Ayla’s Eclipse is a 2008 Friesian filly sired by Nanning out of a Wander star daughter. If you are looking
for your Friesian soul mate, this filly will truly do the trick. She is going to be a big girl with long legs
and floating, dressage type movement. Her sire is close to seventeen hands tall and she should easily
mature over sixteen hands. She is probably sixteen hands as of June, 2011. Currently, her look is more
modern and sport horse type rather than typical “Friesian” but the fun with Friesians is that you never
know for sure until they are at least four years old! What we truly know about Ayla is that she has
the loving heart of the “Friesian” that folks want when they think of owning this black treasure. She is
truly a people horse. She is quiet, secure, and funny and so wants to please. She is happiest when she
is near you and has been this way since birth. If you are an amateur owner looking for your personal
companion for dressage and pleasure, this filly could be your dream horse. And more good news! Ayla
is a February birth so she is truly three years old in early 2011 and has been started under saddle with
arena work. She has already started “herding” our other horses, which is a signature task expected from
our trainer of all the young horses under saddle. Currently, she is very well mannered, does all those
expected ground tasks such as cross ties, bathes, clips, grooming, etc. She takes her shots and worming
with ease and is very accepting and trusting.

If you find any technical issues, please contact our webmaster. In the meantime, enjoy!

Wander 352 is one of approximately 75 approved Friesian breeding stallions in the Dutch registry. He was born in 1991 and approved for breeding in 1996. Both his sire and dam were imported from Holland, but he was born in Norco, California and was the first Friesian foal born at Checkerboard Farms. Would you like to know more about his history? Read on….

A Tale of Wander

AKA “Zorro”

We have always been excited to share a bit of the traumas and adventures involved with the qualification or our precious stallion, Zorro – known now as Wander 352.

First of all, I wish I could tell you that he is the culmination of our twenty-year breeding program, but in truth, he was our first foal out of our only mare at the time. We are small breeders. We imported a colt, (now a wonderful star gelding, Mirage) and a filly, Nylke S. (Djurre x Mark) from The Netherlands in 1988. As a matter of fact, I bought the filly sight unseen. When Nylke (Nikki, to us) was three, we found the approved breeding stallion Barteld at Fred De Boer’s in Ontario, CA. Even in our relative ignorance of the breed and bloodlines at the time, I thought he was very special and I knew enough to want compatible bloodlines.

In September, 1991, we dutifully brought our foal, Zorro (Barteld out of Nylke) to the inspection available in Southern California. Born in late June, he was the youngest baby there. Inspected by two judges from the Netherlands, he received a second premie and everyone really liked him. Even though we never thought “in our wildest dreams” he could have grown up to be considered for qualification, we felt strongly that Nikki should get her “star” which was, of course, a requirement for approved stallions. She received her star the next year, which gave Zorro, the ‘full-papers” he needed to stay in the game. However, remember, we were thinking pipe dream here!

After looking gorgeous at three months, Zorro spent the next three years looking small, awkward, “laid back” but always very sweet. As a three-year-old, he seemed still too immature to present, so we waited until he was four, which brings us to September, 1995. We brought both Zorro and our then eight-year-old gelding, Mirage, son of Hearke. It was a good omen when Mirage received his star and then Zorro was presented.

This presentation was basically a halter performance. The handler stands up the stallion for inspection and then presents the stallion at a walk and strong trot. If you have never seen a Friesian shown in halter, it isn’t a straight pass by the judges, it two full circles of a large arena with the stallion in hand with a show trot – not for the light-hearted or those not in top athletic condition.

When the judges motioned for me to come over to them after Zorro was seen, I was in shock. They indicated that they wanted to look closer at our horse and could we present him under saddle. Who were we to refuse! Zorro was ridden, measured, photographed and a lock of his hair taken for DNA. We were told that the judges would make a recommendation for the FPS (Dutch Studbook) to consider our stallion for the next step in qualification. That very afternoon the judges also became interested in the stallion, Arthur (Frans x Godiva), owned by California Carriage and we learned later that no other stallions were being considered that year.

That day in September set in motion an almost year long journey of waiting, hoping, accommodating – yes, praying – and finally organizing a Central Proving examination in Southern California. For me, and I’m sure for the Mellotts who owned Arthur, there were several main concerns. First, we had to find a neutral location – not a private ranch or farm owned by a major breeder, but hopefully, a location that was not associated with our breed. Yet, it must provide facilities necessary for the working of the horses. This not only included space for riding and driving and but also hopefully, housing for the trainer and the judges. After careful consideration, we approached the W. K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center at the California State Polytechnic University at Pomona. They were wonderful, arranging for the semen to be collected and tested and making available their arenas, stalls, grounds and accommodations for the actual examination.

