NorthWoods Friesians

14/08/2024

📢 WE NEED YOUR HELP! PLEASE SHARE!

To confirm a recent research finding, we are conducting an assay of hair samples from purebred Friesians with suspected or confirmed megaesophagus (no vet or necropsy reports are needed).

➡️ If you have a Friesian (any age, living or deceased) that has suspected or confirmed megaesophagus and is KFPS registered through FHANA, meaning they were born in the USA or Canada and their DNA hair sample was submitted to FHANA, please PM us or email your horse's registered name to [email protected]. Confidentiality is assured.

Your horse’s archived hair sample will be used to conduct this important assay and will greatly contribute to our research regarding the inheritance of megaesophagus in Friesian horses. We thank you in advance for your support of this important research! 🙏

Note: For ease and expediency purposes, we are only currently conducting this assay using KFPS hair samples submitted to FHANA because these samples are archived at the University of Kentucky, where this research is taking place.

24/06/2024

Nailed it! 🙌🏻😆

04/04/2024

FRIESIAN RNA DONORS NEEDED!

Recent developments in our Megaesophagus Research Study require us to gather RNA samples from a small number of young Friesian donors. Samples from controls (unaffected Friesians) and study candidates (affected Friesians) are needed. These samples are critical to our current research phase, and we need your help!

WHY RNA?
RNA's principal role is to act as a messenger, carrying instructions from DNA to control the synthesis of proteins. Sometimes, RNA can make errors, resulting in an increased or decreased expression of essential genes, which can lead to disease. By studying the expression of RNA in the esophageal tissue of Friesians affected by megaesophagus and comparing it to the RNA of non-affected Friesians, genes involved in megaesophagus can be more quickly identified.

HOW ARE RNA SAMPLES TAKEN?
RNA is extremely fragile and susceptible to degradation. For optimal results, donor tissue samples must be taken immediately after death or euthanasia. Harvesting and preserving RNA samples requires advanced coordination between owners, veterinarians, pathologists, and our research team. If you have a young Friesian horse that is gravely ill or may require humane euthanasia, and you are willing to donate RNA samples from them, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.

WILL I BE REIMBURSED?
Yes! The Fenway Foundation for Friesian Horses will reimburse the cost of collecting and shipping these samples. Additionally, necropsy and histology are eligible for reimbursement (up to $400) under our Necropsy Assistance Program.

DONOR REQUIREMENTS
🔹 Purebred Friesian horse
🔹 Ages 0 - 2 years old
🔹 Located in the USA
🔹 Cause of death/euthanasia is immaterial
🔹 Donors do NOT need to have a confirmed or presumed diagnosis of megesophagus. Affected horses will be entered as study candidates. Non-affected horses will serve as controls.
🔹 Necropsy and RNA sample collection must take place immediately after death or euthanasia

We thank the Friesian community for the tremendous support you have shown us in our research efforts! 🙏

➡️ RNA Sample Collection Protocol:https://www.fenwayfoundation.com/_files/ugd/588c21_d9bbed5b4b394fa486c692feed944b0f.pdf

➡️ Necropsy Assistance Request Form:https://www.fenwayfoundation.com/_files/ugd/588c21_7c4aeb33fb5c49bb92bcfc83ffb9a522.pdf

21/03/2024

Visit the Friesian Horse Association of North America website for more information!!

FHANA Ride + Drive Event FHANA is hosting a community ride or drive event to benefit the FHANA Research Initiative....

15/03/2024

FRIESIAN RNA DONORS NEEDED!

Recent developments in our Megaesophagus Research Study require us to gather RNA samples from a small number of young Friesian donors. Samples from controls (unaffected Friesians) and study candidates (affected Friesians) are needed. These samples are critical to our current research phase, and we need your help!

WHY RNA?
RNA's principal role is to act as a messenger, carrying instructions from DNA to control the synthesis of proteins. Sometimes, RNA can make errors, resulting in an increased or decreased expression of essential genes, which can lead to disease. By studying the expression of RNA in the esophageal tissue of Friesians affected by megaesophagus and comparing it to the RNA of non-affected Friesians, genes involved in megaesophagus can be more quickly identified.

