ASWYN van de PLUUM in his prime

I have tried to write this since my beloved Aswyn van de Pluum passed on from the complications of old age in September, but I simply thad not been able to find adequate words to express the loss of such a magnificent horse and such a kind, sweet and loving friend until now.  I take comfort in knowing that his life was filled with the love of so many all around the world and that he left so many of us with the gift of a son or a daughter to carry on his shining light.  To have spent the last years of his life with me was the greatest gift he could have ever given me…and I like to think he thought so too.

Aswyn lived to an amazing 28 1/2 years of age and he truly was a King among his breed!  I have never before experienced a horse with such regal presence.  At first, he just took my breath away with his masculine beauty and his powerful, yet graceful movement, then he looked at me with the kindest and wisest of eyes…and I was a goner!  It was as if he fully understood the effect he had on mere mortals, yet he would never take advantage of that power.  He was just so incredibly gentle and kind…and I will miss his nuzzles so very much.

Aswyn van de Pluum was foaled in the Netherlands on May 10, 1981. From there he was exported to Germany where he was registered and approved as a breeding stallion in 1987 by a joint KFPS Dutch and FPZV German Approval Committee after he completed and passed the 50-day Stallion Performance Test.  

He was the Stallion Performance Test Champion in 1987. Aswyn van de Pluum holds the distinction of being the only jointly approved KFPS & FPZV Friesian breeding stallion in the history of both Dutch & German registries.

Aswyn has a record of over 170 duly registered, premium offspring (KFPS + FPZV).

Aswyn at 23 years of age

In 1989, Aswyn sired the FPZV Champion Friesian Colt and Filly in Germany and continued his success as a breeding sire in 1993, 1994, 1999, and 2000 by siring the FPZV Champion Friesian Colt in North America. Two of his sons, in October of 1997, successfully completed the 50-day Stallion Performance Test (conformation, performance, and temperament) for approval as breeding stallions. Son “Foster v.V.” achieved his approval here in the US and his son “Woodstock” in Germany. 
Years 2000, 2001 and 2003, found three of his sons passing the “Stallion Keuring” for approval, and two 3 year old Aswyn daughters received ‘Prel. Star’ status. 

And in January 2002, Aswyn’s 7 year old daughter ‘Josephine de Mona’ passed the MPT and received the prestigious title ‘Model Mare.’ 
Aswyn’s sons ‘Van de Pluum’ and ‘Romeo de Rosa’ completed and successfully passed the 50-day Stallion Performance Test in March 2003 for approval as breeding stallions. And in 2004, WEF’s own ‘Wyn de Pluum v.V.‘ received approved Stallion status. Also in 2004, two of Aswyn’s daughters received Star status and in 2007 another received Model status. 

Upon his passing, Aswyn van de Pluum has sired five FPZV approved breeding Stallions! Rightfully, he was awarded the prestigious ‘Preferent Stallion’ status in March 2003 and was entered into the ‘Elite’ Stallion book. He has also received the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for his outstanding Progeny Record.

Aswyn van de Pluum’s contribution to the Friesian breed has been one of tremendous influence and we are very proud to have had him as the honorable patriarch of WEF.  That mantle now passes to is splendid son, Wyn de Pluum v.V.  I only hope I have the same privilege of spending the rest of my life with him by my side.

Aswyn was laid to rest under his favorite Oak tree after spending some time nuzzling and loving two of our mares, Rozalinda and Holly.  He passed peacefully and with mercy.  He will be missed every single day by those of us that were lucky enough to have lived to serve him and may every single one of you that own a magnificent Friesian know the tremendous bond, love and joy that we experienced with our beloved, Aswyn van de Pluum.

Aswyn frolicking in 2006!

My handsome Aswyn, on his 28th Birthday

Aswyn at 25...

Nicole Glusenkamp knows how to get the most out of her mount between the letters.

Almost everything about Eeltsje F is unusual in the dressage world. His mane is long, his legs are unclipped, and his heavy frame makes him look more suited to carry a knight in shining armor than a rider clad in top hat and tails.
But Eeltsje F has proven that despite all these things, he belongs between the letters, and a clean sweep of the Intermediaire I classes at Dressage In The Rockies, held July 31-Aug. 2 in Parker, Colo., was a big step for the Friesian stallion.

“If every Friesian felt like this one, it’d be the only breed I would ride,” said trainer Nicole Glusenkamp, who rode “Bob” to scores of 68.94, 70.26 and 71.05 percent. “I don’t have a horse in training that is so willing to work like he does. I really think he’s very talented, but I also think he’s an exception of his breed.”

Glusenkamp, Parker, Colo., has been riding the 8-year-old since he was imported in 2005 by owner Paula Marsh of Wyning Edge Friesians in Boerne, Texas, and she’s developed a unique strategy to keep the stallion working at his best.

“The biggest issue with a lot of Friesians is that they don’t have a lot of stamina,” said Glusenkamp. “You have to do everything in a short amount of time because they get too hot and overheat. When they lose their stamina they can also get quite heavy and can become very stubborn. When Bob gets to a point where he can’t or doesn’t want to do it anymore because he’s too tired, he’ll just stop. He’ll stand there and go, ‘Just do it yourself.’ ”

In order to keep Bob from overheating during training sessions, Glusenkamp, 37, will often hose him before she rides to keep his body temperature down. She also rides him early in the morning and keeps a bucket of water mixed with alcohol near the ring so she can sponge him off during her rides.

“When I have a training session where he needs to learn something new and it may take [awhile], I keep him as cool as I can,” she said. “I try to keep my warm-ups short at shows and keep him in the shade. We also try to keep ice handy.”

Even when he’s kept at optimal temperature, Bob has plenty of other physical challenges. Glusenkamp said lateral work is particularly difficult for him because he’s short-backed and needs a lot of work bending through his body.

“The trot work is very impressive, but they like to be a little more out behind, so it’s hard for him to really come together,” Glusenkamp said. “I do a lot of hill work—going up and down hills on the bit and on a long rein and keeping him marching to increase his strength behind. His best movement is his canter. He likes it, and it’s very easy for him.”

Bob has started schooling the Grand Prix movements, and Glusenkamp hopes the piaffe and passage will also increase his strength and way of going. She’s looking to debut him at Intermediaire II next year and eventually move up to Grand Prix.

In addition to his dressage career, Bob is also an active breeding stallion who’s first foals should hit the ground in 2010.

“He’s quite a busy guy,” said Glusenkamp with a laugh. “I’m very happy that he takes everything [in stride]. He really is one of the easiest stallions I’ve ever dealt with. He knows when it’s his job to breed, and he knows when he’s not allowed to. It’s really fun to be with him.”

Originally from Germany, Glusenkamp moved to the United States in 2000 and has been working for Sharon and Grant Schneidman ever since.

“I grew up in the city, in Northern Germany, about 30 miles away from Oldenburg,” said Glusenkamp. “In my early teens my parents decided that they wanted to live out in the country. The neighbor had horses, and as a teenager I needed extra money, so I began working for him.”

Glusenkamp spent most of her career in Germany working in the breeding industry. She broke and trained many young horses for keurings and 100-day tests before she met Sharon and relocated to the United States.

“There’s just a point where you decide you’re too old and tired of getting bucked off all the time,” Glusenkamp said, laughing. “Sharon pretty much imported me.”