Another area of consideration was how to prepare the stallions for their test. We were advised that the important interest in this test was not necessarily how well trained our horses were, but how trainable they were. In trying to “prepare” for the experience, assuming we made it past the semen testing and the dreaded radiographs, we really weren’t quite sure what to do to best help Zorro get ready for the most important challenge of his life. In The Netherlands, the stallion school takes place over three months. The test in North America is packed in to three weeks. We were told not to “over train” the horses as the Dutch trainer and Jury -traveling from the Netherlands just for this testing — wanted to see HOW they learned rather than discover what they knew already.

We were formally notified in December, 1995 that the FPS had officially decided to move forward with these two stallions for further testing. The first task was to collect and test the semen, which was done at the Kellogg Arabian Horse Center. This is not as simple as driving the stallions over, “get it in the bottle” and drive home. The stallions actually spent some days at Cal Poly, being trained as to how to be collected utilizing a “phantom” and then several collections to make sure that the semen actually collected would be fresh and healthy. On the day of formal testing, each stallion donated semen twice with an hour in between. The semen had to reach a certain standard showing that it maintained its quality even on the second collection. Both stallions passed, no problem.

The next step was taking an entire series of x-rays, which turned out to be far more complicated than we expected. Between December and April, the Mellotts and I sent at least three sets of x-rays back to the Netherlands. Apparently, there was no concern regarding the soundness of the horses, but an insistence that the x-rays be of a superior quality for the examination. Even at the excellent clinics which we utilized, there was some confusion about which shots were needed — did you know that if they ask you for a picture of the knee, they mean stifle? Finally, in frustration the FPS veterinarian sent pictures to our vets to show exactly what they wanted!

Finally, in April, 1996, we received word that both horses had passed and could proceed to the Central Proving Examination. We were given the names of the judges – Harm Mulder and Ms. Deker-Wortel, and the trainer, Sybren Minkema. The trainer, Sybren, would be in California for three weeks, working with the stallions through the final testing day. The two judges would fly in for the last week, observing the training and then scoring the final tests. John Mellott and I worked diligently to organize the logistics of the test. We did, I thought, a pretty good division of labor. John and his family put together much of the equipment needed for the examination – he was kind enough to provide driving harness, a cart and formal carriage for the training and final test. I spend numerous hours on the phone with arranging travel, rental car and some housing for the examiners and trainer.

There were so many things we needed to consider and had no guidance for. The main purpose of the neutrality was to erase any hint of favoritism. Therefore, John and I were even concerned about casual contact. During the three weeks of the school, the owners are not allowed on the property to have contact with the horses, staff, trainer or judges, unless it is prearranged. John and I decided that a neutral party unrelated to the Friesian horse should pick up the trainer arriving at LAX and were lucky enough to have a friend who spoke fluent Dutch to do the honors. Imagine that, a Dutch man in California NOT in to Friesian horses!! This worked out exceedingly well and Sybren, the designated trainer and handler, shared his appreciation to us that he did not have to think and communicate in English after his long trip.

The first two weeks of the three-week test were spent with the trainer, who wisely brought a schedule of days he would ride, drive or otherwise work with the stallions. Both John Mellott and I had heard rumors that the stallions might be worked several hours a day – both being ridden and driven – and had been concerned for the horses’ stamina as well as working in the 100 degrees weather we were having. It was a relief that Sybren had pre-planned a schedule that was rational, but I have to tell you it was quite traumatic, putting our special “child” in a stall and walking away!

During the next two weeks, Sybren pretty much had the horses to himself. We were invited once a week to observe the training, once while they were being driven and once under saddle. Talk about being nervous. It was hard to read what progress or direction of the training. Of Course, we didn’t ask the trainer anything and really had to wait patiently for the final day.

The beginning of the third week, the two judges arrived. We were beginning to get a sense of what was and was not a violation of keeping the judges in “neutral” territory. Things seemed to be a bit less formal and it seemed appropriate that the familiar faces of Jack and Tillie Tuls (local and well-known breeders in Southern California) could retrieve them from the airport. Jack and Tillie are always wonderful hosts and it seems traditional that judges enjoy being escorted to the various ranches during visits.

