12.21.08
Friesian pleasure show horses at Deerfield Fair
These Friesians were in the Novice Rider Open Pleasure Championship class at Deerfield Fair Horse Show in September, and the judge liked them pretty well. One Friesian ridden hunter seat took the Championship and another Friesian placed fourth.
Friesian showing at the trot in Novice Rider Open Pleasure Championship class, in the rain.
The 3 black Friesians are easy to spot among the other horses in the ring. This video shows clearly the difference in gait action and self-carriage between the Friesians and the other horses. All 3 are ridden hunt seat.
Two of the Friesians in the lineup awaiting placings.
Victory pass for the Reserve Champion (placed second) and then the Champion, a Friesian horse in Open Pleasure at Deerfield Fair, NH.
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I must say something about this class placing however… traditional “Hunter Pleasure” showing emphasizes a long-strided and lower-headed way of moving for the horse, which is NOT a Friesian’s natural way to move and is not the way this Friesian moves. I DO have to question the judge’s choice for first place, given what I believe are the criteria for a hunter!
That being said however, since this is a “Novice Rider Open Pleasure” class (open to all breeds and disciplines), perhaps the horse having a pleasurable way of going carries more weight with the judge than discipline-related criteria. And also perhaps the rider’s performance is being judged, in a Novice Rider class…
Emmie did many hunter pleasure classes with our Arabian mare Willy, who also naturally moves with her head held a bit high and with some elevation in her gait. Emmie often placed well in “Open Pleasure” classes but did not generally place well in “Open Hunter” classes, where she competed against thoroughbreds or TB-type quarter horses, who can easily achieve a classic hunter frame because of the way they are naturally built and move. But Em did very well with the mare in “Breed” classes showing hunter (pleasure and equitation) against other Arabians and half-Arabians, where the playing field was more level for that breed.
connie said,
September 14, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Bria
THe pleasure was mine– I love watching Friesians! No matter what discipline they are in, they are so elegant, eye-catching, and successful. Such a beautiful breed! And congratulations to YOU too!
Bria Shorten said,
September 14, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Hi! that was me in that class who won and I just wanted to thank you for video taping the class and the victory pass! It was really nice to be able to seep arts of the ride (and Guardian spook at my trainer at the end of the victory pass!) haha.
Thanks!
Bria and Guardian Van Guard
petArtist Cmoses said,
September 21, 2009 at 10:17 pm
My pleasure!