2004 IFSHA Grand National Championships
My son and I were visiting the Friesian Extravaganza in Utah the weekend before the IFSHA Grand National horse show when I discovered after talking to the show coordinator, Tammy Hildreth, that my Friesian-cross stallion, Cadence, was able to participate in the IFSHA Grand National horse show. With Tammy’s encouragement, I decided to attend with Cadence at the last minute but there was one small problem; my trainer, Brigitte Huber, was unable to attend due to such brief notice.
In eight short months Brigitte had brought Cadence along from having very little previous dressage schooling to schooling at third level. After earning her trainers license in her native Switzerland, Brigitte spent time at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. From there she traveled to Spain, training with German Warm Bloods at Grand Prix level. In Spain she continued her education learning the art of Doma Vacera, a Spanish discipline much like Reining. Her credentials allowed her to come to the US where she has resided, training and showing horses for the past 12 years. Having trained many horses for Dressage and High School, Brigitte saw that Cadence’s conformation and natural ability made movements more easily executed and was complimentary for this type of work. She had been preparing him to show in the Dressage and High School Exposition arena in the near future, 2005.
Cadence is a 7 yr old ½ Pinto Warmblood, ½ Friesian Stallion. He is registered with the American Warmblood Society, Friesian Sport Horse Registry and an Approved breeding stallion with the International Friesian Cross Association. He has had many experiences in different situations, parade, trail, jumping, carriage, and now dressage but until we attended the IFSHA Grand Nationals, he had never been shown Dressage or in a show of this size.
Brigitte assured me that Cadence had learned his lessons quickly and she felt that his solid mind and willingness to please his rider, especially in times of pressure or hard work, would allow him to succeed at the Grand Nationals even without her riding him. I, myself, had ridden him in a few parades and I knew he could handle all of the excitement with great ease and control. At my ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley, we had been on many challenging trails together through water and in the mountains. He had always proven himself a gentleman in the presence of other horses; mares, geldings and stallions alike. These qualities in Cadence were what led me to the decision to breed Friesian crosses.
My decision to own a Friesian came after watching a video entitled “The Main Event” that featured a magnificent horse and rider team, Jorrit & Sabine Schut-Kery. Like many others, I instantly fell in love with the Friesian horse. Having ridden since the age of five, I had always dreamed of owning a beautiful, powerful, swift, intelligent, and kind horse. In the Friesian, I saw these qualities and I promptly began researching the breed and looking for a Friesian of my own.
In my studies, I realized that the horse I envisioned for myself was a BLEND of qualities found in the Friesian breed as well as other breeds. This information led me to the decision to cross a Friesian with a “like type” breed; It also provided the opportunity to have a horse that had the beauty, mind, stamina, versatility, and colors I so loved & dreamed about...
Having a mare of Pinto Dutch breeding (sire Art Deco) I felt that she would be a very appropriate “type” to cross. The resulting foal, sired by “Mieles”, was a beautiful solid black filly. I was so thrilled with what I saw; I decided to do it again. This time I bred my pinto mare to the Friesian stallion, Doktor, by Tjimme. The resulting foal was Cadence in Color.
Having handled and trained Cadence with such ease as he matured and now operating a boarding/training stable, I saw a need to be filled; the need for horses who are a pleasure to their owners, have natural athletic ability for many different disciplines, and who have the mind to allow a partnership between horse and rider at ALL levels of ability. With this observation and Cadence who embodied all these qualities, a new dream was born; to breed and share my dream horse with others.
I have carefully selected the individual horses for my breeding program and have kept only the highest quality in conformation, ability, and mind. I have crossed Pinto Dutch Warmbloods, Pinto Oldenburg’s, Arab/Trakheners, TB’s and Paints with the Friesian. The foals have shown incredible, natural movement as displayed in the photos below
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My goal is to breed foals that are versatile with natural movement and correctness of conformation. Displaying balance, strength, and a true rhythm in all gaits, these horses can successfully participate in many different riding disciplines. With their prolific manes & tails, high neck set, great feet, willingness to please, intelligence, endurance, hardiness & longevity they are a pleasure to own and are beautiful to see.
I am aware that these qualities do exist in other breeds of horses also, but I wanted a Baroque looking horse with all of these and color as well.
