Hessel

As I sit here updating my web page in December of 2007 I look back at what was such a momentous occasion in my life - the loss of Vanyel, my best friend and the equine love of my life - to colic Thanksgiving of 2005. I thought my heart was broken and that the void would never be filled. It took me several weeks to be able to go back into my own barn and walking past his stall made me weep. I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to email, call or hug me in person. I hope through the photos I have added to Hessel's site that you can truly see how special he is and how fortunate I was to have him come into my life.

In 2006, Jan Anderson of Bayhaven Farm, a good friend and an importer of Friesians contacted me to let me know that she had a young stallion that was a doll. Her words were "let me bring him to you and he will steal your heart". The words proved to be true. At first I will admit that I was sceptical, after all I have three other Friesian stallions on my farm, all are absolutely wonderful horses, but none of them touch my heart in the deepest place.

We knew right away that Hessel was gentle and gregarious, young and playful with a great sense of fun and a sincere love of people. His willingness to work (I started him with trainer Lisa Slagel) and his wanting to please make him a fabulous riding horse. As he is being ridden he is constantly thinking and trying to figure out what the rider wants and his progress has been remarkable. If he stays on track, he will be debuting next season in dressage.

But as we continued working with Hessel, I began to see more and more glimpses of the great Friesian Stallion that is to come. His work ethic in the breeding shed impresses everyone, including his walking calmly and quietly back to his stall once he is done breeding. Hessel's gentle nature has allowed me to put strangers in his stall with him and let them groom him and handle him with no fear of him being anything other than thrilled with the attention. Hessel's willingness to be part of a big farm and all the chaos that goes with it simply amazed me. Young stallions cannot sometimes handle the sheer amount of noise, people, dogs, children and other horses found at a large boarding/training/lesson facility and yet he acclimated to it quickly.

And now, I see in him the same "pride of ownership" that Van had. To Hessel Blackshire is HIS farm. Van would come home from a show or an Expo and as he walked into his barn he would trumpet out to let everyone know that the king had returned. I see this same sense of greatness developing in Hessel. This is HIS domain and he is rapidly ascending to take his place as Van's successor.

But most of all, Hessel sensed the great chasm in my heart and has filled it with his gentleness and his affection. The silly horse lies down when he hears me coming so that I can climb aboard and scratch him in the middle of his back where he cannot reach and will leave his food (yes even his grain) to come and put his beautiful head down to touch me.

My prediction is that if you meet Hessel, you will fall under his spell. He IS what I believe a Friesian should personify and I hope that you will believe so too.

Hessel began the Exhibition phase of his career in 2007; with outings at the MN Horse Expo, as part of the Black Pearls Friesian Stallion Troupe and as part of a Pas De Deux with Zorro at the end of the year during the CSDEA Fall Championship Show. Hessel's disposition allowed him to blend in seamlessly with the other stallions and he had absolutely no problem being "cheek to cheek" with other stallions. Hessel LOVED the crowds and all of the excitement; getting big and flashy. As he matures, I am watching him grow into a magnificent animal who is so aware of how much we think of him. Yet, he comports himself with such dignity and grace.

2008 brings many exciting new adventures; including additional work with the Black Pearls Friesian Stallions at the Midwest Horse Expo in Madison, WI and the MN Horse Expo in St. Paul, MN. Please look for Hessel at these venues and please do not hesitate to come up and say hi and share a treat with him. He loves the attention and clearly enjoys all of the love!

Please look for additional pages of photos of Hessel to be added to this website soon. The pages of photos will help chronicle his exciting 2007 year!