The judges spent a day at the Mellots’ ranch over the weekend and, I’m sure, wanting to keep things balanced, we received a call the next day from Sybren suggesting that he bring the judges over to our home for a visit. We have a small property, under two acres, and, at that time, two Friesians and several Andalusians to show – and we were not quite sure what to do. We did the mad house-cleaning sweep and called a friend to ask what might be an appropriate light snack to serve. The suggestion was ice cream and fresh fruit. The main reason I am relating this part of the story is to validate the judges’ impartiality. They were incredibly good sports. It turned out our air conditioner was broken. They were politely sitting in our over 90-degree living room, sweat pouring down their brows, with a dish of vanilla ice cream and a language barrier. Teasingly we thought that if the judges, for some reason, wanted to NOT pass our horse, they certainly had an excuse now!

Prior to the final day of the test, Tillie Tuls had sent out invitations throughout Southern California to our Southern California Friesian Club members and other interested parties. She had also organized a potluck at Cal Poly to make sure everyone would be well fed and otherwise taken care of. There were many Friesian lovers and FHANA (Friesian Horse Association of North America) members, family and friends who came for the final test. Many of us arrived early, very nervous and excited, only to hear that even before the day started, the Mellot’s stallion, Arthur, had already been eliminated as a stallion candidate. John and Anita were obviously disappointed and it clouded the day for us all. It also obviously added to our concerns as to how our Zorro would come through by the end of the day.

The Mellotts decided to present Arthur even though they knew he had been eliminated. They wanted a record of his performance and so both horses were exhibited for the judges, first in harness and then under saddle. They had completed the third part of the performance – pulling – on the day before. At the end of the examination, the judges spent some time conferring and then, individually, invited first the Mellotts and then myself and my husband, to speak with them privately.

When it was our time to join the judges, my husband, trainer and I sat quietly while they gave us our scores and finally congratulated us on the success of our horse. They cautioned us that their scores and decision was actually a recommendation to the FPS and that it would take a week or so to confirm and finalize his approval; but they reassured us that we could relax and trust that our horse would be approved.

It did not truly register for weeks, at least. We found everyone so very supportive and excited for us. Unfortunately, Zorro was approved so late in the summer, it was impossible to even get going at organizing a breeding program, so we started making plans for the next year’s breeding season. The entire process was such a positive learning experience and we are more than happy, anytime, to share with other hopeful stallion owners in the future, our discoveries and thoughts.

Years later, we are grateful for all the support and help we received during the entire stallion approval process. For anyone out there who is married, you know how important our partners are at times like this. My husband, Bill, loved the horses (and dogs, cats, pigs and tortoises) and, even though he was not the addict I am, he was so supportive and helpful. Any errand, task, mundane or big, he tackled with a kind spirit and generous heart. He was a far better host than I will ever be and I couldn’t have survived the judges’ home visit without him. Bill died in May, 1999, but among my fondest memories, have been those surrounding his partnership and support during this time.

Prior to the stallion test, which, by the way took place in mid June to early July, 1996, we received a list of possible names that we had to choose from, if Zorro passed. Any approved stallion must have a Dutch (or actually Fries) male name – “Zorro” certainly not quite fitting the bill! Each year, the foals born take certain predetermined letters of the alphabet and obviously, Zorro was born during the WXYZ year. However, all they sent us were the “w’s” and, I have to tell you, I couldn’t pronounce 90% of them. I quickly faxed back and asked them where the XYZ names were (maybe there were other choices?) and they quickly faxed back and said that there were no male Fries names available beginning with XYZ. So, one name jumped out off the page and now Zorro (my TV hero from the fifties) has become WANDER 352 (the 352nd stallion ever approved in the Dutch registry).

By the year, 2003, Wander has grown and matured tremendously. He has become one of the most popular breeding stallions in North America. He has had his semen frozen and sent back to the Netherlands and New Zealand – the first American bred stallion to have that honor. He has been Grand Champion in halter and under saddle in various competitions. His offspring have, so far, been a credit to him with many above average second premies and a number of first premie champions.

In February, 2001, we had the pleasure of having Wander be a part of a major motion picture (along with several of our Andalusian stallions). Wander is prized new stallion the drug lord scene in the movie, “Bedazzled.” Also, in October, 2001, Wander had the privilege of being photographed by noted international photographer Gabrielle Boiselle from Germany (www.editionboiselle.de) . He was “January” in her 2003 Friesian calendar and is on the cover of her Friesian calendar for 2004.

