Equestrian Network Magazine

Friesian

by M. Y. Mim

Friesian breeder Carolyn Audibert, owner of Realm of the Raven, first fell in love with the magnificent Friesian horse two decades ago.

And why she fell so quickly and so hard matches the reasons all Friesian owners declare: The gorgeous shiny black coat; long and luxurious hair, including the long, heavy mane and tail and the Shire-like fetlock hair; sweet nature; big puppy-dog temperament; intelligence; ability to trot fast and a great ride.

Matthew Audibert enjoys jousting on his Friesans.

Carolyn so adores her horses that she jokes that if she could take her horses indoors, her husband would sleep in the stable and she'd share the bed with her Friesian!

Michael became a Friesian fan after meeting Carolyn. He loves trail riding on Friesians for the comfort and security, declaring "a ride on a Friesian is like riding a Barcalounger"!.

Ready for a jousting tournament on Friesans.

Friesians, the only horse native to Holland, developed from a very old breed found throughout all of western Europe. Friesian horses originated in the Dutch province of Friesland. As one of Europe's oldest breeds, Dutch immigrants originally imported Friesians to North America in the seventeenth century, as early as 1625. The Dutch founded New Amsterdam in the region they discovered in 1609, but abandoned the area to the English in 1664, when the name was changed to New York. Due to crossbreeding, the breed totally disappeared in North America.

In 1974, the Friesian was reintroduced to North America. There are currently more than 45,000 Friesians registered worldwide in the Netherlands (Holland) Approximately 4,000 of those horses are in North America.

Matthew and Dakotah Audibert
in jousting costumes.

At Realms of the Raven, the Audiberts own some seventeen purebreds and crossbreeds. All their Friesians are American because, as Carolyn explains,

"With the renewed interest in Friesians, the quality of the horses in Holland available for export has seriously declined.

We use one amazing. 23-year-old stallion named Gallahad. He always throws black colts, even when I've bred him to a white Andalusian. And I do mean colts - in 12 years of breeding he's produced only four fillies!"

The Audiberts cross breed to Standardbreds, Andalusians, Thoroughbreds and Arabs, and always in a fifty-fifty cross.
Why cross breed?

"These horses best represent what people are looking for, and what they are looking for is a full-blood Friesian but they can't afford one."

Breeder and dad Matthew Aidobert with a beautiful Friesan colt
and sons Dakotah and Tatankah.

Buyers use Realm of the Raven horses for trail riding, dressage, driving, and even jousting. Michael Audibert, Carolyn's husband and co-owner of the breeding farm, frequently jousts in tournaments and displays. The couple's two boys, Dakotah and Tatankah are learning to joust as well. (Carolyn Audibert gave her boys Indian names as she herself belongs to the Morongo Indian tribe.) The family also show their horses and participate in dressage.

Realm of the Raven breeding program means imprinting all foals at birth. The Audiberts teach the young ones on lead, to trailer, be comfortable with bareback pads and become accustomed to a baby saddle.

Most of the horses sell by the time they reach one to one and a half years old. All the horses are produced through insemination, and a few years ago, the Audiberts collected a large quantity of Gallahad's semen. Realm of the Raven sells only three to four horses a year.

The beautiful Friesan Valcor at Realm of the Raven breeding farm.

"We try to do the best we can and put out the best quality," says Carolyn. "We always follow up with every buyer and we've even bought back horses if they're not working out for our customers' needs. We're honest and outspoken with potential customers. This is a full-time business, but we base it on quality, not quantity."

For more information about Realm of the Raven, contact Carolyn Audibert 35775 Breezy Lane, Ranchita, CA 92066, (760) 782-0526. Website is under construction.

A beautiful Friesan stallion at Realm of the Raven breeding farm.

About the Author: M. Y. Mim is a free-lance journalist based in Santa Barbara, Ca. She may be reached at mymim3@cox.net, or through her agent R. Almqvist, 805-705-5349. The author wishes to thank Mr. Almqvist for his assistance in making this article possible.