Congratulations to Paulus Van De Willem-State, a ten year old star gelding who won the 2007 USEF Reserve Friesian Driving Award. Accepting the award on Paulus' behalf at the USEF Horse of the Year Dinner in Louisville was his friend Robyn Bomhof.

The World Friesian Horse Show was held October 24-27 in Springfield, Ohio. What a great show! FHANA should be proud of this event and hopefully continue it year after year.

Our club was well represented in the classes with well known names such as Sneller, Matherly, Cole, Bluhm, Vanderploeg, Deboer, Bomhof, Kelnhofer. We all did well and enjoyed the competition and networking. Many other club members came to watch and cheer us on.

Special recognition goes to Paulus Van De Wilem State. Paulus is a ten year old star gelding owned, trained, and operated by Robyn Bomhof. Paulus came from the driving classes to win the High Point Perpetual Trophy as he accumulated the highest overall score.

Also congratulations go to Tjalling, Vanderploeg's model mare for achieving the Reserve Mare Champion status and Glenn & Carol Bluhm for taking the Country English World Championship with Roelof (Cathy Martin up).

For class results, go to www.horseshowonline.com

A beautiful time to be in West Michigan with our beautiful Friesians. Our Inspection went well as usual thanks to all of our dedicated club workers.

The judges once again reminded us how difficult it is to get a star rating (in fact even a third premium was difficult). There were 104 Friesians that were judged. Of those going for a star rating, only 4 mares, 2 stallions, and 1 gelding made it. We did have however, one new Model Mare and one Stallion going on to be tested.

For the complete unofficial results, open up the attached Word document provided by the Friesian Connection.

For crowd pictures, go to our Gallery-Members section.

Attached File: Keuring-Hasting results-2007.doc

The following foals born in 2007 are something to brag about! See their pictures in our Gallery Section under the Foals tab.

A Bit of Class Friesians in Battle Creek announce two new colts -- An outstanding colt out of Brandus and a first premie Teunis star mare --and-- an awesome colt out of Lammert and an Ouke mare.

Jim & Robyn of Black Oak Farm in Sparta, MI announce a brand new filly. The father is the outstanding North American stallion Heinse 354 and the mother is Astrid W - a first premie Feitse star mare.

Sneller Friesians are pleased to announce two new foals. Wybren is an Anne son out of Gabrielle S.F. (a Ludse mare) and Zenia is a Lolke daughter out of the ster mare Ina (Rypke).

Have some fun and show your Friesian this summer!

Thanks to our Morgan horse friends, there will be three all breed shows this year that will be offering Friesian only classes in halter, saddleseat, western, and driving.

West Michigan All Breed Spring Classic May 11-12,2007

West Michigan All Breed Summer Sizzler August 17-19,2007
For information on these two shows, go to www.wmmha.com

Great Lakes Country Classic August 3-5,2007 For information on this show, go to www.greatlakescountryclassic.com

The location for all three shows is the Western Michigan Fairgrounds in Ludington, MI

Also --- don't forget the FHANA sponsored 2007 World Friesian Horse Extravaganza and Competition October 25-27,2007 in Springfield, Ohio

As part of their Pets in America exhibit, the museum asked our club to be part of their "Horsing Around" day on Sept. 30. Jim & Robyn Bomhof took their star gelding and star mare while Laurie De Haan helped at the information table inside. It turned out to be a great educational and fun time for the visitors.

For pictures, go to the Events section.

Another great Keuring!

For a summary Results Page, open up the attached Word document.

Attached File: 2006 Hastings Keuring Results.doc

Four of our members took their performance horses down to Lexington, VA to compete with North America's finest at the International Friesian Show Horse Assoc Grand Nationals.

Robyn Bomhof took her gelding Paulus. Amy & Sara of the Friesian Connection took Pieter P. and Rintse. Cally Matherly took her young stallion Cervantes. Janet Enyart took her mare Taitske.

The facilities at the Virginia Horse Center were first rate and the weather was just right as the Friesians from different registries showed off for the crowd.

About 100 Friesians competed in class sizes ranging from 1to 15. Competing against serious competitors from around the country is difficult, but when it was all said and done, the West Mich. entrants rose to the challenge as spectators Dirk Ten Haaf and Pete & Cathly Van Ooy can attest.

Our horses always finished in the ribbons and we took more than our fair share of first and second places.

Placings of note:
Cervantes - this young stallion was mostly shown in the Western classes with Shawn & Cally riding. In the Western Pleasure Junior Horse class he become GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION and in the Western Pleasure Amateur class, he become RESERVE GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION.

Rintse - besides his dressage testing, he took GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION in the Dressage Hack Open class with Shaana Pritchard up.

Paulus - Robyn's eight year old gelding did well in four classes and become GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION with Kelly Hill up in the Dressage Suitability class.

Taitske - Janet was entered in pleasure driving and obstacle driving classes. Janet's turn out and driving skills were superior as usual taking RESERVE GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION in all of her classes.

A good time was had by all.

A West Michigan Friesian - something to admire and enjoy!

For photos, go to the Events Section-IFSHA Show

For a tale of the 2005 Keuring, open up the attached Word file.

Attached File: Keuring-2005 story.doc

Here are the unofficial results of all 91 entrants. Just open up the attached Word file. Thanks to Friesian Connection for this tally.

For some pictures of the Keuring, go to the Events Section-2005 Inspection.

Attached File: Keuring results 2005.doc