Dozens of studbook stallions have flown across the ocean in recent years to support the breeding of the Friesian horse in America and Canada. Phryso took a – small – tour to see and hear how the standard-bearers of our Friesian breed are doing.
Text: Alice Booij | Photos: Johanna Faber
A seven-hour drive to attend an inspection, semen that takes a day to travel by courier from the stallion owner to a breeder, and only a few training stables capable of bringing Friesian horses into top condition for inspection and sport… Anyone working with Friesian horses in America and Canada has to be willing to make sacrifices. Nevertheless, around 600 Friesian foals are born in America every year, and there is a large group of passionate breeders. And, of course, stallion owners as well. In recent years, a considerable number of stallions have crossed the ocean to strengthen the breeding industry. Phryso drove a few thousand kilometers in ten days to visit a number of them.
Thorben 466, who is that?
Most Friesian studbook stallions can be found in the American Midwest: Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and just across the border in Canada. The largest group of studbook stallions is stabled with Tiffany Reyenga in Rockton, Illinois, also known as Black Pearl Friesians. “I bred Friesian mares, but had no choice in stallions,” Tiffany says, citing the reason for bringing studbook stallions from the Netherlands. “It started for us with Thorben 466,” Tiffany explains. “I really wanted to bring Tsjalle 454 to America, but Age Okkema advised me to buy Thorben. In America, they said: Thorben 466, who is that?” Yet, it turned out to be a good move, Tiffany indicates. “Thorben is very easy to handle; he was a very good stallion to start with.” He is now 20 years old and has been at Black Pearl for eight years. “He is my ‘hearthorse’,” Tiffany states. “Here, everyone can basically do anything with him.” ‘He is the king of the stable.’ Four years later, the now 20-year-old Tsjalle 454 finally came to Illinois. ‘He is a clown, quite mischievous sometimes too,’ laughs Tiffany. ‘Thorben 466 and Tsjalle 454 are buddies; they already were in the Netherlands. Both Thorben and Tsjalle will stay here for the rest of their lives, that is what I promised. They put our company on the map.’
100 mares for Alwin 469
At Black Pearl, there is also a stable for life for 18-year-old Alwin 469, who came to the States over 2.5 years ago. ‘He is the Jasper 366 of America: very popular. Besides purebred Friesian mares, he is also frequently used with mares of other breeds.’ The crowd favorite at the Stallion Inspection had to get used to things quite a bit after his flight and his month of quarantine, Tiffany explains. ‘Import can be traumatic for some stallions. With Alwin, it took about a year before he settled in.’ He has since developed a special bond with his 14-year-old daughter Alexis. ‘Alwin is at his best when the top door opens and he can look out over the yard from his stable. This year he has covered 100 mares.’
New stallion every two years
When she started her stallion farm, her goal was to acquire a new studbook stallion every two years. ‘To provide my clients with new blood for their Friesian breeding each time. The low degree of kinship was also the reason for us to buy Omer 493.’ She has had Omer 493 under her care since the end of 2022, and her son Tanner (18) in particular gets along well with the 14-year-old Omer 493, who is already quite grey. ‘He is the easiest stallion to handle when collecting semen, very polite,’ says Tiffany, who knows his character’s reputation. ‘He has never been dangerous or mean; he loves movement in front of the carriage and demands trust and respect. If you handle him too roughly, he doesn’t forget it. He trusts me.’ Incidentally, Tiffany makes the investment in the stallions jointly with Erin Miley. ‘We hope to recoup the investment in the stallions within three years and then we will make a profit.’ The number of stallions in the US and Canada has increased considerably in recent years, though the number of breedings has not so much. ‘So it is quite difficult to get sufficient numbers of mares.’ With eight stallions jumping every day and semen being delivered across the country via courier services (and sometimes by plane), it is quite intensive, she indicates. ‘To Canada, Florida, and California, the transport makes it another 200 to 300 euros more expensive for the breeder. It is a lot of work, but with Tanner and Alexis, it has become a real family business.’