HOW ARE RNA SAMPLES TAKEN?
RNA is extremely fragile and susceptible to degradation. For optimal results, donor tissue samples must be taken immediately after death or euthanasia. Harvesting and preserving RNA samples requires advanced coordination between owners, veterinarians, pathologists, and our research team. If you have a young Friesian horse that is gravely ill or may require humane euthanasia, and you are willing to donate RNA samples from them, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.

WILL I BE REIMBURSED?
Yes! The Fenway Foundation for Friesian Horses will reimburse the cost of collecting and shipping these samples. Additionally, necropsy and histology are eligible for reimbursement (up to $400) under our Necropsy Assistance Program.

DONOR REQUIREMENTS
🔹 Purebred Friesian horse
🔹 Ages 0 - 2 years old
🔹 Located in the USA
🔹 Cause of death/euthanasia is immaterial
🔹 Donors do NOT need to have a confirmed or presumed diagnosis of megesophagus. Affected horses will be entered as study candidates. Non-affected horses will serve as controls.
🔹 Necropsy and RNA sample collection must take place immediately after death or euthanasia

We thank the Friesian community for the tremendous support you have shown us in our research efforts! 🙏

RNA Sample Collection Protocol:https://www.fenwayfoundation.com/_files/ugd/588c21_1189f4c1c7394c9097943bef25e48c08.pdf

Necropsy Assistance Request Form:https://www.fenwayfoundation.com/_files/ugd/588c21_7c4aeb33fb5c49bb92bcfc83ffb9a522.pdf

14/03/2024

I get asked how the girls are doing. “Baby” Metske is an absolute TANK. Jhett is 16.1 hh and she is definitely taller than him. She’s got to be pushing 17 hh .. 👀 Friesians take longer to finish growing and fill out. I know, I know .. “all horses mature at the same rate” .. well, parts of that may be true, but ask any Friesian or cross owner and they will tell you the same. Elsa didn’t really fill out until she was 5-6 years old and she’s going on 7. Metske is turning 4 next month. She will go into training this year for her keuring in the fall. She will get a lot of conditioning and muscle building so she looks good in front of the judges. Hoping, at best, to make it into the main book. A Ster predicate would be amazing! 💫

I’ll get some pictures posted of Yrse too, she’s a peanut of a filly. 🥰

I’m not big on pictures of myself, so I’m only in here for perspective purposes. I’m about 5’2” on a short day. 🫣

29/02/2024

Don’t forget to attend!

Join Our Exclusive Webinar on Advanced Equine Reproductive Techniques with Dr. Kristen Loncar

The Friesian Horse Association of North America (FHANA) is thrilled to invite you to an enlightening webinar that promises to deepen your understanding of equine reproductive health. Dive into the world of advanced equine reproductive techniques with the esteemed Dr. Kristen Loncar.

📅 **Date:** March 7, 2024
⏰ **Time:** 7:00 PM EST
Signup Here: https://fhana.com/news/advanced-equine-reproductive-techniques-with-dr-kristen-loncar/

About Dr. Kristen Loncar:
Dr. Loncar, a distinguished veterinarian, joined the Equine Medical Services (EMS) team in 2017, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise from Colorado. A proud alumnus of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, she earned her DVM in 2012. Her journey continued in Kentucky at Equine Services PSC with a pivotal internship, followed by a master’s degree and a residency in Equine Theriogenology at the prestigious Colorado State University – College of Veterinary Medicine.

Webinar Highlights:
- Insightful exploration of advanced reproductive techniques and their applications.
- Expert advice on managing problem mares and optimizing mare fertility.
- Innovative approaches to neonatal care, ensuring the health and well-being of the next generation of equines.
- An interactive Q&A session with Dr. Loncar, offering personalized advice and insights.

Whether you're a seasoned equine professional or an avid equine enthusiast, this webinar is a golden opportunity to enhance your knowledge and skills in equine reproductive health. Don't miss out on the chance to learn from one of the best in the field.

