Gracie Catling and her Friesians are becoming regular features at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships, and they caught the eye once again this year – bringing drama and bombast to the freestyle classes, finishing in the top four, four times.

We caught up with Gracie to reflect on her championship experience, and what it is about Friesians that makes them so well-suited to a career between the boards.

Gracie’s highlight was coming second on nine-year-old Fraithwens Wytske Fan Ter Lune in the PDS Saddles elementary freestyle gold championship to Dannie Morgan on Fever Tree, scoring 75.76% – the third-highest score of the whole championships. Wytske was also fourth in the Baileys Horse Feeds novice freestyle gold, 19th in the Prestige novice gold and 13th in the Equi-Trek elementary gold.

“Wytske is owned by Fraithwen Friesians but I’ve been riding her for the last eight months,” said Gracie. “Her highlight is definitely the freestyle – she was a bit marmite for the judges in the straight classes.”

Gracie’s second Friesian at the championships was experienced campaigner Tsjebe Fan ’E Vesta Hoeve, who is owned by her mum Julia Catling. The 18-year-old Tsjalke 397 gelding finished third in the Magic Prix St George (PSG) Silver Winter Championship on 67.79%.

“I couldn’t have asked for more from him,” added Gracie. “We’ve owned him for 14 years now so we know him inside out. He’s more of a family pet than a competition horse, I think he genuinely thinks he’s human and he’s given us so much pleasure.

“He arrived when I was only six, so we’ve grown up together. Luckily for me, Mum had a knee operation and couldn’t compete so she let me start riding him when I was strong enough – with strict instructions not to do more than novice!”

However, since then “Jeb” and Gracie, all the while learning together, have gone on to win the 2023 Petplan Summer Area Festival inter I bronze title, feature on the cover of British Dressage Magazine, and, more recently, be selected to compete internationally at young rider level for Great Britain – with his connections believing him to be the first Friesian to do so.

Gracie Catling: “Friesians are powerful but sensitive souls”

“Friesians stand out for me for a few reasons, their beauty and presence are very impressive, but they also have the kindest nature,” explained Gracie. “They are willing and want to please like no other horse, and in the Netherlands, the KFPS [Royal Association, The Friesian Horse Studbook] grade them on these qualities.”

It was through Jeb that Gracie got the ride on Wytske: “Fraithwen wanted a rider experienced with the breed. Wystke is quite similar to Jeb, but she was warmblood paces with a Friesian body and brain. She’s naturally more talented and I think she’s a special horse – I adore having her on the yard.”

Gracie adds that it takes a certain sort of riding, and rider, to enable Friesians to perform at their best: “They don’t need a lot of work like warmbloods and in the Netherlands they sometimes train with a heart monitor on as they can lack stamina.

“I love them because they’re so quick to learn, try hard and you don’t need hours of riding and warm up – a bonus if you’re short on time! They don’t like nervous riders; they’re sensitive souls and take a lot of confidence from the rider. They are incredibly powerful too.”

Gracie is a second-year sports psychology student at Loughborough University and juggles her studies with riding her growing string of horses – she also rode her warmblood Qwinton to fourth in the Equitex advanced medium silver at the championships.

“The deal has always been that I can do the horses as long as I finish my education, which I understand more now as I get a bit older. My Dad says at the end of my degree I can choose to follow my passion or my pension – that remains to be decided!”

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A rider who was paralysed in a car crash as a teenager wants to show others what is possible, as she competes in carriage driving with her home-bred Friesian.

Faye O’Hara was 15 when she severed the nerves in her right arm and broke her ribs, pelvis, femur and collarbone when she was thrown out of the car in the accident. She also severed her spinal cord at T6/T7.

“Life as I knew it was over,” she said. “But I want to share my story to show people what’s still possible.”

Faye told H&H she had always loved everything about horses; her mother rides, and Faye was given her first pony aged five.