Fairy tale book Frisian horse
The latest addition is Meinte 490, who had already been standing at stud on a rental basis in the US for some time. ‘His bloodline was a good match for the other stallions,’ says Tiffany, who is advised on the purchase of the stallions by Doeke Hoekstra, a Friesian horseman working at VDL studs. ‘He knows temperaments and bloodlines; moreover, he guided me in jumping the stallions and preparing the semen for transport.’ Does she already have an idea who the next stallion she will import is? ‘In the US, they like the baroque type, not too luxurious and sporty. We want a Friesian straight out of a fairytale.’
Nathan and Erin Miley – Johanna Faber
Erin Miley is a co-investor in the stallions. She lives about nine hours south of Black Pearl Friesians. Erin and her husband Nathan have an arable farm and about 30—’or maybe a bit more’—Friesian horses. ‘We don’t count them anymore; we call it one horse stock.’ Among them is Bauke K. Ster A (Fabe 348 x Fridse 423), the winner of the Friesian Talent Cup in 2020, where he received a 10 for his trot. The ten-year-old Bauke trots and gallops through the pasture like a young stallion. ‘I ride him and he can really do everything; he always makes a big impression in parades.’ The couple’s goal is to one day breed a Model Mare or a studbook stallion from their own stock. With Hinke vd Badwei Model Sport Pref AA (Fetse 349), Zytske ût de Grachten Model Sport Elite AA (Andries 415), and Godiva Model AA (Tsjerk 328), they already have (older) Model mares in their stable. Or rather, outside in the paddocks. The horses run in groups year-round and outside as much as possible, despite freezing temperatures and snow. They have a shelter where they receive unlimited access to good hay (from lucerne and grass), and there is a salt lick for their mineral supplementation. ‘Not a gram of concentrates,’ Erin points out. ‘This system keeps them healthy and ensures they live to a ripe old age. Moreover, we achieve very good pregnancy results.’
Low kinship
The Mileys are co-owners of Tsjalle 454, Alwin 469, Meinte 490, and Omer 493. “The pool of stallions in the US was becoming too small, and with frozen semen we had less chance of success, so we co-purchased the stallions,” explains Erin. Nathan adds: “We saw the potential; the market was big. Especially for a stallion like Omer 493 with such low kinship. We just wanted to have him.” And that search for low kinship continues. “Preferably below 17%. It is better to utilize those stallions than to have to switch to another breed in 20 years.”
Domestic trade is picking up
Whereas horses previously left the Netherlands for the US, the Mileys see that domestic trade is picking up. ‘Imports have become a lot more expensive; it is now cheaper for Americans to buy Friesian horses in their own country.’ Offspring of Alwin 469, for example, are popular, Erin indicates. ‘If I offer his foals for sale on the internet, they are sold within 20 minutes.’ Incidentally, that also applies to the foals of their Barock Pinto stallion Izaak BP 115. ‘Some people prefer color.’
Janice VerMerris and Amy Kroll from the Friesian Connection with Ulbrân 502 – Johanna Faber
Service stable Friesian Connection
The Friesian Connection is the pioneer in the field of Friesian studbook stallions. Bob and Arlene de Boer brought stallions such as Ouke 313, Jorrit 363, Tjimme 275, and Mintse 384 to America. The North American-bred Sipke 450, Doaitsen 420, and Tonjes 459 were stabled with them. All in all, they were the home base for nearly 20 studbook stallions, for varying lengths of time. Daughters Janice and Amy have since taken over the baton; the parents—Bob is 92 and Arlene 83—live, just like the other six siblings, on the same street in Dorr, Michigan. “We no longer have any stallions of our own,” say the sisters, who themselves owned Tjaarda 483 as their last stallion. “The purchase investment is too high; there are so many stallions in North America, we wouldn’t earn that back.” However, they are the hosts and service providers for a number of Friesian studbook stallions. Ulbrân 502 is happily grazing in the pasture. ‘He is outside as much as possible,’ the ladies indicate. They had Hessel 480 and Julius 486 in the stable, Wylster 463 was there last year, and for the coming season, Hielke 530 (see box) will come to fulfill his duty.