18/01/2024

Wolter 513 is 🔥🔥🔥🔥!!

16/01/2024

The amazing Jasper 366!! 🖤

In het kleine dorp Jislum staat een paard. Niet zomaar een paard, maar een wereldster.

04/11/2023

📢 INTRODUCING- THE FRIESIAN ADVOCATE PODCAST!! 🎉

So, what is The Friesian Advocate podcast all about? 🤔 Over the years, we have enjoyed listening to so many stories from Friesian horse owners near and far, and we want to share these stories! Stories of how people around the world come to know and love Friesian horses, how they begin their breeding programs, their family’s legacy with Friesians, and how they enjoy Friesians in sport or simply recreational riding and driving. We also believe Friesian enthusiasts will enjoy hearing from important figures in the Friesian community and the KFPS from time to time.

So, pour a cup of coffee ☕️ this morning and listen 🎧 to our first two episodes of Season One!

🔹 Episode zero is a bonus episode, where you will learn about our team at the Fenway Foundation for Friesian Horses and how the Foundation began.

🔹 Episode one features KFPS Executive Director Marijke Akkerman with an update from the KFPS Royal Friesian studbook: Recent departures of KFPS board members, newly revised stallion selection regulations, outcrossing and closure of the side section, the KFPS Breeding Conservation Research project, the new KFPS website, the 2024 Stallion Show and 145th Jubilee, and more!

🛜 The Friesian Advocate podcast is streaming on Spotify, Apple, iHeart, Amazon, Pandora, Pocket Caster, and Audible. If you have another preferred platform, let us know!

And, for those of you who aren't avid podcast listeners, you can listen right on the Fenway Foundation website. From the home page, select "Podcast" and then choose the episode you wish to listen to. From there, just push the play button and enjoy! Here is a direct link to the Podcast tab on our website: https://www.fenwayfoundation.com/the-friesian-advocate-podcast

🐴 Do YOU have a Friesian story to tell? Email us at [email protected], and we'll add you to the lineup!

13/10/2023

Year 2 progress of developing my heavy-bloomed egg layers. These hens are being specially selected for as they add some extra ✨pizzazz✨ on their eggs making them appear in various shades of greys, pinks, and purples - not something people expect to see when they open a carton of eggs! 😱🤩

And I *FINALLY* have a ‘grey’ egg!! The development towards this has been one of my biggest priorities. Trying to find the right balance of egg color under the right bloom color to produce this effect is tricky.

I was keeping an eye on this particular olive-Egger as she seemed to be adding a smokey touch to her eggs. Well, she popped this one out the other day. She will definitely be going into a breeding pen next year to try to pass this along in further generations.

When I tell you I celebrated .. 😭😆🩶💃🏼

25/09/2023

🖤

It is with our deepest condolences to the Leyendekker family that we announce the passing due to natural causes of Sibald 380 (Sierk 326 x Leffert 306).

Sibald 380 was born in 1997 in Delfgauw, NL to the van Dijk family. He was purchased by the Leyendekkers and brought to the US in 2003

Sibald 380 has over 650 offspring with 24% making ster. Sibald has also produced 13 Sport Predicates or Elite Sport Predicates.

Thank you to the Leyendeker family for sharing Sibald 380 with the FHANA community for 20 years.

23/05/2023

It’s a girl! 🩷🥰

15/05/2023

With the change in weather, the bugs have been showing up in full force. During chores one evening, the ponies were all stomping noticeably. This past April, I had picked up some new fly boots from the Minnesota Horse Expo. It was an excellent deal at $45/set of 4 or $40/set of 4 if you bought 3 or more pairs. Worked out perfectly so we could get the lower Expo price and included our younger 4H-er/friend in the deal to get a set for her new pony too!

With the increasing cost of other fly boots, and our other pairs being in need of replacement, I was hoping I could find who had the cheapest price at the expo.

But I was so relieved when I saw this vendor! These are sold by Outback "OB" Horse Fly Leggings and are hand-stitched by the very ladies who sold us them. They are excellent quality and very comparable to the more well-known brands! And we managed to get 3 pairs of the same color so all of our horses can sport the NorthWoods look. I saved about $60!