“I absolutely loved it,” she said. “I started jumping and was very competitive, then I started helping with youngsters. I was brave and loved challenging horses. When I was 13, I got my own youngster to back, and when I was 14 or 15, I started going out with friends.”

All Faye remembers of the immediate aftermath of the accident is seeing blue lights and hearing emergency service workers on walkie-talkies.

“Then I woke up three weeks later in hospital,” she said. “They’d had my family there three or four times to say goodbye.

“I remember waking up and seeing the squares in the ceiling, and couldn’t move my arm or legs. They came down and said more or less that I wouldn’t walk again.”

After three months in intensive care, eight months in hospital and rehabilitation in total including multiple operations, Faye “entered a new life as a wheelchair user with just the use of my left arm”.

“It was a horrific time,” she said. “For the first four months, I was so poorly and delusional – I was on ketamine and morphine – that I didn’t really process what the hell was happening. I was in so much pain; it was like it wasn’t my life.

“But when I got to the spinal rehabilitation unit, and saw lots of people in wheelchairs, I realised what life was about. I needed helping in and out of bed. When I got home, I realised ‘This is my life now and it won’t get better’.”

Faye said she “went off the rails” a bit. Crushed by the realisation she would not ride again, she blocked horses from her life entirely.

“Being told I would never ride a horse again crushed my heart,” she said. “Savannah, who I’d backed , was sold. I never got to see her again and that broke my heart. I’d jumped her the day of the accident. Everything had been normal and I was so proud of her, and then they had to sell her.

“So I didn’t acknowledge horses at all. I totally blocked that world out as I couldn’t handle it – I didn’t want to handle it. I wasn’t going to be able to do it again and my best way of dealing with that was to pretend it wasn’t there.”

During the next couple of years, Faye said, it was as if “something was always missing”. She had been encouraged to look into carriage driving by others, but “I thought it was just driving cobs down the road”.

She tried a mounted session with the Riding for the Disabled Association, a charity she says is “brilliant”, but found that having enjoyed jumping, walking round without being able to use her legs or hold the reins was frustrating.

“It wasn’t me,” she said. “It made me feel more disabled, if anything.”

Then lifelong friend Janet Sykes recommended Faye try driving a little cob she had for sale. Faye found somewhere to adapt a cart so that she could get her chair up a ramp and into it, and she learned how to drive Isaac, the pony, while her mother and friends rode with her.

She drove Isaac for a few years and enjoyed it, but wondered what else there could be.

At about that time, Janet offered Faye the Frisian mare they had bought in the Netherlands, and asked if Faye would like her put in foal to her stallion Hessel.

“Not knowing much about driving competitions, I wasn’t at all sure if I was going to be capable of driving such a big horse but I just loved the beauty of them,” she said.

“When I started going to the para groups and said I had a Friesian foal, they looked at me like I was daft!” she said.

After Majestic was born, Faye spent “the first month of his life playing with him in the field”, and building their bond.

She also went to Escrick Driving Trials and met Pat Cooper, of North Eastern Driving Trials, and found Cumbria Carriages, as she searched for a vehicle.

“I rang and said ‘I’ve got one arm and I’m paralysed and I need you to adapt a carriage for me’,” Faye said. “He said: ‘What?’!

“But he made me a car winch and a frame that went over the carriage to pick me up and put me in. And Pat said ‘Let’s do this’.”

Faye started competing with Isaac, at driving trials at Askham Bryan College.

“Being back in the arena was absolutely amazing,” she said.

And Pat also helped Faye use her bad arm; an initial operation had given her “a little twinge” in it, but otherwise Faye had not used it for 14 years. But Pat helped Faye put a sock over her hand, with a bungee on her wrist to use the rein on that side.

“My first competition was November, four years ago, and I was crap!” Faye said. “I didn’t know where I was going and there was so much to get your head round, but it gave me something to work towards and I loved it.”

By that time, Majestic had been broken to drive, after Faye had put in all the groundwork.

“He’s like a dog; I can put the headcollar on him, I can do anything with him,” she said.