Keep healthy
‘Mares are welcome here; we’ve had about 75 in the stable this summer,’ say Janice and Amy. ‘We scan, inseminate, and ensure they get pregnant, even problem mares.’ The ladies have extensive experience getting mares pregnant using frozen semen. ‘Many veterinarians don’t know how and when to inseminate with frozen semen. A Friesian mare reacts differently than other horses. We have that experience and know how to handle it. We also have experience with older stallions. They require more care, and it is quite physically demanding for them as well. It is especially important that the horse is allowed to be a horse and doesn’t stand in the stall 24 hours a day.’ And in the winter, the horses go on the treadmill for ten minutes. ‘Just a little workout every day.’ With more than 40 years of experience, how do they view the health of the Friesian horse? ‘We do occasionally have one sick, but we haven’t seen the problems people are talking about.’ ‘Maybe we were lucky,’ said Janice, while Amy continued: ‘on social media you see a lot of emotion when a horse dies, your heart breaks because the Friesian horse has a very special character. But these are isolated incidents.’
Kai and Lisa Zijlstra with Sepke 549, Gurbe 548 and Teun 505- Johanna Faber
A stallion owner by chance
Becoming a stallion owner in America ‘happened’ to Kai and Lisa Zijlstra in Clarksville, Michigan. During one of her trips to the Netherlands, Lisa ran into Kai, and he went with her to America. Lisa was already running a training stable for warmblood horses, where the ABFP for Friesian horses in America was also held. With Kai, more Friesian horses arrived at the stable. He knew what the judges at the inspection wanted to see and took care of the training. The profession of stallion owner crossed their path. ‘I had worked for Piet Sibma and Tsjalling de Boer in the Netherlands,’ Kai summarizes. ‘At Tsjalling’s, I had already seen Teun 505 when he was a foal, and later again when he came out of the rearing phase. Even then, he stood head and shoulders above the rest; such a beautiful profile. I never thought he would ever end up in my stable. I was already crazy about him back then.’ When Kai got the chance to bring Teun 505 to America, he seized it with both hands. ‘In America, he would get more stud services than in the Netherlands,’ was the thinking. Initially, Teun 505 was jointly owned with Tsjalling and others; by now, the studbook stallion—now in America for the third year—is owned by Kai and Lisa.
Gurbe 548 and Sepke 549
Over the past year, even more stallions arrived at the stable: the American-approved Gurbe 548 and Sepke 549. Two stallions of very different caliber. ‘Gurbe is very easygoing; he didn’t know much, but he has developed exceptionally well over the past year. Yes, he surprised me too.’ The stallion is a son of Wybren 464, who was also bred and approved in the US. An interesting bloodline, therefore. ‘I get inquiries from the Netherlands asking if we have frozen semen from him, but producing straws of frozen semen is quite an expensive undertaking.’ Gurbe 549 was bred by the Markey family and is owned by Roger and Dana Hartle. The elegant Sepke 549 belongs to Kai and Lisa themselves. ‘His dam was imported from the Netherlands and had Sepke at her side. With Tiede 501 as his sire, he has quite unique blood for this area, so that’s when I bought him.’ Success has whetted their appetite for more, Kai indicates. ‘I have more colts standing here that we are raising to go to the first inspection here in the US. Perhaps we will succeed in bringing a young stallion to studbook status again.’ If not, they can be sold as sport horses, according to Kai, who indicates that he is more enthusiastic about younger stallions for breeding purposes. ‘They have already improved by another generation.’
Nathan and Erin Miley – Johanna Faber
Tonjes 459 and Julius 486
From Michigan, there is a quick route to Canada, to Ontario to be precise. That is where Julius 486 can be found at Jack Vanderkooy’s stable. The 15-year-old stallion is still frolicking around merrily. Jack also owned Tonjes 459, bred by Klaas and Mares Vanderploeg, but he has since retired. With the Lang family in Ontario, the 20-year-old enjoys pleasant trail rides with the children. At 74, Jack has put his horse business up for sale, but remains fully involved in the breeding of Friesian horses. ‘It is important that we hold a stallion selection in North America. It generates enthusiasm among the breeders. If they can only focus on mares, half the fun is gone.’ The alternative of taking the stallions’ CO in the Netherlands might be easier and perhaps cheaper in terms of riding and driving technique, but it takes away the entire experience, he indicates. There are breeders who see breeding a studbook stallion as their ultimate goal; it gives a thrill.
