Hoitze (Tetse 394 x Nykle 309) 16.3hh Gelding (b.2002)

Hoitze is a very traditional, solid, and imposing type of Friesian, known as Baroque, they were bred as work horses on farms in northern Holland and as such were big boned with really heavy necks and Hoitze has certainly retained these characteristics.

Sired by Tetse and born in 2002 we saw Hoitze as a 3 year old stallion in Holland and were fortunate enough to secure his services for our business and he has been worth his weight in gold ever since. He is a very intelligent horse that has to be mentally stimulated to keep him interested in his work.  He gets bored easily so his work ranges from driving, hacking, schooling (his least favorite pastime!!) a little bit of trick training, the odd small cross country course and going out with the Vale of Lune Hunt for a couple of Ambles each year!

Hoitze loves pulling all of our carriages and is our anchor horse as he has such a enormous amount of power, when paired up with Droomwals in the carriage they are a spectacular sight to behold. More recently he has been driving a lot with Vela - although she's not usually keen on the boys she has a bit of a soft spot for Hoitze, he's a real ladies man! Hoitze is a real softie when it comes to having children on his back for a ride but equally enjoys testing out the more experienced riders from time to time, all of course in good humour!! He thrives on attention and loves nothing more than having a really ripe banana or pear with his breakfast.

Hoitze’s latest talents including being a very effective ‘lambing alarm’.  When he's in the stable that sits inside a paddock where all our expectant Wensleydale sheep spend their last few days before going into our lambing shed he knows as soon as one of them goes into labour and repeatedly kicks his stable door until one of us hears and goes to the rescue!  As a reward he gets an extra banana, apple or pear.