“Everyone said ‘Don’t start driving him yet, he’s bad in traffic’ but after my mum and aunt had taken him a few times, I took him. We’ve had a few moments but he listens to me and I trust him.

“Then everyone said I shouldn’t take him to his first competition. But I said ‘I’m taking him’, and I did, and it was fantastic. I’ve competed him ever since.

“I sold the pony to an RDA group and carried on with Majestic. It’s very hard but he makes me feel like me again. He’s forward, young, a big horse – but he made me feel able-bodied again.”

Faye and Majestic’s competition pathway has not been the smoothest; not only interruptions owing to Covid but last year she came off the carriage and broke her leg in two places. Then Majestic was found to have injured a ligament.

She has since been driving a pony called Frankie, and hopes to drive both him and Majestic in competitions this year.

“I have lots of plans and I think that’s how I deal with what’s happened to me, keeping focused and keeping doing things,” she said.

“Horses are in your blood; they’re there, and it felt like I’d lost myself when I lost them. I used to do school and horses; it was everything about it and then I had my accident, and it was like I’d lost that as well as my legs. It was horrific.”

Faye said one major thing she has found is that she had to do the pushing herself.

“A lot of people are wary in a situation like mine but I say ‘I rode horses every day, I rode the dangerous ones and did dangerous things, but I broke my back in a car accident,” she said. “I won’t stop doing what I do because something might happen; everyone still gets in cars.”

Faye says it has been a long road, but credits the “fantastic group of people” around her. She hopes to secure sponsorship and also become a motivational speaker.

“Not just for people in my situation but able-bodied people too, who struggle with horses, or other things.” she said.

“If you want something, not matter what, you can do it. It might be hard but it’s about problem-solving, and don’t let anyone tell you you can’t. Work towards something and make it possible; it’s only you who can make it happen. That’s my biggest message.”

Faye shares videos of herself and Majestic, the “big dog who I love more than anything”.

“I firmly believe you get from a horse what you put in and you need to build trust and understanding both ways, which takes time and patience,” she said. “This I have given him and no one will take that away from us. I now own six horses, but I do believe the love of a Friesian is totally like no other.

“Friesians aren’t known for doing what I do but I’ll take him as far as I can. He will always be special – he dragged me out of a hole and made me feel like me again.”

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Belgian dressage rider Marc Peter Spahn was taken to hospital by ambulance, days after dazzling the crowds at London International Horse Show (LIHS) with his Friesian stallion Elias.

Marc and Elias finished 13th in the dressage World Cup qualifier at LIHS, and Marc says he “drove home in euphoria on Saturday” but was then taken to hospital following a fall on Tuesday afternoon.

Marc suffered a serious leg fracture and is set to undergo surgery in the next week.

“It’s not a good prognosis for me. I will have to cancel everything in January. I will have surgery this week, preferably ASAP,” he said.

Marc had been aiming to secure a coveted place to compete at the World Cup Final, in Omaha, USA, in April, and had been planning to continue competing on the World Cup qualifier circuit through January to earn the points needed to rise up the rankings. He is currently 10th in the standings for the Western European League, for which nine spots at the final are available.

“You can cry, but it won’t help,” he said. “What is important now is to keep things on track at home. All horses must be given a place to stay in training. I haven’t thrown in the towel yet – I have too big a goal in mind.”

Marc has competed five Friesian horses up to grand prix level, but the 13-year-old stallion Elias represents his best chance of qualifying for the World Cup Final for the first time. The pair have been on flying form; their 73.32% at London Horse Show was close to their all-time best score.

According to Phryso, Marc’s partner Ykje Baron will step in to keep Elias fit while Marc is out of action.

Although Marc’s injury will rule him out of competing at key World Cup shows over the next month, such as Mechelen and Amsterdam CDI-Ws, he hopes to be recovered in time for later fixtures such as Gothenburg CDI-W in late February and ‘s-Hertogenbosch in March.

