Our Mares

From her earliest days as a foal, it became clear that Nika was destined for greatness. She exemplifies everything a Top KFPS Friesian Mare should be, showcasing an impeccable blend of beauty, elegance, and athleticism. As our first foal at EFS, Nika has consistently surpassed our expectations, proving to be an extraordinary mare that is challenging to replicate.

Her remarkable racial type, outstanding conformation, dry and well-structured legs with breathtaking movement leave judges in awe, often giving them goosebumps. Nika’s qualities are not just a benchmark for the current breeding goals; they are light years ahead.
On her journey to become one of the most influential mares in Friesian history, Nika has embraced her role as the Queen of EFS. She symbolizes all the desirable traits the Friesian breed can embody, making her a true ambassador for the breed.

Currently, Nika is focused on her dressage career, striving to earn the coveted Sport Predicate in 2027, guided by Kayla at the reins. Additionally, we eagerly anticipate her first foals in 2026, sired by our outstanding KFPS Approved Stallion Ulbe 506, which will allow us to witness Nika’s continued contributions to the breed. Nika hails from a prestigious lineage, being the daughter of Baukje út ‘t Westen Kroon Preferent Prestatie AA, one of North America’s most celebrated producing mares.

Baukje has an impressive record, having produced four offspring, all of whom have achieved the Star predicate or higher. This illustrious lineage includes Nika’s siblings:
Djurre út ‘t Westen Star Sport-Elite AAA, Kai út ‘t Westen Star AAA, and Sterre fan Extreme Friesians Star. Remarkably, three of these exceptional horses have earned AAA IBOP scores, with Sterre still on her journey to complete her own IBOP.
Nika’s pedigree and accomplishments at the young age of 6 is truly undeniable, solidifying her status as the Royal Queen of EFS. We are wholeheartedly committed to
supporting her in excelling in both her breeding career and athletic endeavors, with the ultimate ambition of achieving the prestigious Model Sport-Elite Preferent Prestatie AAA. This is the highest accolade within the KFPS and a milestone that only a select few mares have reached in the history of the organization. With Nika leading the way, we are enthusiastic about the future and the extraordinary legacy she is bound to create.

Current Accomplishments:
2022 Oregon Keuring Youth Champion
2022 Oregon Keuring Overall Champion of the Day
2023 Oregon Keuring Mare Champion
2023 Oregon Keuring Overall Champion of the Day and Provisional Kroon
2023 FHANA Mare Show West Category 3 (Star mares and Prov Kroon) Champion
2023 2023 FHANA Mare Show West Overall Champion
2025 82.5pt IBOP (AAA) and Permanent Kroon…

Sterre is a remarkable half-sister to Nika and the final foal from the esteemed mare Baukje út ‘t Westen Kroon Preferent Prestatie AA. Her arrival in the world was bittersweet; when she was just 95 days old, we tragically lost her mother, Baukje, to a sudden gastric rupture. This heartbreaking event left an indescribable void in our lives and hearts.

In the wake of Baukje’s passing, our attention quickly turned to the fragile, barely three-month-old filly. Understanding the challenges ahead for Sterre, we immediately decided to pair her with her older sister, Nika. This partnership aimed to provide Sterre with the guidance and mentorship she would need as she navigated her formative years. Thus began Sterre’s long journey to honor her mother’s legacy, side by side with Nika.

Currently, Sterre is excelling under saddle and is expecting her first foal in the spring of 2026, sired by Ulbe 506. As she prepares to welcome this new life, we are focused on ensuring her health and well-being during the pregnancy. Following weaning, we plan to complete an IBOP and shift our focus towards advancing Sterre’s competitive career in the breeding and dressage world.

In her early years, Sterre showcased her potential; she received a first premium evaluation as a yearling in 2022. Her achievements continued to grow, culminating in her being named Youth Champion at the 2023 Oregon Inspection. In 2025, she further distinguished herself by earning the coveted Star Predicate, with impressive scores of 7.5 in Racial Type and Conformation.
As a youthful mare with a strong future ahead of her, Sterre stands at 168 cm and is expected to reach approximately 170 cm, following in the tall footsteps of her older sister and late mother. We look forward to witnessing her continued growth and success in the years to come.

Current Accomplishments:
2022 Oregon Keuring 1e
2023 Oregon Keuring Youth Champion
2025 Washington Keuring Star Predicate

Born on our youngest daughter’s birthday, Sytske instantly claimed her forever home at EFS, bringing immense joy to a seven-year-old girl waking up to the delightful surprise of a beautiful Friesian filly. This magical moment forged an unbreakable bond between Sytske and our family. From her very first days, she showcased her sweet and loving nature; it was not uncommon to find her peacefully napping in the pasture with her head resting on Joe’s lap, embodying a sense of trust and affection from the very beginning.

As Sytske grew, she transformed into a stunning Friesian mare, consistently achieving 2e premiums at every inspection she attended. In 2025, she garnered an impressive total of 51 points and earned the coveted Star predicate, a testament to her exceptional qualities. We also chose to showcase Sytske in an IBOP last year. However, the experience proved to be somewhat overwhelming for the young mare, resulting in scores that did not reflect her true potential. This highlights the vital role of experience and relaxation in a horse’s performance. When horses are anxious and unable to find their balance, it can severely impact their ability to demonstrate self-carriage during tests.

To Sytske’s credit, she tackled the IBOP challenge with only three weeks of training under saddle. Her ability to navigate the entire test with her rider’s support demonstrated great courage and trust in her rider, showcasing her strong and trustworthy character.

