HCEF visit WEF for their first Breed Clinic!

Saturday, August 21 was a day filled with fun, beautiful Friesians and a bit of education on the Friesian breed!  It was my great pleasure and honor to host the Hill Country Equine Friends first ever Breed Clinic!

We began at the arena at about 10am with a dressage presentation made by classical dressage trainer extraordinaire, Reinhard Dorsch and our 2006 IFSHA World Champion Friesian Stallion, Wyn de Pluum v.V. Reinhard and Wyn performed a variety of dressage movements including the half-pass, side-pass, piaffe and passage to lovely classical music.  During the performance, I spoke on the history of the Friesian breed and the WEF breeding program.  It was wonderful to have a group with such an avid interest in the breed and an obvious deep love of all horses.

HCEF Member's Meeting 8-21-10

HCEF Member's Meeting 8-21-10

Once back in the cantina and barn, we commenced with the monthly HCEF member’s meeting which included lots of newly planned events including the upcoming tack sale to benefit an equine therapy group and another Bandera trail ride at the end of September.

Also in the works for the group out at WEF will be a group riding lesson with Reinhard, followed by a beautiful trail ride through Cordillera Ranch’s open spaces and down to our park on the Guadelupe River!  It’s a lovely ride and I hope many HCEF members can make it!

Time for a Yummy Potluck!

Then it was time to dig into an absolutely fantastic potluck brunch and to chit chat amongst the members!

Sadly, after we could eat no more and were all talked out, it was time for the HCEF members to head home!!  I had so much fun with these great people that I can’t wait to have everyone back again for a ride!

HURRY BACK!

]]> http://wyningedgefriesians.com/blog/wef-hosts-hill-country-equine-friends-first-breed-clinic/feed/ 0 http://wyningedgefriesians.com/blog/the-loss-of-a-precious-friend/ http://wyningedgefriesians.com/blog/the-loss-of-a-precious-friend/#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:50:29 +0000 Paula http://wyningedgefriesians.com/blog/?p=1205

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we have lost one of our dearest friends…Amanda graced this earth for only 19 years, but in that time, she touched so many hearts and minds.  Including Michael and I.  Amanda was one of the most genuine, loving and faithful of God’s children and even though she only had a few short months with Cirawyn, we all know they were the happiest of her life.

Amanda’s dream was to have an equine therapy facility for the handicapped and she wanted Cirawyn to be her foundation therapy horse. Her parents, Randall & Cynthia have decided that the best way to honor Amanda’s life would be to continue with her dream and to follow through by having Cirawyn trained as a therapy horse.  It was always Amanda’s desires to give back to others and with her family’s decision, Cirawyn will carry on for Amanda and give her life in the service of those that most need it.

We love you, Amanda…and know you are wandering through beautiful mountain meadows wrapped in the loving arms of those that have gone before you and surrounded by the loveliest of the horses in heaven.  Peace and Love Forever!

The KFPS has rented a farmhouse for all of the riders and grooms to stay and we are really looking forward to meeting all of the rest of the riders and grooms both from the U.S. and Holland.  I’m sure we will all make lifelong friends after sharing such a fantastic experience together!

Here are a few pics that Nicole sent to me of she and Bob practicing their piaffe!  He’s so cute!

The cottage is just adorable, but there was never really any emotional investment put into it when it was occupied by our former Ranch Manager, so we have given it the love and attention it deserved!  Now it feels homey, comfy and we spend about 4 nights a week out there with Santiago & Eddie staying out there other nights.

It was lots of work and their’s still tons to be done, but it’s so rewarding to see the results thus far!  And we are pretty proud of doing it all ourselves…so we had to share with ya’ll! HA!

The Alamo on parade day!

I had a fantastic time and it was a great honor to have been chosen as an official judge & dignitary for the beautiful 2010 “Battle of the Flowers” Parade in San Antonio, Texas.  It was the 119th year of this incredible event!  The Grand Marshal for this year’s parade was Gordon Hartman, the founder of the Morgan’s Wonderland located here in San Antonio and the first amusement park in the nation catering to the disabled, but also great fun for all families alike.

I was part of the team given the exciting task of judging the Cavalcade (equine) entries!  All of the entries, the Cavalcade, Antique Cars, Floats, Marching Bands,  Military Troops & Bands and the Balloons were simply amazing!   The Judging stands were located directly across the street from the famous Alamo and the crowds were huge!