Most of all, Wander-Zorro – is an old soul and my very dearest friend. He will be a part of my family for as long as he lives. Thanks so much for sharing our story.

~ Nina Miller, Checkerboard Farms ~

Thanks again for listening to my story and sharing in the wild ride of this adventure.

Drakkar is a June, 2009 colt. He is a loving, friendly boy with excellent movement, good hair and good papers. His sire is Mintse, dam is a 3rd premie studbook mare by Wander 352 and her papers are full and include many preferent status dams and sires. Drakkar has had a great start on the ground. He cross ties, bathes, clips, gets his toes trimmed and is a truly good sport around those dreaded vaccinations and worming medicine. And don’t worry, he really is black!

As he has gotten older, he has stayed totally sweet and after going through an awkward state, he is starting to look really cool again. The only downside to Drakkar is that, at this moment, he has only dropped one testicle which means it will be more costly to geld him, and, of course that would disqualify him if you are trying to follow the dream of having a stallion candidate. What I do know is that this is a fancy colt and a sweet colt and he’s going to be lots of fun for whoever is lucky enough to get him!

Drakkar has recently discovered all sizes of rubber balls and plays with them for hours in the arena, carrying them around and throwing them out hoping we will throw them back! He also will play with hoses, whips, halters or whatever else we forget to remove!

If you are looking for a totally special young stallion or gelding and want “the look,” the movement and the “package” – other than that one pesky testicle this is a very special boy. We have no doubt that he would make star as a gelding and we do recommend gelding him because of the one testicle. He just develops into a more stunning horse every day.

Price $15,000

Galant is a June, 2010 colt sired by Fridse 423. The dam, Kessa, sired by Wander 352 is a 3rd premie, studbook mare with an excellent full paper pedigree. This colt is a fancy, happy and affectionate boy with lots of people time. He is trusting and willing. He takes his shots and worming like a trouper and puts up with hoof trimming, baths and clippers. You can see two other half siblings out of Kessa on You Tube at our account at CheckerboardfarmsCA — Anyanka and Drakkar, both sired by Mintse. We are confident by the quality of all of Kessa’s offspring that she could easily make preferent, thus filling the “hole” in her papers. This colt will make an excellent performance horse and be a loving companion for anyone lucky enough to get to know him.

Price: $13,500

On the other hand, Wander was tested with the abbreviated or “short” test in 1996 and started shipping semen in No America in 1997. The rules back then didn’t include frozen because there were so few stallions who could freeze and the technology was nowhere where it is now. The rule was that IF I sold Wander to Holland or So Africa or Australia, he would have to go to Drachten and repeat the whole seventy day test BEFORE he could be used as a breeding stallion anywhere outside of North America UNTIL he had been approved on offspring and THEN he could be used anywhere in the world without having to repeat the test.

When I was approached to have his semen frozen and ship the semen to Holland in Jan 1997 there was no rule about semen, they just said the stallion couldn’t leave No America. I went to the then president of the FPS and I told him I had been approached by a breeder in Holland who was willing to sponsor Wander in Holland with Frozen. He laughed and said, fine, go ahead. He told me there was no rule against it, (after all, the stallion never left No America, just the semen lol) – but he said no one would buy it so in essence, who would care. After all why go the the expense of frozen and the less sure results when we have ALL these stallions right here at our finger tips.

Well, we did it and folks bought it. Unfortunately, the first year our technology wasn’t the best and it was late getting out of the country so the thirty or more mares booked to him gave up and went to other stallions so he only bred four and two were born. One of those two ultimately made star so at that time, Wander was 50 percent star rating on his offspring in the Netherlands lol — and the very next year after we first sent doses to Holland, Jelke, Pyt’s son was approved and breeding in Holland so that he provided similar bloodlines. Thus, the Wander semen wasn’t the hot new thing anymore and became less exclusive.

BUT, the fact that we did this did upset the Dutch stallion owners who threw a fit with the FPS. Fortunately, our partner in the Netherlands was wealthy and powerful and he fought hard for Wander so they agreed he could cover up to fifty mares in Europe (realistically, they bred about ten a year, no huge impact on the Friesian bloodlines).