If you’re in need of some fly boots, please check these guys out for a great quality at a great price. Different sizes available!

🖤🥰🌲

09/04/2023

I couldn’t resist getting some pictures of this baby belly! Elsa wasn’t exactly impressed, but after almost 6 years together, she’s used to my shenanigans. 🖤

19/01/2023

This lady is turning in extra credit! ✍️

She’s not breaking any world records with this egg (we looked) but it’s still pretty impressive! 🙀

I’ve included what it looked like next to a Silkie egg as well as what it looked like in my pail against standard sizes. No girls seemed to be walking funny 🤭 but I’m pretty sure I know which hen it came from. She’s always producing exceptionally large eggs to begin with. Just glad to see my happy hens still hard at work even through the winter. 🦾🌨

How many yolks do you think are in there? 👀

11/01/2023

It is with great sadness we share that the highly influential Jasper 366 Sport Elite Preferent - “King of the Stallions” - was peacefully laid to rest at home, surrounded by his family, at the age of 28. 🖤🌈

Op dinsdag 10 januari is Jasper 366, de ‘King of the stallions’op 28-jarige leeftijd ingeslapen. Jasper 366 was de publiekslieveling van de Hengstenkeuring en in de fokkerij was hij grensverleggend met zijn swingende beweging. Fit en vitaal tot op hoge leeftijd De Sport Elite en Preferente Jaspe...

09/01/2023

Elsa HM is beginning to show a little bit of that baby bump. Her ‘technical’ due date is May 26th, but she could always go earlier or later! All we really want is a healthy foal and a safe delivery. 🖤

06/01/2023

Very blessed to be apart of this amazing organization and community. 🖤

22/12/2022

Congratulations to all of the stallion owners moving on to the next round!🖤

The week of the First Viewing in Riding School Gaasterland in Harich yielded invitations for the Second Viewing on Friday the 2nd of December for 112 young stallions. Most sons for Tymen 503 A total of around 300 stallions were presented to the Stallion Inspection Committee, which consisted of Ellen...

11/12/2022

They sure don’t make it easy. 😮
Be sure to read about each of the nominees and cast your vote!

Nane 492 Sport AAA, Jehannes 484 Sport Elite AAA, Jeroen Poll Sport Elite en Ymkje ‘fan Panhuys’ Model Preferent Prestatie AAA. Dat zijn de vier genomineerden voor Paard van het Jaar 2022. De vraag is natuurlijk: wie gaat het stokje overnemen van Boukje C., de merrie die Paard van het Jaar 2021 ...

06/12/2022

Excellent and interesting presentation given regarding future research into genetic disorders. With combined efforts, it may very well be that we see great progress and continued preservation of the Friesian. 🖤

05/12/2022

We’re just reaching the half way mark of Elsa’s gestation and we’re super excited to see the growing bump! She will be due around the end of May. Any guesses as to what date? C**t or filly?

This will be the first foal born in the NorthWoods Friesians breeding program. Keeping true to racial type (solid black and feathering), highly intelligent, willingness, personable, and the lovely temperament Friesians have, we’re hopeful for a very special 75% Friesian x 25% TWH between this phenomenal stallion and special mare. Foal with be registered and DNA tested through Friesian Hertiage Horse (FHH)

✨Available in-utero or after wean (at 7 months old).✨

15/11/2022

Despite our best efforts, every Friesian owner will eventually bid farewell to a beloved Friesian horse. Many times, their departure will be after a long and rewarding life. Unfortunately, there will be times when a horse’s departure is totally unexpected and completely premature.

In those occurrences we at the Fenway Foundation, in cooperation with the KFPS and researchers from around the world, hope to learn from those events.

To accomplish this, we need your help! Your horse’s necropsy may be the key to unlocking the answers researchers are desperately searching for.

12/11/2022

Seven new stallions approved!

