The accident in February of this year with one of the Friesian stallions has had a huge impact on Willy Arts. ‘I have had the odd accident, but never gave it much thought. But when you suffer a blow to the head with the possibility of brain damage your life will never be the same again. I am quite happy with my recovery though. In the end I am relieved that I haven’t suffered any permanent damage.’
A horsey family
Willy Arts was born in Wijchen as a member of a truly horsey family. Already at a young age he knew that he wanted to go into horses. He received a solid training at the Riding School St. Frans where Cor Loeffen was an instructor. After finishing his Retail Education, Arts went to work at the Riding School St. Frans, then switched to Stud Farm Het Vierspan in Handel and also obtained his certificate as a qualified Deurne instructor. In 1984 he set out on a 3-month visit to Tony DeGroot at the DG Bar Ranch in Hanford, California, but never returned.
Arts achieved quite appealing results with the DG Bar Ranch’s breeding products. ‘Our main focus in breeding is on sports. We aim to breed healthy horses with quality gaits and good working ethics. The majority of (dressage) horses in the USA are ridden by amateurs.’
Cooperation KFPS
The cooperation with the KFPS took off six years ago. Willy Arts was appointed head of training for the performance tests. ‘During the past six years the quality of the stallions has continued to rise. Friesians are increasingly used as riding horses. The modern Friesian shows more use of its back which leads to better transitions and results in a better overall balance. The leg technique has improved.’
The training of the Friesian stallions is personally done by Willy Arts. ‘Everything is directed towards sport aptitude’, Arts explains. ‘The Friesian stallions make up a welcome change in my routine. By now I have recovered enough to continue with the performance test. I am really looking forward to the arrival of a new batch of Friesian stallions here at the DG Bar Ranch.’
As published in the KFPS newsletter Aug. 7, 2013
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