Currently, Sytske is engaged in full-time dressage training with our young horse rider as we prepare for the 2026 season. She will be competing at the First Level, with aspirations to reach Second Level by the end of the show season, all while accumulating invaluable experience. At just five years old, this mare checks all the boxes for future success. With a solid temperament, an impressive drive, striking racial type, and remarkable conformational traits, including strong legs and exceptional movement, Sytske fan Extreme Friesians is poised to make a significant impact in every arena she enters.

We plan to attempt another IBOP in the fall of 2026, with hopes of potentially elevating Sytske to the Kroon Predicate. We genuinely believe that Sytske ranks among the best riding mares in our barn, and her future shines exceptionally bright at EFS. In addition to Sytske’s competition schedule, we plan to embark on her breeding career in 2026. This will involve flushing multiple embryos and placing them in our recipient mares for 2027
foals.

Geartsje, affectionately known as Gabby, proudly joins EFS as our second-ever Friesian mare. We acquired Gabby in 2019 as a yearling from Black Pearl Friesians, and she has quickly become a cherished member of our family. Gabby is by the amazing Kroon AA mare Rixt fan Teakesyl. Gabby embodies the elegance, charisma, and disposition synonymous with the Friesian breed.
From the moment she arrived at our barn, Gabby has consistently amazed us with her gentle and affectionate nature.

After just three rides under saddle as a 4yr old, she showcased her exceptional temperament by allowing our youngest daughter to be ponied around on her, without a hint of apprehension. Gabby’s calm demeanor and kindness make her a favorite among our family, staff, students, and visitors alike. In addition to her phenomenal riding skills. Gabby is broke to drive, both singles and doubles. Demonstrating her versatility as a riding and driving mare. In 2025, she achieved an impressive score of 82.0 points in her IBOP under saddle during the Washington Inspection.

Gabby is the kind of mare who is suitable for any task you present to her. We can hitch her up for a rare outing to down the busy streets or to whenever is needed. Remarkably, her first experience with city streets and cars came
after an 18-month hiatus from driving, demonstrating her adaptability and level-headedness.

Currently, we utilize Gabby for all our youth riding lessons, as her ability to connect with and understand her riders is truly remarkable. She possesses an impressive engine that allows her to move quickly and with purpose when required, yet she seamlessly adjusts her pace to accommodate younger riders, ensuring safety, confidence, and enjoyment.

Gabby is in full-time training with our young horse rider, where we are aiming to secure the Sports Predicate in 2026. We are thrilled to announce that Gabby is expected to welcome two foals from her pairing with Ulbe 506. This combination promises to produce outstanding offspring that will delight driving enthusiasts and serve as wonderful representatives of the Friesian breed.

As we continue to breed Gabby, we eagerly anticipate all the incredible achievements this extraordinary Friesian mare and her offspring will accomplish at EFS. Her future looks incredibly bright, and we are excited to see her legacy unfold.

Current Accomplishments:
2022 Oregon Keuring Star
2025 Washington Keuring 82.0 IBOP AAA

Britte fan Jentsje’s Pleats became a member of the EFS family in November 2024 when she joined us as a weanling. Her introduction to our program was the result of a memorable summer trip to the Netherlands, where Joe and Kayla had the incredible opportunity to visit the world-renowned Jentsje’s Pleats breeding farm. Amongst a breathtaking selection of top Friesians mares, it was Britte who captured their hearts and stood out with her exceptional charm and potential.

Currently, Britte is thriving in the Netherlands, where she is staying with close friends who are helping her to grow and develop. This nurturing environment allows her to receive the attention and care she needs during this crucial stage of her life. Our plan for Britte includes training her for competitions, with the goal of showcasing her at an inspection for Star.

Once she demonstrates her abilities and achieves top credentials, we will import Britte to EFS after a successfully insemination in the spring of 2028.
Once at EFS, Britte will continue her dual journey as both a breeding mare and a top competitor in the Dressage arena. We are excited for the possibilities that lie ahead for Britte, knowing that her contributions will play a vital role in enhancing our breeding program and further enriching our lineup of Friesian Sport Horses with diverse bloodand characteristics.

We look forward to the future adventures we will share with Britte as
she fully matures and realizes her potential in both breeding and competition.

At EFS, we take great pride in producing some of the finest Friesian Sport Horses in North America. To achieve this, we employ modern breeding practices in-house. Including the innovative technique of embryo transfer. As our breeding program developed, we recognized the need to empower our top mares to have offspring and continue their legacy while also remaining active in full-time work and competition. This balancing act proved to be a challenge at first, but we were determined to find a solution.

It wasn’t until Late fall of 2021, during a fruitful conversation with the owner of Oakhurst Equine and a seasoned veterinarian Jack Root, that we discovered a new avenue for our breeding program. Jack shared insights about off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs)—young, reproductively sound mares often sidelined by career-ending injuries. He emphasized that a recipient program could offer these mares a new lease on life.

This idea sparked our enthusiasm, and before long, we welcomed our first beautiful OTTB, a 3yr old chestnut mare named Journey into our program. Journey arrived with a sesamoid fracture that required extensive rehabilitation and stall rest for many weeks, but we were fully committed to her recovery and to the future of our embryo transfer initiative.
Over the years, we have been fortunate to welcome over two dozen OTTB rescues into our program, many of which have become exceptional surrogate and recipient mares. Each of our OTTB mares receives the highest standards of care and nutrition because they are crucial to the success of our Friesian Sport Horse breeding program. We ensure that these Thoroughbred mares enjoy ample turnout time and spend their days happily grazing in pasture, nurturing their future progeny.
Although their racing careers may have come to an end, at EFS, we believe that their new adventures are just beginning. We are dedicated to honoring their potential while integrating them into our thriving program, where they play an essential role in shaping the next generation of Friesian Sport Horses. With every successful embryo transfer and healthy foal, we move closer to solidifying our legacy in the equestrian world.