Op zaterdag 12 november hebben zeven Friese hengsten het KFPS dekbevret in ontvangst mogen nemen. Hildwin 528, Hilbert 529, Hielke 530, Kees 531, Jorke 532, Jimte 533 en Kanne 534 zijn toegevoegd als goedgekeurde hengsten. Twee zonen van Ulbrân 502, een zoon van Menne 496, Tjebbe 500, Jurre 495, Ha...

25/10/2022

Join Us for a Two Part Educational Webinar Series About Horse Trailer Safety with Dr. Rebecca Husted!

Part I - Thursday, October 27th at 6:00pm EDT (3:00pm PDT). In the first webinar we will cover everything you need to know to ensure your truck and trailer are in good working order, how to correctly hitch your trailer, how to maintain your truck and trailer for safe towing and what to look for when purchasing a new or used horse trailer.

Part II - Thursday, November 3rd, at 6:00pm EDT (3:00pm PDT): In the second webinar we will cover everything you need to know to be prepared in the worst possible scenario of a horse trailer accident.

For more information and to sign up: https://fhana.com/news/join-us-for-a-two-part-educational-webinar-series-about-horse-trailer-safety-with-dr-rebecca-husted/

21/10/2022

Because what better time to strike a movie star pose than when you’re at your first keuring in front of the judges? 🙈 Oh well, she looks amazing otherwise. 😆

Photo courtesy of Franke Photo Design, LLC

16/10/2022

HOW YOU CAN HELP FRIESIAN RESEARCH!

Did you know the DNA in your Friesian's blood just might hold the key to solving the disorders we are studying? We have several genetic research projects currently underway at the University of Kentucky Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center and we need your help! We enroll study candidates worldwide- you do not have to be in the USA to participate!

❌Aortic Rupture (Samples Greatly Needed)
⚠️ Delayed gastric emptying (Gastroparesis) & Gastric Rupture (Sample Collection Underway)
✅ Megaesophagus (Sample Collection Complete)

🔸We are actively recruiting study candidates for Aortic Rupture, Delayed Gastric Emptying (Gastroparesis) & Gastric Rupture.

🔸Study candidates can be located anywhere in the world and all that you need to enroll your horse is a confirmed diagnosis via vet report or necropsy.

🔸Our blood collection protocol is simple and easy. Reimbursement is available for sample collection and shipping.

🔸Confidentiality is ensured. Study candidate identifying information, including names or pedigrees, is never published with our research.

To enroll a horse in one of our studies please contact us directly. For more information about this disorder please join our FB support groups:

Equine Aortic Rupture: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1422651711540176'

Equine Delayed Gastric Emptying (Gastroparesis) & Gastric Rupture: https://www.facebook.com/groups/449939913708123

Equine Megaesophagus: https://www.facebook.com/groups/821418031984144https://www.facebook.com/groups/821418031984144

06/10/2022

Early this week, Metske fan Nicomen attended her first keuring (Dutch for “examination” or “inspection”) at the Heartland Equestrian Center in Custer, WI. As first timers, we didn’t want to set our expectations too high to end up in disappointment. But keeping it in our true fashion, we decided to jump into the deep end and give it our best effort. And although Metske didn’t show as well as she could have, she still came out with a 3rd premium and we still couldn’t be prouder (better than nothing). Not too bad for a couple of rookies!

And who can blame her - after spending nearly 12 hours in a trailer, then 2 days in a stall plus all the excitement of the atmosphere, lots of other new horses around, and that she’s not typically stalled or confined for long periods of time, she had every right to be a little sassy.

But finally seeing my first purebred Friesian, Metske, trot around the ring like I’ve seen in so many pictures and videos was truly a milestone achievement that I never thought possible in all the 20+ years I’ve admired this breed. It took a little while to get there, but I made it.

With some feedback from the judges and keuring prep training in the works for next year, we’re confident this filly holds a lot of potential and motivated to give it a go again next year. She’s growing into a very (tall) stunning mare and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for her. 🖤

04/10/2022

When your stall neighbor is from the same breeder. Metske fan Nicomen met Adriant je fan Nicomen! Her mom, Katie, is pretty awesome too!! 🥰🖤