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One of the horses who caught everybody’s eye on day one of dressage at the London International Horse Show was the Friesian stallion Elias, ridden by Belgium’s Marc Peter Spahn.

Marc and Elias scored 68.42% to finish 13th in the short grand prix, part one of the dressage World Cup qualifier, supported by Horse & Hound.

The 13-year-old stallion is by Jorn 430, and Marc has ridden him since he was a three-year-old, “so we have been doing this whole journey together”.

“Elias is such a wonderful character to work with, a real Friesian horse. Like most Friesians he is really soft, like a Labrador, I always say,” added Marco.

“When he entered the arena today he wasn’t really sure, and thought, ‘what is all this?’ when he saw the crowd. One part of him said, ‘I have to show off’ and the other part is still a bit careful, but I am pleased with him. We had some mistakes in the one-tempis; I know he can do them but in a test there is sometimes still too much stress at certain points,” continued the rider, who has now taken five Friesian horses up to grand prix level.

“I try to show that the Friesian is a horse that is not only for hacking. You can also do dressage with them and they have really nice characters to work with.

“It’s always fun to ride a Friesian, and we have a deep respect for all the ones we are competing against, so if I do a good test I am happy whatever the result.”

While Elias’ feathers might catch the eye while he is in the ring, it’s his mane that is most impressive.

“It comes down to his knees,” says Marco, who always plaits Elias’ mane into one long running plait himself. “I have a superstition. I always think that when I do it myself, it brings me luck.”

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The Friesian horse looks like it has come straight out of a fairytale. Known for its shining jet-black coat, flowing mane, tail and feathers, as well as its proud and powerful physique, the Friesian is an ancient horse breed that has proved its worth in myriad disciplines, from the battlefield to the circus, trotting races and nowadays dressage and driving. It is considered the only surviving native breed in the Netherlands (from the province Friesland) – where some sources believe 7% of the horse population are Friesians.

Looks and conformation

The Friesian is bred to be exclusively black. Around 100 years ago, there was a minority of bays and chestnuts, but now black is a prerequisite for registration into the studbook. Chestnuts are still found as a handful of stallions carried this recessive allele, but they are very rare, and are not accepted by the breed registries. The only white marking permitted is a star. They typically have a long flowing mane and tail, high-set arched neck, a thick crest and broad chest. The quarters are sloping with a low-set tail.

Friesians are a naturally powerful horse with a high-stepping trot action. The modern Friesian tends towards the lighter sport horse rather than the heavier draft type – there are two distinct conformation types, the larger-built “baroque” Friesian and the finer-boned Friesian sport horse. It is a compact warmblood, powerfully muscled and is ideally at least 15.2hh. They weigh on average around 600kg. Although they are quite a chunky sport horse, they are nimble and elegant.

The Friesian is said to be the foundation for the Old English Black, the ancestor to both the Shire horse and the Fell pony.

The Friesian temperament

All horses have their quirks and backgrounds, but the Friesian temperament is typically friendly, easy-going and willing to please. Their versatility is one of their hallmarks and as such can make a useful family horse: an all-rounder that excels in the dressage and driving arenas, but is equally happy to take friends out for a hack or a Sunday drive.

They are a popular breed for use in film-making – they often look the part in historical dramas and battle re-enactments, and are calm and trainable.

Unfortunately, Friesians are prone to a number of genetic disorders (dwarfish, hydrocephalus, aortic rupture and megaoesophagus), possibly due to inbreeding. This may contribute to their comparatively short typical lifespan of 16 years, although many do live until they are 30.

A potted history of the Friesian horse

The Friesian studbook (Koninklijke Vereniging Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek (KFPS)) is the oldest in the Netherlands, founded 1879, and promotes the interest in this ancient breed worldwide, as well as establishing a breeding programme to maintain and refine the unique characteristics of the Friesian horse. The KFPS tagline is: “The Friesian horse. There she is: fiery, strong, intelligent, and looking just a bit superior. As if she knows of her centuries-old heritage. As if she knows of the place she has in so many hearts.”

