| This fall I was invited to visit Iron Spring Farm in | | | | finally see how beautiful Herbie is. Belinda seemed so |
| Pennsylvania to meet Goffert 369, also known as | | | | small next to him. His long flowing black mane blew in |
| Herbie, an 11-year old Friesian stallion who is a model | | | | the breeze. This made him look larger and more |
| for a new Breyer horse. | | | | powerful then any horse I had ever seen. There were |
| I've collected Breyer horses since I was very young, | | | | about 30 Friesians being tested that day, so Belinda |
| so I was exited about meeting the real horse behind | | | | kept him away from the excitement until his turn in the |
| the model. I had never seen a Friesian horse close-up | | | | ring. |
| either, and knew they were different than my | | | | Finally Belinda handed Herbie off to his runner, Robby, |
| Thoroughbred horse and POA pony at home. | | | | who would show him to the judges. As soon as he |
| I read as much about the breed as I could find and | | | | was given to Robby he seemed to forget all the |
| watched a DVD that showed Goffert in a dressage | | | | excitement around him. He paid attention only to him |
| musical freestyle. He seemed to dance on air and be | | | | and the two became partners. Robby is an expert |
| strong and powerful all at once. Dressage is my | | | | horse handler from Holland and he came to Iron Spring |
| favorite horse sport and the musical freestyle is my | | | | Farm especially for this event. |
| favorite kind of riding so I was so excited to be | | | | When Herbie entered the ring he was very excited, |
| meeting this wonderful horse! | | | | but never took a wrong step. As he moved across |
| During the 7 hour trip from Ohio with my aunt and | | | | the ground he seemed to be as light as air. The crowd |
| grandmother, I was excited, and a little bit nervous. I | | | | was quiet at first and then seemed to feel the energy |
| expected Herbie to be like stallions I had seen in | | | | of the powerful horse. He performed so beautifully that |
| movies and read about in books - beautiful, but wild | | | | he earned the highest possible score and was |
| and dangerous. When I saw him at the farm he was | | | | awarded First Premium, a real honor! Everyone |
| standing quietly in his stall, very different from what I | | | | clapped and cheered. |
| imagined. | | | | The next day we visited Herbie at Inspo, Belinda's |
| Herbie was going to be shown in the Friesian keuring | | | | farm, where he is trained and lives when not traveling |
| on that day. A keuring is an evaluation by judges who | | | | to shows. This is a beautiful farm in the middle of |
| are experts on the Friesian breed. The horses are | | | | Amish country. I thought what a great place for Herbie |
| given points based on how well they represent the | | | | to be. As I entered the barn I saw him in the crossties. |
| ideal Friesian horse. | | | | As soon as we saw each other I felt as if he |
| A woman named Genie was preparing Herbie for the | | | | remembered me, or at least hoped he did. |
| afternoon event where all the stallions would be | | | | I was allowed to brush him, and I found out how gentle |
| shown in hand.. It was hard to see him in the dark stall. I | | | | he really is. He stood there quietly playing with the lead |
| could only tell that he was big and black. As I stepped | | | | rope. We brought him outside and I got to hold him. He |
| closer I could see his face and then his eyes. He | | | | tried to playfully nip, I think he wanted me to pay more |
| seemed to be very serious and focused. I think he | | | | attention to him. I turned and petted him and he |
| knew he had a job to do that was very important. | | | | seemed to like that and stopped his nipping. |
| Then he looked at me, and I think his expression | | | | Herbie is much more than just a beautiful stallion. He's |
| changed. He seemed to know that I was not there to | | | | won many competitions at the highest level of |
| judge him but to admire him. For a moment he had a | | | | dressage. Belinda, said," He is such a willing Dressage |
| soft and kind look as if to say welcome and he knew I | | | | partner. In the saddle I can ask and he will do anything. |
| was a friend. | | | | As a rider I need to be clear about what I ask, and |
| After his grooming, Herbie's trainer, a lady named | | | | when I am he responds immediately." |
| Belinda Narin-Wertman, walked him to a field next to | | | | Spending time with a real Breyer horse was a great |
| the ring that he would be showing in and we could | | | | experience for me. |