(photo Friso fan S. during Supreme Championships)
The Horse of the Year Show is held each year in February and different breeds square up against each other at the end of the busy week of showing, to crown the Supreme Champions in different fields such as Under Saddle, Single Harness, In-Hand etc. The FPSSA have been the organiser of the Friesian classes for a number of years and the best breeding stock and sport horses enter for this yearly event.
(Friso fan S. & Alida Copeland De Jager)
This past valentines weekend was a very successful three days for the Doorndraai team and they picked up where they left off at the FPSSA National Show in October 2013. Friso fan S. was again a show stopping favourite and walked away with the FPSSA Supreme Champion Single Harness, Under Saddle Supreme Champion and Champion Stallion In-Hand. This put him through to compete in the Horse of the Year Supreme Championships In-Hand, Under Saddle and Single Harness on Sunday 16 February 2014. After two busy days it was decided to only take part in the Single Harness and Under Saddle Supremes where Friso fan S. took Tjalf 443 ‘Sport’s title from 2012 as Supreme Champion Single Harness driven by Nynke Bosma. He carried his good form into the very competitive Under Saddle Supreme Championships where he was placed in the ‘Top 5’ in a class with twenty competitors riden by Alica Copeland De Jager who made her first appearance in the Bob Charter arena.
(At van Doorndraai during Supreme Championships)
Friso fan S. was not the only Doorndraai Star as At van Doorndraai Rb Star qualified for the Gelding Supreme Championships by becoming the Champion Friesian Gelding on the Saturday and placed in the ‘Top 5’ in the all-breed Gelding Supreme Championships on the Sunday. The Friesian Breed was very well represented as Truke fan Lutke Peinjum (owned by Marius Calitz) became the Supreme Champion In-Hand. This meant that in all the classes where Friesians participated they were either Supreme Champions or placed in the ‘Top 5’.
There are of course a few people that made these outstanding results possible and we would like to say a special thank you to Tumi who has won the best runner for two shows in a row (FPSSA National Show 2013) who with his soft handling, passion for showing and legs that seem to never grow tired is a very important part of the showing team. Nynke Bosma and Alida Copeland De Jager who manage the training @Doorndraai also have to receive a special mention for their tireless work the past few months that led to the good results at the show. We were also privileged to have accomplished rider Evelien Duin at the stud for two weeks prior to the show helping with preparation and training.
(photo – Harmkje fan Bokkum)
Then we would also of course like to thank the FPSSA for the organising of the show and all the sponsors for the wonderful prizes. Equipage was the title sponsor for the 2014 Horse of the Year and has to receive a big thank you for their involvement in this event. Judge Sue Carter stood in for the KFPS judges during the Friesian classes and ring master Carol Ann Paterson ensured with great success that the FPSSA show rules were applied.
The 2014 Equipage Horse of the Year show was a greater than usual success for Doorndraai Friesian Stud and showed again that being the runner up on the KFPS Worldwide Top 50 Friesian Breeder of the Year list was a worthy title. Doorndraai is the only Friesian Stud ever to have qualified for three Supreme Championship classes on the Sunday and then further went on to win one Supreme Championship and place in the ‘Top 5’ in the other two. They are also the only stud to have had two different horses become Supreme Champion in a single discipline. (Tjalf 443 ‘Sport’ was the Supreme Single Harness Champion in 2012 and Friso fan S in 2014)
Visit our Facebook Group (Search for Doorndraai Friesian Stud) for information on upcoming shows and events where our Doorndraai horses are sure to take your breath away. Contact Altie on 083 299 1356 for information on Horses for Sale.
FULL 2014 HORSE OF THE YEAR RESULTS
SUPREME CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSES – SUNDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2014
FRISO FAN S.
Supreme Champion Single Harness
5th Under Saddle Supreme Championship
AT VAN DOORNDRAAI
4th Gelding Supreme Champion
FRIESIAN CLASSES 14 – 15 FEBRUARY 2014
FRISO FAN S.
Champion Friesian Stallion In-Hand
Champion Friesian Stallion Under Saddle
Champion Friesian Single Harness
AT VAN DOORNDRAAI
2nd Prelim
Champion Friesian Gelding Under Saddle
Champion Friesian Gelding In Hand
GUSTAV VAN DOORNDRAAI
Reserve Champion Friesian Gelding In-Hand
HISKE FAN BOKKUM
1st Star Mares 3 years and older
Reserve Champion Friesian Mare In-Hand
Reserve Champion Friesian Mare Under Saddle
JOLANDA VAN DOORNDRAAI
Champion Friesian Filly
LOURENS VAN DOORNDRAAI
1ST Stallions over 3 but under 5
Reserve Champion Friesian Stallion
HARMKJE FAN BOKKUM
2nd Friesian Mares over 3 but under 5 years
3rd Friesian Mares Under Saddle
