friesian horse that we find big Friesian communities? hereditary factors, but results also become have given us the position we are in now!■

19 Elias 494 KFPS golden boy

Text by Pim Koudijs

he World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) has BREEDING Trecognised the Royal Friesian Horse Studbook KFPS as a member, officially recognising the Friesian horse as a sport horse. The WBFSH announced this on Tuesday 13 October 2020. This recognition opens doors for Friesian horses in international competition, including at the world championships for young dressage horses. The performances of Dutch Grand Prix rider Marc Peter Spahn and his Friesian stallion Elias 494 at the highest level have contributed to this recent recognition.

Endless possibilities Marc Peter Spahn states that the Friesian’s recognition as a sport horse by the WBFSH is a good thing for everybody; “It opens up possibilities for talented young Friesian horses to show themselves on an international stage, but above all, the sport boosts the market and interest in the breed. That is beneficial for anyone involved with the Friesian horse; athletes, breeders and everyone else involved worldwide.”

20 years of lobbying The news of the Friesian horse’s acceptance as a sport horse by the WBFSH is mainly a team effort, says Peter, whose Elias 494 has been a poster child for all those that have worked so hard to gain this recognition. “In the past 20 years, there have been no less than 45 Friesians that have made it to Grand Prix level, paving the way for this recognition and boosting the Friesian’s PR,” Peter tells us. This recognition will also help to make judging Friesian horses at competitions easier, he expects. “You see that some judges still find this challenging, as the Friesian was

still very much the odd one out.” Digishots by Photos

28 character, even temperament, cool head Friesian. I got on, completely devoid of any and intelligence really give the Friesian expectations. What immediately stood out to horse a big mental edge here. It is absolutely me was his huge will to work and calm A star is made vital that we continue to cherish these traits personality. He was very uncomplicated, and The possibilities in upper level dressage are in the breeding.” these are all traits I had found lacking in the endless, the Grand Prix rider is adament. warmblood sport horses I had come across up “Here we have a horse with a simply Gone are the days to that point. Without even realising it at the amazing character. There is still much to be Marc Peter Spahn’s first encounter with the time, I had been so lucky, because despite gained in endurance, but it is the character Friesian horse came courtesy of his neighbour, not having any goals whatsoever with him, that sets the Friesian apart,” he emphasises. who owned the stallion Adel 357. “I was asked Adel became the first horse I rode to Grand “A Grand Prix horse is not born, he is made to ride this stallion, and I have to admit at the Prix. I even competed him internationally, but and therefore should be moldable. Its willing time I did not even know you could ride a filing for an FEI passport was not so simple because the Friesian was not seen as a riding horse. Even though he was an approved stallion, his passport stated his pedigree as Marc Peter Spahn and Elias 494. unknown. Now that the KFPS has been recognised by the WBFSH as a sport horse studbook, this has all changed. The days of labelling the Friesian as a work or draft horse are over. It opens up the possibility to qualify youngsters to the world championships, where they will be allowed in the finals,” Peter says.

A stroke of fortune The first time that Marc Peter Spahn saw Elias was at the stallion show, when the stallion was three years old. “I remember Elias had a beautiful type, with three correct basic gaits, but he was by no means a stunner. The stallion was appointed to the performance tests, but a light injury put paid to that. The owners asked whether I would ride him so that he could be presented again as a four-year-old, but the judges ruled that he was not interesting enough to be considered for approval. Even I could not understand that. From the very first time I rode that horse, I thought the world of him. But because Elias had no future as a stud the owner decided to sell him. That is how he came into the hands of the Swedish Linda Annell.”

Fairytale “I had been riding a Friesian for years, but sadly that horse fell ill and passed away,” Linda Annell begins her story. “I tried several warmbloods in Sweden, but could not find the horse I was looking for. I then asked an agent in Sweden if she knew a nice Friesian for me, and she found one at the Demro Stables in the Netherlands. Initially, the owner would not sell, but eventually we came to an agreement. As I wanted to give the stallion a little more experience, I asked his current trainer Marc Peter Spahn to continue to ride him for a little while and give him some competition miles.”

The proud owner From the moment that Elias was presented in the grassroots sport, he was very successful and he eventually won the Z2 finals with a scoring over the 70% barrier. “I quickly understood that it would be such a shame to bring Elias home purely for recreational riding, and I agreed with Marc Peter to go for the highest and then see if we would present him