AND, because of the fussing of the Dutch stallion owners who were, for whatever reason, so threatened by Wander’s frozen presence in Holland, the FPS closed the door on the loophole and refused to let any other stallion who was approved with the short test ship frozen to Holland. Unfortunately, the only stallion ever affected by that ruling was Feike. I was in Utah for his final test. I know Annette met with the two judges and absolutely believes that they committed to her that Feike would be allowed to ship frozen to Holland and Australia, ETC and that later the FPS either changed their mind, forgot or outright misrepresented and said they NEVER meant to imply that it would be ok.

NOW, the glitch for Wander and Feike came when the FPS arbitrarily changed all the rules regarding offspring approval. Instead of the tests being done in hand like a halter presentation with the equivalent of the conformation and movement score sheet– in No America at keurings and in Holland at a special test site — they came up with a three or five week (can’t remember which) riding and driving school and putting 20 adult three year olds through this test at enormous expense to the owners.

IF it hadn’t been for having a few offspring born in Holland each year, we wouldn’t have had any way to ever do that new way of testing offspring. I can tell you that if I had not had offspring in Holland I would have seriously considered a lawsuit as Wander was approved for breeding with one set of rules and asked to be approved on offspring with a totally different set of criteria – and a set physically impossible to comply with at that late date without either setting up offspring tests in No America which would have been logistically a nightmare or shipping adult Wander offspring to Holland.

SO, I made an agreement with the FPS that they would still judge Wander on offspring in hand at the keurings in No America and we would find eight three or four year old Wander’s to go through the test. Given the fact that the FPS board changed twice during this two year process, it was a miracle we got our offspring into the test – all the stallion owners in Holland had booked all the available slots. So I did get the help of Jan Engelsma and his brother Klaas and they were able to arrange pretraining for offspring, book the slots and make sure that the FPS board made a decision in a timely manner.

Thank you Doaitzen – yes, his stallion approval scores got to count!!! yea. And we were permanently approved on offspring in No America at the end of 2003 after two years of exams of the Wander kids in hand at the keurings in North America and then in April of 2004, after we got the remainder of our eight offspring through in Holland we asked for an immediate decision, not waiting for yet another breeding season to be over and Wander was permanently, internationally approved in 2004.

Pyt was internationally approved after passing offspring the old way. Warn was internationally approved only by having his offspring seen in hand in No America as he had no offspring in Holland (but he had done the long test before being imported to CA) Pilgrim and Berend were disapproved on offspring judged in hand. Jorrit and Rintse were disapproved on offspring judged through the performance test in Holland.

This issue keeps popping up and always I am questioned as to how come Wander got to send frozen to Holland. I hope this explains it. No one thought we could do it. AND we were the FIRST No American stallion to EVER export semen to the Netherlands and have it used so I think that is quite an honor. And remember folks, this was eleven years ago.

Anya is a 2008 filly, born in June. She is sired by Mintse out of a Wander daughter and is fancy, happy and lots of fun. Anya’s dam is 3rd premie stambook with full papers, including lots of preferent status in her pedigree. Anya will be of medium size and is a very pretty filly. She will probably mature less than sixteen hands but should be tall enough for star. She has a beautiful head and conformation and is already growing lots of hair. She has a very Friesian look and should do well whether your discipline is riding or driving. Her movement is very strong and she is balanced at all three gaits. She has had lots of people time so she does all those ground tasks such as cross ties, grooming, clipping, hoof trimming and of, course, a good sport around shots and worming. She is bold and curious and should be an exciting addition whether this is your first Friesian or you are building your Friesian herd. Anya was started under saddle in June, 2011 and is taking to her riding tasks like a pro. She is already “herding” our other mares
or yearling colt which is one of our trainer’s techniques of getting young horses acclimated and accepting of activity under saddle.

Price: $16,000

Gypsy is a 2002 daughter by Wander 352. Her dam is a full papered Oege ster daughter, dam’s sire Reitse. Gypsy received a 2nd premie at her baby keuring and she is now a 3rd premie studbook mare, full papered. She is a tall mare, fancy mover and great ground manners. Gypsy has been under saddle almost a year and is getting exposed to those “jobs” we want our riding horse to do! We do not consider her “finished” and her work would need to be continued with a professional trainer but she definitely has a professional start. She would be excellent in lower level dressage and a great companion and pleasure horse. Her size and presence are very impressive. Gypsy is currently in foal. She does have a “story to tell” and if you are interested in her, please contact us and we will be glad to fill you in.