All of the Cavalcade entries were just spectacular and they had all worked so hard on their presentations that it made it very difficult to chose between them, however, their was one that stood out to us all as the winner of the Cavalcade.

We chose the fabulous and entertaining “Charro Zona Sur,” for their exciting presentation, followed by precision of  ”The Horses of Peru Drill Team” in second and the lovely costumed ladies and horses of “Escaramuza Rosas de Castilla” in third place.  I can only hope to have the honor of judging this magnificent event again in the future!

Here is just a selection of the wonderful pics I was able to take between judging!

2009 Rolex World Cup Dressage Finals Champions - American Duo Steffen Peters & Ravel

It was one of the most exciting weekends ever!  To be in the audience with my very good friends, Elaine Palance & Shannon Lockwood at the first World Cup ever held on American soil was wonderful, but to then watch US rider Steffen Peters and Ravel win both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle was phenomenal!   By doing so, they became the first American dressage duo to win the Grand Prix class and make a clean sweep of the World Cup title!  Needless to say, the crowd (including us!) went crazy!

The day before had been invited by special invitation (Elaine knows everybody and everybody LOVES her!) to attend a very special “get together,” with some of the World Cup Dressage Riders.  We gathered in a small section of the upper level at the Thomas & Mack arena with other eager dressage fans and awaited the arrival of Olympic and World Games riders such as Debbie McDonald, Steffen Peters, Isabell Werth, Jan Brink and Charlotte Brendal-Baker.   It was certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet and chat with these most respected and accomplished individuals.  We sat and chatted with Debbie McDonald, who was there to retire her beloved mare, Brentina and with Jan Brink, also there to retire his champion stallion, Briar.  Both were emotional, yet looking forward to the next chapter in their lives as they spoke about their amazing experiences and partnerships with their respective champion horses.  I was able to get a few photos with these exceptional riders that I have included below.  I will remember that day for the rest of my life and am so grateful to Elaine for making me a part this amazing weekend!

Oh My! Hanging with Debbie McDonald!

Brentina's Farewell - Very emotional for everyone in that arena!

Chatting with Jan Brink! Wow!

Spending a few minutes chatting with the gracious and talented Charlotte Brindal-Baker

Nicole & Eeltsje - Our WEF Champions!

WOW!  WHAT AN HONOR!  We are so very proud and excited to have been chosen as one of 4 USA FPS Friesian Stallions and 4 Dutch FPS Friesian Stallions (from Holland) that will make up the Friesian Stallion team and will represent our magnificent Friesian breed in the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 World Equestrian Games!  The Friesian Stallion Team will be performing a routine known as the “Friesian Train,” which will highlight the gentle temperament of the breed as well as all of the classical dressage movements including upper level movements such as the piaffe and passage.

The WEG opening Ceremony will be held on September 25, 2010 at the newly constructed and renovated Kentucky Horse Park.  The WEG has always been held outside of the U.S., so we are equally excited to participate in the first ever USA held WEG!  The Opening Ceremony, as well as most of the events, will be telecast world-wide.  Please keep an eye out for when it will air in your location…we don’t know if it will be shown live or not at this point.

Check back to the WEF News page for updates!  We will let you know as we get more details!  And please check out the videos of Eeltsje and Nicole competing and attending the 2008 USDF Convention Symposium featurting Kyra Kyrklund.

Hugs to all!

Paula

ECHO - Workin' It!!

2009 FPZV USA “Champion Colt” of North America – Echo van de Pluum WEF

(Aswyn van de Pluum/Preferent Elite x Rozalinda, Star Model)

The 2009 FPZV USA Keuring results have just been released and our colt, Echo van de Pluum WEF has been chosen the “Champion Colt” for North America!   We knew Echo was something very special indeed and it is wonderful to see how excited his new owners, Jean and Mike Spires of Erie, Pennsylvania were when they received the fabulous news!  They told me they called everyone they knew to tell them the wonderful news!  Echo has found ” horse heaven on earth” with Mike and Jean and we are so happy for all of them!  :-)