Friesian horses can be found on every continent, in more than 70 countries, with more than 70,000 registered. There are many rules and regulations governing registration, stallion selection and young stock inspection. There are also guidelines for naming foals – in 2022, Friesian foals’ names should start with T, U or V.

Thanks to the KFPS, the breed is now well established in its modern form, but ancient texts testify that the Friesian has been an important breed for hundreds of years. As far back as 150AD, documents attest to Friesian horses being used in battle as war horses. Variations on the Friesian were used in the Crusades (probably crossed with Arabs and Andalusians). Some historians believe William the Conqueror rode a Friesian – it’s the archetypal war horse: strong enough to carry a warrior in armour, brave, bold and agile in battle.

The first written evidence of the name Friesian came in the 16th century in Germany, and by the 17th century, Friesians were well represented performing haut-école equitation.

The breed then became concentrated in the Netherlands in the 19th century, where it was used as a status-symbol carriage horse for wealthy land-owners and the KFPS studbook was established. However, the breed nearly became extinct – with just three breeding stallions in existence – as it was no match for the heavier draft breeds working the land. Mercifully a breeding programme ensued which, despite a few hiccups over the years, has enabled the breed not only to survive, but flourish.

As a result of a well-regulated studbook, pure-bred Friesian horses can be expensive. However, like any horse, the price will come down to the individual horse, its pedigree, age, temperament, training, background and ability. Relatively speaking, Friesians are typically more expensive in the US where they are still few and far between.

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A B&B in the Lake District is offering a unique boarding experience for guests looking for an equine getaway.

Greenbank Farm, in Cartmel, Cumbria, launched the ‘stable stay’ accommodation six weeks ago, allowing guests a choice of equine companion in the adjoining stable; a Friesian horse or a miniature Shetland pony.

Tracey Alexander, who runs a not-for-profit Friesian sanctuary at the farm, alongside the B&B, with her mother Sylvia and sister Tamara, told H&H the idea came up during a business meeting looking at how the farm could generate more income.

“An off-the-cuff remark was made about our listed barn and being able to sleep with a horse, then Tamara and I had a lightbulb moment,” she said. “We have very friendly, people-orientated horses so we thought we could set up a glamping-type unit in the barn.

“We have a clear partition so the horse goes in one side and there’s a gate that opens into the living area so people can go in with the horse to spend time with them and groom them. There is a double and single bunk beds, and if you’re lucky enough to be in the top bunk you can speak to the horse over the top of the partition.”

Tracey said four of her 14 Friesians, and eight-year-old miniature Shetland Mr JB take part in the stable stays.

“It’s a lovely job for our retired Friesians to still be involved in the farm and get that extra attention. We gave lots of thought to who would be suitable for taking part. Hidde, an 18-year-old gelding by famous stallion Jasper 366, is proving to be one of the favourites with guests. He’s a very gentle soul,” she said.

“Mr JB is small enough he can actually go into the living area if people want. He’s great with children and is very sweet.”

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Tracey said the stable stay, which costs from £250 per night for up to three people, has had 20 bookings since it launched and they believe it is the first of its kind.

“We did some research and couldn’t find anyone else who had done it before,” she said. “We’ve had some great feedback, everyone who has stayed has loved it. Everything is about the horses and sharing them with people, we have guests come from around the world to see the Friesians.”

“The stable area is cleaned and disinfected after every booking so it never smells. The horses always have a bath before the stay too so they’re not dusty, and we do offer ear plugs if anyone is concerned about being a light sleeper,” she said.

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The owner of a ‘quirky’ Friesian horse transformed from being unable to canter with a rider to a showing sensation has said her dreams have come true.

Katie Yeo bought eight-year-old Jeorgeo from Ebony Stud in January after he was found to be unsuitable as a driving horse — and he went on to stand champion at Equifest (29 August to 1 September).

