Events Made for Participation

Since the Ontario Friesian Horse Association inception our organization has sought to find new ways to showcase the breed in the province, and internationally. Along side this goal the OFHA also looks to provide value to its members by hosting and participating in a series of events each year. These events include opportunities like riding and driving days, social opportunities at our Annual General Meeting and Mid-Summer Meeting, and endorsed participation in events where Friesian horse owners have chances to showcase the breed.

The Combined Riding and Driving Days are an opportunity for all members to come and participate with their horses in events three or four times a year. The highly popular Driving Day has been combined with the also popular Riding Day. These events have been combined to provide a wider choice to members in their participation. These activities allow for new members, or members who didn't bring horses to the event, to ride along in the morning and participate in the afternoon activities. For those less experienced riders/drivers we have many experienced members that love to teach the arts of riding and driving. The morning of these days typically features a host-led tour of nearby, low-traffic, roads and trails. This is followed by a potluck barbeque lunch, where visitors bring a salad or dessert, and the host provides the barbeque main course. After a social lunch, horses are tacked up again, for an afternoon of activity, featuring Cone Races, Ringsteken, or a combination. Ringsteken is a Friesan sport where participants drive with two individuals past a series of posts with attached hands that hold a ring. The object is to use a type of wooden gun to catch the rings from the hands and maintain a decent trot. In 2008 OFHA participated in the Tillsonburg Friesian Day to showcase this sport, with great enthusiasm.

During the winter months and the height of summer heat our members gather for the Annual General Meeting and the Mid-Summer Meeting. At these meetings the board and members gather to discuss the upcoming season and events, and make organizational decisions. Besides the business side of these meetings, a great deal of time is available to socialize with fellow Friesian horse owners, and admirers.

In September, the FPS/FHANA Keuring comes to Ontario and gives all Friesian horse owners a chance to have their horses judged for varying degrees of stature. For those new to the breed, it is a great opportunity to learn what makes a great Friesian horse, and for those who own Friesians already it is a great opportunity to see each other's successes. More on the Keuring process is found here.

OFHA events (designated with ***), start at 10:30AM, and we ask those attending to bring a salad or dessert for the potluck barbeque lunch. We ask that members signup via our Member Area or by phone, if done by phone you should contact either Jentje Steenbeek at 519 440 6639, or the event host. This should be done, if possible, by the preceding Thursday if the event is on Saturday, essentially two days prior to the event. Those who were unable to decide early, are still welcome to come.

In case of extreme weather conditions everybody that signed-up will be notified of a changed date.