all-breeds connection

How to participate: Breed of the Month: must be registered with the FSA, and owners must be FSA members. All horses registered with the FSA are eligible for USDF All-Breeds awards. Organization contact info: Friesian Sporthorse Association: friesiansporthorseassociation.com . .&.

s the crossbreeding of with a strong emphasis on established Friesians increased in the sport- breeding practices and A 1990s, some breeders began registration guidelines. Although striving to create a horse that main- there are other registries that record tained the characteristics of the various Friesian crossbreds, the FSA Friesian yet was more suitable for is the only one devoted exclusively sport, particularly and driv- to the Friesian Sporthorse, with spe- ing. From this selective breeding, the cific guidelines for registration and Friesian Sporthorse was born. breeding. The Friesian Sporthorse combines FSA registration is divided into the beauty, temperament, and expres- three books: Main Book, Auxiliary sive gaits of the Friesian with the Book, and Foundation Book. The athleticism, elasticity, endurance, and Foundation Book recognizes purebred versatility of the and Friesian stallions and mares that are breeds, along with hybrid being used for Friesian Sporthorse vigor. It is built like a , breeding. Horses ineligible for regis- albeit sometimes a heavier and tration but with at least one registered more baroque in appearance, with a parent are eligible for certificates of higher-set and more arched neck. It pedigree. often has the Friesian's characteris- All-Breeds awards offered: tic thick , tail, and feathers. A Open, junior/young rider, Vintage Friesian Sporthorse may be any color, Cup, adult amateur, musical freestyle, with any markings. FEI Five-Year-Old, FEI Six-Year-Old, SUCCESSFUL STALLION: The Friesian The Friesian Sporthorse usually Materiale, and dressage sport-horse Sporthorse Lexington, owned by River Oaks possesses the Friesian's kind, gentle breeding. Farm (FL) and ridden by Gigha Steinman (FL) temperament, making it a popular choice for amateurs and youth as well as professionals. For the Breeds, by the Breeds Friesian Sporthorses you might know: The four-year-old ach month, "All-Breeds Connection" spotlights a USDF All-Breeds Lexington, who has been successful awards program participating organization and the breed it repre- in the dressage arena, is also one of E sents. Information and photos that appear in this column are fur- the only FSA-approved breeding stal- nished by the breed registries. lions. The gelding Ducati CH, owned The All-Breeds program is designed to recognize the accomplish- and ridden by Brooke Cramton, was ments of specific breeds in dressage. All participating organizations sixth in the 2007 Adequan/USDF offer "open" year-end awards from Training Level through Grand Prix, Intermediate II Horse of the Year and some offer awards in additional categories, such as adult amateur, standings and carried Cramton to her junior/young rider, and dressage sport-. Registry represen- USDF gold medal in 2008. The stallion tatives are usually on hand to help bestow awards at the banquet held Nico, a black-and-white pinto owned during each year's USDF convention. by Hidden Promise Sport Horses, is All-Breeds award eligibility requirements include memberships and known for his striking appearance. horse registrations with both USDF and the participating organization. The organization: The goal of For details and a list of current participating organizations, visit usdf.org. the Friesian Sporthorse Association For more information about All-Breeds awards program participation, is to encourage and recognize qual- send e-mail to [email protected]. ity Friesian crossbreds bred for sport,