“I broke Jeorgeo to drive as a three-year-old for the stud and he was a very sensitive little man,” Katie told H&H.

“He was never supposed to be a ridden horse so he was only taught walk and trot but the driving didn’t work out because he could be very highly strung.

“The stud didn’t want to sell him but he needed a job. I retired my Welsh cob Tino last year due to injury and did some work for the stud with Jeorgeo and I was asked if I wanted to buy him so I took a chance on him.”

Katie said she quickly bonded with Jeorgeo.

“He couldn’t canter or go on a circle so I had to spend a lot of time teaching him everything but he was so willing. He needed to trust someone and be a one-person horse – he’s very clingy,” she said.

“People said to me I’d never bond with a horse the way I did with Tino because I’ve owned him 17 years, but I have. A month after buying Jeorgeo I did cross-country at the livery yard bareback because my saddle was away being reflocked – I can do anything with him.”

Katie said she was talked into taking Jeorgeo to Equifest by Rebecca Jayne Rawlinson, who designs side-saddle costumes. Katie and Jeorgeo won six classes, including side-saddle and astride ridden classes, and was crowned open world breeds supreme ridden champion.

“Rebeccca said Jeorgeo would look amazing in a costume and planted the seed. I thought we would go, let him see a bit of the world and treat it as a training show. He’d only been to three small shows before, never a big show in a big arena,” she said.

“I couldn’t believe we won the championship, it was a dream come true. He has a very bouncy exuberant trot and one of the judges said what a showman he is.”

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Katie said she plans to continue Jeorgeo’s education and is aiming for the side-saddle national championships in 2020.

“He’s proven Friesians can do a bit of everything. We are going to try some hunter trials and do some showjumping and dressage over winter but I never wanted to put pressure on him because he’s still young,” she said.

“It hasn’t sunk in what he’s achieved in such a short time, he’s a proper gentleman who always tries his heart out.”

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Over the years, black Friesian horse stallion Frederik The Great has earned himself a flurry of nicknames, including real-life Black Beauty, Storybook Stallion and Fabio Of Horses. He is now considered the “most handsome horse in the world” since gaining the title in 2016.

Born in The Netherlands, Frederik The Great was imported aged six into the United States by owner Stacy Nazario, who runs a horse farm called Pinnacle Friesians in Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains. Her farm specialises in breeding Friesian stallions — a breed that has almost become extinct a number of times.

He is named after the 18th-Century Prussian monarch, Frederick the Great.

According to Stacy, who also rides him in dressage competitions, Frederik is “quite aware of his good looks”.

“He lights up when he’s in the arena or when there is photography going on. It’s almost like watching a celebrity.”

His most distinctive feature is his long mane, which reaches down to his fetlocks. “It usually takes about three hours to wash and dry his mane,” said Stacy.

His Facebook page has amassed 90,000 likes from fans around the globe and videos of him have gained over 23 million views on You Tube.

He has a busy schedule of media commitments and his earnings from appearances, photo shoots and adverts on social media add up to about $20,000 a month.

Continued below…

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Stacy said managing Frederik is a full-time job and she has even turned down film roles for him. “I’m very selective because it is all about him,” she said. He has also appeared on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert in America.

Friesian horses are recognised for their majestic stamp, prized for their strength, versatility and elegance. The breed’s history dates back to the 13^th Century, hailing from The Netherlands and also known as the “Belgian Black”.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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A group of Friesian horse owners created quite a spectacle when they got together recently to celebrate the breed — with a Christmas fun ride.

10 riders and their horses met in the village of Kettins in Perthshire, central Scotland last Sunday (15 December).

It was organised by Janine Mason of Friesians Scotland, who sent these photos in to H&H.

“It was lovely to have a non-competitive day in which we could enjoy good company, our beautiful horses and a 2.5 hour ride through the stunning scenery of Perthshire,” she told H&H.

“We had a few good canters through the stubble fields with the Santa hats, tinsel and bells all flying as we went.