Jack VanderKooy with Julius 486 – Johanna Faber
Flute shot Julius 486
He has experienced that himself, too. For a long time—about ten years—Julius 486 was the last stallion to be approved in North America, until Sepke 549 and Gurbe 548 arrived. That Julius 486 was born at Jack’s was a real stroke of luck. ‘I was in the Netherlands with my daughter to pick out a mare. Life is too short to breed a good horse, so we’ll buy one from a good family,’ they thought. ‘We looked at Beart 411 daughters because we wanted a mare with a good walk. At Sjaak and Annet de Wit’s, we found a second-premium Star mare, in foal to Norbert 444.’ But father and daughter also found a very beautiful provisional Crown mare by Beart 411. And actually, they only wanted one horse. ‘You get the picture, we went to Canada with three horses, a whole crate full; that was just more efficient,’ says Jack, laughing. And so Jakob was born, named after Jack. ‘A colt I actually didn’t want.’ Ultimately, the stallion covered 175 mares in his first two years. ‘Norbert 444 x Beart 411, that was something every breeder in North America wanted.’ Julius 486, approved in 2015, was allowed to spread his genes in the Netherlands over three breeding seasons, but then returned quickly. ‘Stallions that become studbook stallions here must also stay here for at least two years so that breeders can use them,’ Jack states as a condition. ‘You have some different blood here; it is good for the entire breed that we continue breeding with that.’
JoAnn Clough with Thorben 466- Johanna Faber
JoAnn Clough: ‘working together for health’
It has been almost 25 years since JoAnn Clough saw her first Friesian horse. ‘In front of the carriage with Bob de Boer. I was immediately smitten and said to Bob: “I’m going to save up and then I’ll come and buy a mare from you.” A year later, the time had come and she bought Anelise by Friesian Connection Preferent (Ouke 313). ‘A very sweet mare, but there was a story behind her,’ she says. ‘Anelise was born backwards and thanks to Bob she was still alive, but she had sustained trauma to her hock joint.’ She would never become a Ster mare, Bob honestly added. ‘But she had good pedigree, had low kinship, and was pregnant, so I was willing to take on the challenge,’ says JoAnn. ‘The goal was to make her Preferent.’ With eight live foals and three Ster offspring, that did not succeed initially. Annelise – who turned 25 – produced a daughter who achieved Preferent status based on her first four offspring: Ora Mae Stb Pref (Wander 352), herself a studbook mare. ‘And with Ora Mae’s Preferent status, Anelise also became Preferent,’ continues Jo Ann. ‘I was completely amazed when I received the papers for two Preferent mares; my mission was accomplished!’ The lesson the breeder of Black Earth learned is obvious: ‘You can also build a beautiful breeding line with a foal book and studbook mare. The investment in Anelise has been a very good one.’ Mae has three offspring by Thorben 466, her favorite stallion, and she is now pregnant with her seventh foal, by Sepke 549. With this, JoAnn has also set the next goal in her breeding: Performance and Double Preferent. ‘I look for low kinship, more sport, and a good character,’ is how JoAnn describes her breeding goal. As a member of the FHANA health committee, she is also involved with health. ‘We must share knowledge and be proactive, with articles, webinars, and expertise. As Frisian horse breeders worldwide, we must collaborate on the health issue.’
Scott and Shelley Kelnhofer with Antonius, the clone of Anton 343 – Johanna Faber
Bronze Nanning 437
A tour of studbook stallions in the US also brings us to the Fenway Foundation, where a bronze statue of Nanning 437 stands—at 120%, slightly larger than life-size. The stallion died of a gastric rupture at the age of 14 and prompted owners Scott and Shelly Kelnhofer to delve into the health of Friesian horses. Angie Depuydt is their right hand in the research and extensive knowledge exchange, particularly regarding esophageal paralysis.
Angie DePuydt – Johanna Faber
They now have their own Fenway laboratory where DNA material from horses that have died is stored. ‘Very important for future research,’ Angie indicates. An extensive database of DNA and autopsy data could prove useful in a few years when new techniques and research methods emerge. ‘The road to finding markers to detect esophageal paralysis and prevent it in breeding is a long and bumpy one,’ they have found. ‘It is more complicated than we thought. The only thing we can do now is provide advice on how horses with esophageal paralysis can still live long and well lives. Because that is indeed possible.’ Studbook stallion Anton 343 also raced at Fenway; he reached the respectable age of 26. A 2.5-year-old clone of Anton 343, Antonius, is currently at the stud. And a second clone, which was born, will arrive soon. ‘This way, we can enjoy Anton 343’s fantastic character for a long time to come,’ Scott states as the main reason for cloning the stallion. ‘We certainly didn’t do it to exploit it commercially,’ he emphatically adds.