For Wyning Edge, we have now bred the FPZV USA “Champion Colt” of North America for THREE consecutive years running (2007, 2008, 2009), as well as the 2007 FPZV USA “Champion Yearling Filly” of North America!  We take such satisfaction in seeing the goals of our Preferent Elite breeding program realized!  Each of these colts was sired by our magnificent Preferent Elite stallion, Aswyn van de Pluum, out of three distinctly different, yet highly awarded Friesian mares (see below).  Our Champion filly, Tzara de Pluum WEF was sired by Wyn de Pluum WEF, our of Zabrina fan Veldbos, Star, Model.  With Aswyn’s (and Rixt’s) sad passing last September, we are fortunate to possess a limited quantity of his frozen semen which we will utilize over the next decade with the intent of carrying on his incredible lineage!  May Aswyn & Rixt’s unrivaled influence continue to carry forward through their outstanding son, our World Champion and FPZV Approved Breeding Stallion, Wyn de Pluum v.V.

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2008 FPZV USA “Champion Colt” of North America – Aidan van de Pluum WEF

(Aswyn van de Pluum/Preferent Elite x Zabrina fan Veldbos, Star Model)

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2007 FPZV USA “Champion Colt” of North America – Zuum van de Pluum WEF

(Aswyn van de Pluum/Preferent Elite x Rixt H., Preferent Elite, Star)

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2007 FPZV USA “Champion Yearling Filly” of North America – Tzara de Pluum WEF

(Wyn de Pluum v.V. x Zabrina fan Veldbos, Star Model)

As many of you may know, we were not allowed to compete in the 2009 Developing Horse Championships due to a rule change disallowing foreign riders and since our beautiful Nicole is German, we were ruled ineligible.  It was such a disappointment for us, but that only meant we would have to make our mark at the FEI Levels of Open Dressage competition this year and do our best to qualify for the USDF Regional Championships…and as you can see, OUR DUO IS KICKING BUTT!

They began this season competing at Prix St. Georges level and they were FEI high score all three days!  Even beating out an ex-Grand Prix horse that used to belong to 2009 World Cup Dressage Champion, Steffan Peters with a score of 73.1%!  Bob was just Amazing.  He is qualified for the USDF Regional Champs at PSG.  At this rate he will be really high in the national PSG standings, for all horses, not just Friesians!

After that competition, Nicole and Bob moved up to Intermediare I and per Nicole, Bob has been the Star of every show!  Their last show was Dressage in the Rockies with 3 first places over three competition days.  The first day was 68.9%, second day 70% and the third and final day, 71%.  They just get better and better!

Needless to say, we are so very proud of our dynamic duo and please follow both Wyning Edge Friesians and Westmanton Stables on Facebook!

Hugs to all our supporters – we are most grateful to every single one of you for your support and encouragement!

Paula

RIXT H. began her life in Holland as a KFPS First Premium Friesian mare. After her importation into the U.S. by Evelyn Vollmer, Rixt was re-registered into the FPZV Registry (Friesenpferde Zuchtverband e.V.) where she eventually achieved the status of the only Preferent/Elite Friesian mare. She completed and passed the Mare Performance Testing (Dressage Under Saddle and Driving in Harness) in 2000, receiving the status of “Star” and in 2004, she was awarded FPZV Premium Mare status.

In 2005, Rixt H. was presented the title of “Breeding Performance Mare” by the FN (Federation National) and also received her prestigious FPZV ‘Preferent/Elite’ status based upon her High Premium Foal Record.

Over the last ten years or so, Rixt has been bred exclusively to our FPZV Preferent/Elite Friesian stallion, Aswyn van de Pluum. Every young stallion the pair has produced that has competed in the FPZV Stallion Performance Testing has gone on to achieve the coveted FPZV Approved Breeding Status and 99% of her female offspring have received Star or Model status. Their achievements and contributions to the breed have been unsurpassed. Rixt H. was truly a once in a lifetime mare…especially when bred to her one and only Preferent/Elite stallion, Aswyn van de Pluum.

Rixt will be so missed by us and we are so proud to have been given the gift of caring for her in her later years. She was a dedicated and loving mother giving each of her foals a most spectacular start in life. We will miss watching her frolic with her precious foals in the pasture, groom and love her fellow mares and lastly of course, asking so sweetly for her cookies.

RIXT, OUR BEAUTIFUL GIRL,
YOU WILL FOREVER LIVE IN SO MANY HEARTS…