“The horses were all very well behaved and not one was upset or even slightly concerned at our — or their — costumes!” added Janine.

Riders included several happy hackers, showing enthusiast Kirsty Moore and her 6-year-old mare, who has recently started her dressage career, Nicola Ogg, whose young Friesian mare is showing an aptitude for jumping and Janine, who focuses on dressage.

The day ended with mince pies and mulled wine for the humans — and warm boiled barley for the horses.

Post by Friesians Scotland.

Horse & Hound recommends riders wear safety hats when mounted

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A Friesian horse has been killed in an attack in Greater Manchester.

The three-year-old, called Arwen, was found dead early on Monday (28 November) morning by its owners in its stables in Standish, Wigan. It is thought that he had his throat slashed.

“Police were called to a farm on Arbour Lane, Standish, following reports a horse had been fatally injured,” said a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police.

“A joint investigation is being conducted by police and the RSPCA into the circumstances surrounding this incident.”

A man has been detained under the Mental Health Act following the incident.

“This was obviously very upsetting for the owner, to find their horse dead in the stables,” said an RSPCA spokesman.

“We will be pursuing this case along with the police and are now investigating the incident, to make sure we get the right outcome.”

A post mortem examination will be carried out.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 7103.

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A former graded Friesian stallion and dressage horse has shown old horses can learn new tricks by becoming one of the trusted mounts of a Riding for the Disabled (RDA) group.

Samson, aged 19, was donated to the Unicorn Centre in Hemlington, near Middlesborough in November 2008 when his owners, Neil and John Howe of Potto, North Yorkshire, decided to move abroad.

The 16hh Friesian horse was not gelded until late in life, having stood as a graded stallion for six years, but has settled into life as one of 20 horses and ponies at the riding centre and is described as a “safe and comfortable ride”.

Chairman of the trustees at the Unicorn Centre, Julie Elphee said: “Some people did wonder if a Friesian would be a suitable RDA horse but Samson has become a useful addition.

“His ability to react according to the rider on board has resulted in him becoming very popular.”

And Jane Slevin, of the Friesian Horse Association said: “Friesian horses love human contact and I think that’s why Samson is so in his element at Unicorn, however although they are kind and willing they are not always a novice ride.”

She said a Friesian, called Riemkje, was on the British para-dressage squad with Emma Kent for a number of years. The mare has now retired.

The Unicorn Centre would be interested to know if there are any other Friesian horses working with RDA groups.

Tel:01642 576222.

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6 November 2001

London department store, Harrods, swapped reindeer for horses to welcome Father Christmas

Harrods, London’s famous Knightsbridge store celebrated the countdown to the festive with its annual parade to welcome Father Christmas this weekend. It featured a team of Friesan horses instead of reindeer due to FMD restrictions.

Two of the company’s own black Friesian stallions, six-year-old Koss and 10-year-old Vechter, pulled the open-top landau carrying Santa.

Another two five-year-old black Friesians, Spartacus and Apollo, were harnessed to a delivery van. Four white horses on loan pulled another landau.

Head coachman, David West, who drove Father Christmas, said: “They are perfectly behaved even though they are stallions. We keep them entire to retain their jet black colour.

“The horses are brought over from Holland as three-year olds for training and we introduce them to London traffic at around four or five years old.

“Parades like this, and going to shows, are good for us and the horses as it helps to break up the normal routine. And putting them behind a 100-piece band certainly wakes them up.”

The Friesian horses work throughout the year pullingdelivery vans and a variety of other carriages.

Harrods has eight black Friesians in total – four stallions and four geldings. They work a six-week-day week for five hours a day and are stabled in a purpose built air-conditioned boxes underneath the store.

In the second week they go to the estate of Harrod’s owner, Mohammed Al Fayed, in Surrey, where they have some time off but are also ridden and driven.

As cloven-hooved animals, reindeer are subject to the same FMD restrictions as sheep and cattle.

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