Hielke 530 – Johanna Faber
Hielke 530, first Friesian horse at ‘dressage mecca’ Wellington
He has only been in the United States for three months, but Hielke 530 is completely at home. “He receives royal treatment with us,” says Mia Macias. The eight-year-old son of Jurre 495 is owned by Macias Corral Friesians, who also own Wylster 463. The Macias family has been breeding Friesian horses for 15 years; owning an approved stallion was their big dream. With Wylster 463—now 19 years old—they succeeded, and so daughter Mia acquired a training horse for dressage. They were impressed by Hielke 530 during the 2026 Stallion Championships. “With those motorcycles at the stallion ball, that was amazing,” Mia recalls. “I have big dreams for him. Hielke is a super, super sport horse; he is going to put the Friesian horse on the map as a dressage horse here.” Mia is still studying, and Hielke 530 is going to Wellington, Florida, in January 2027—the dressage mecca of America, where the world’s best dressage horses compete. Patricia Becker, Mia’s trainer, will compete him in FEI competitions. “His commitment is top-notch; he gives 100% of what I ask of him,” is how Mia describes Hielke 530’s qualities. “He is not too big, very well-proportioned, has very strong hindquarters, a back that isn’t too long, and is very athletic. He can undoubtedly hold his own against warmblood horses. And above all, he is very sweet; he takes good care of me too. Compliment our breeders,” Mia adds enthusiastically. “He is very well bred.”
Dream to own an approved studbook stallion
Melvin Miller is one of the two owners of Ulbrân 502. “The purchase of Ulbrân 502 was a dream come true for me. I really wanted to own an approved studbook stallion,” says Melvin. He belongs to the Amish community, where horses play an important role in transportation. The Friesian stallions are used to breed ‘buggy-horses’. Last year, Ulbrân 502 impregnated over 80 mares, Melvin indicates. “I love a long neck, a lot of presence. You can breed with that in a refined way,” is his experience. “I would also have liked to have a stallion like Auwert 514 in my stable.” Melvin and his family run Double M Friesians, which involves the buying and selling of horses, breaking them in, training them, and a stallion station is also part of his services. In addition to the ‘ordinary’ Frisian stallions he uses, Ulbrân 502 is quite a gem, he indicates. ‘We breed Frisian horses ourselves and want to continue working more with Frisian horses.’
Caption – Johanna Faber
Emigration success for Lubbert and Simone
It has been two years since Lubbert van Oene and Simone Jongbloed emigrated from the Netherlands to the US, to Indiana to be precise. “I have dreamed of emigrating to America my whole life,” Lubbert stated. When Simone also wholeheartedly said yes, they took the leap. By now, they have over 30 horses in training and an approved studbook stallion in their stable: Eise 489. He fits in well with harness enthusiasts and Lubbert and Oene’s clientele. This year, the stallion covered nearly 20 mares, a number of which were warmbloods. “The fact that Eise ended up in our stable is a dream come true.”
Rhonda Andrews with Mees 497 – Johanna Faber
With Mees 497 and Aarnold 471 special blood
Rhonda Andrews had always wanted a Friesian horse. She is now also the owner of two approved studbook stallions: Aarnold 471 and Mees 497. “I called Sweden because I wanted semen from Tymon 456. He is the sire of our mare Lourenske,” says Ronda. “Sending semen didn’t work out, but then I was offered Mees 497, a son of Tymon 456.” The fourteen-year-old Grand Prix stallion is at a training stable to be competed in higher-level dressage again this coming spring. “I see in Mees what I also see in Lourenske: they want to show. That is why it is good that he is going back into training, so he can show himself in the ring.” And not much later, the 18-year-old Aarnold 471 also came over to the US after two breeding seasons in the Netherlands. “He will get his ‘forever home’ with us,” says Ronda. We have no bloodlines of Arnold 471 here; it is good for the US that he is standing here now.
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