Grand Mesa Friesians

12/30/2024

The Friesian ride in Amsterdam!

12/30/2024

35 years ago my folks built - with their own hands, using every penny they could earn - an equestrian facility in Minnesota for my future horse career. I laid it all down to launch WIN (We Ignite Nations) rescuing kids and developing sustainable solutions to poverty in South Asia.
About seven years ago, just for fun, I started messing with breeding Friesian crosses and dreamed of owning a purebred Friesian. Then this spring my travels brought me to Amsterdam. I felt I needed to take time out and ride a Friesian... and made an ASTOUNDING REALIZATION - the province in Amsterdam where this breed originates - Friesland - was the very name of the crossroads where my folks had built the equestrian facility!
And then it so happened that in partial trade for O'Rio, the buyer conveyed to me a highly bred purebred FHANA Friesian filly. We call this "prophetic." God is in this!

12/27/2024

Merry Christmas from Joelle (Barock Pinto), Winter Raven (FHANA Friesian) and Mom Kathy and me! May your season be filled with joy and your new year with the presence and peace of the One who is the Prince of Peace!

11/23/2024

🎉🎉🎉CONGRATULATIONS🎉🎉🎉 Stephanie Lien D'Urso and First Thunder Friesians in South Dakota, new owner of outstanding homozygous tobiano stallion prospect, 79% Friesian O’Rio Grande bred by Grand Mesa Friesians in Colorado. O’Rio is x Izaak BP Ster 83 out of Joelle BP x Cornelis BP24. 👏👏👏 I’m SO THRILLED that he has such an incredible new home.

10/17/2024

09/16/2024

08/12/2024

O' Rio Grande turns 3 months today! He's a people lover, and such a great personality. HOMOZYGOUS TOBIANO 79% Friesian 21% DW. Very special STALLION prospect located in Colorado. Watch video to see him chase an umbrella! Erin Miley Claudia Chaplin Novick

07/12/2024

O' Rio Grande is learning to lead, pick up his feet, backup, and move over. Very smart and he sure knows what a cool dude he is, look at that cocky boy! Erin Miley Claudia Chaplin Novick

07/03/2024

O'Rio Grande is 7 weeks old... look at that movement! He's going to be a show stopper! 79% Friesian, 21% DW. He's looking for a great home and a future as bright as he is. Text Leanna @ 97 o 985 87 four 4. Erin Miley Claudia Chaplin Novick

06/10/2024

**HOMOZYGOUS**🎊 Tobiano STALLION PROSPECT 79% Friesian, 21% Dutch Wmbld! x multiple world champion Izaak BP Ster 83. Dam’s side: Cornelis BP24 x Bontfire XX 06, out of Tietse 428 daughter. **NOTE the brown mare in the photos is the recip, not his genetic mom. O' RIO GRANDE is tall with correct conformation and WOW markings! Available to the right home. Located in western Colorado. Text mssg Leanna at 97 o-9 eight 5-87 four 4.

06/10/2024

May 31st - Joelle and Jennifer did great in Joelle's second show, competing at First Level.

06/10/2024

May 12th 2024 Mother's Day... in the morning Dollar showed signs of foaling... I put the Foal App on her and went to church since i with the app I could see if she laid down...

06/10/2024

April 2024 - With foaling date nearing for Dollar, and me on the road constantly, I sent Joelle - about to turn 5 yrs old - to our trainer Jennifer Weber Chappell to further her dressage... great progress, with beginning extensions, piaffe steps and half pass!

06/10/2024

I couldn't do any of this without my amazing Mom Kathy Svenson who takes care of the horses when i'm away. As the director of WIN (We Ignite Nations), I travel constantly for ministry and networking. Her TWH gelding Cochise would like to add that he helps take care of the girls!