For the last two years, I have been able to breed Friesian cross directly with Friesian cross; producing 2nd generation crosses and I am very excited about the results I am seeing. My purpose in doing this is to begin to “stamp” certain genetic qualities in my babies to maintain and more reliably reproduce desired traits. I have experimented with all percentages of Friesian cross from ¼ to ¾ to see which qualities are maintained, which were lost, and at what percentile. This has been an ongoing and time consuming process which will continue, as there are so many genetic variables and I have lifetimes of learning yet to do. Here is one example of the gorgeous 2nd generation Friesian cross.
After the recent sale of one of my foals, I am more resolved than ever in my breeding commitment: The mind of a horse is truly as important as that horses’ ability. Without a sound mind, you do not have a partner and at worst, you are working with an adversary. In my line of work, I hear and see so many people struggle to try and make a connection with their horses and continually become disheartened time after time. I have the utmost respect for the Friese Paarden Stamboek (FPS) for their diligence in creating and maintaining a wonderful mind and disposition in the Friesian breed.
Knowing that Cadence embodied the qualities I so love in the Friesian Derivative we set off Thursday morning for the City of Industry to make our debut at the Grand Nationals.
LA Traffic delayed our arrival and we missed the opportunity to have the rider I had hoped for. We arrived at the show late Thursday evening and I was so thrilled to be there with Cadence.
The next morning I still had no rider for Cadence and his first ride time was scheduled to start in 30 minutes. I popped my head in my neighbor’s stall and asked her if she could ride a third level test but not with much hope of a positive answer. She said she would be happy to ride Cadence but it had been a while since she had ridden Dressage. I was elated. This wonderful person was trainer, Debbie Logan.
Debbie rides and trains mostly saddle seat but she was willing to give it a shot! Thirty minutes before Cadence’s first test, Debbie went to work refreshing her memory of the third level test at the same time trying to get to know a strange mount.
The first class was a bust! We both decided to scratch the Championship class but much to my surprise, by the time I had scratched the class & returned to Debbie and Cadence, they were again hard at work.
Debbie told me she was not going to let people remember Cadence or herself with their previous performance. They had to redeem themselves! She told me that Cadence was a great horse with excellent training and they needed to show that to everyone else.
Back to the show office, I went to un-scratch our Championship ride! Nancy, who was running the office, understood and allowed us to keep our place, letting me know that I owed her BIG! (Thank you Nancy!)
That next hour I watched Debbie and Cadence get to know one another and memorize the 3rd level test 3! It was no easy feat but they made it! I was in awe!
Watching them perform the test in the Championship round, I was both proud and impressed by horse and rider for their ability to come together and complete this difficult challenge. It marked for me an impressive display of will and determination by them both.
After winning the 3rd level FD (Friesian Derivative) championship class, Debbie went on to ride Cadence in the FD English show hack class and took that championship as well.
Cadence took home three Championships that weekend and was the first ever IFSHA Grand National FD High Point winner. What an HONOR. I watched my horse handle all of the new experiences in stride without a blow up or refusal! Once again, he did not let me down.
In my heart, Cadence is the Champion of Champion’s and I feel so fortunate to have a partner and friend of such caliber.
Even as stressful and last minute as the show was for us, the people I met and the education I received was invaluable. I was alone and yet I had so much support from participants and staff that I will do it again but I will be more prepared next time.
I cannot say enough about this experience. The staff, horses, participants, spectators, and awards were top notch. The Friesian derivative and pure bred Friesians were equally welcomed and well received. I am so excited and grateful for IFSHA and I strongly encourage everyone with a Friesian part or whole to participate in the future!
The creation of this organization and its events being ALL INCLUSIVE is a gigantic achievement and beginning for both Friesian and Friesian cross breeders and owners. It is a bridge for both groups and provides an arena in which to show and prove both the pure and part bred Friesian horses. The participation of both the Dutch and German judges was a monumental step toward unity for a breed of horse that has so much to offer us all.
Thank you to all who worked so hard and invested so much to make IFSHA a reality.
Article by:
Nikki Lugli & Faith Deeter
Leoness Sport horses
805-735-2167
www.LeonessSportHorses.com
nlugli@aol.com
