Four years ago Carrie Ross and her mother May Grant, bitten by the Friesian horse bug thanks to their first purebred mare Vixon 372, travelled to Holland to purchase the unbroken three-year-old Aaike a daughter of Epke 474(Beart 411/Anton 343) an upstanding Elite sire himself competing at Prix St George and out of a daughter of Felle 422, bred by Mevr. B. Visser-Soepboer.

Bought from Stal Sibma, Carrie(43) from south Ayrshire, a self-employed bookkeeper and mother of one left Aaike to break and ride as a four-year old jumping on board seven weeks post caesarean.

After a couple of Young Horse outings, their affiliated journey properly started last year coming out at Novice level before taking the step up to Medium this summer.

Breed enthusiasts presented Aaike at the Scottish Friesian Horse Gradings last year winning IBOP champion, mare champion, and going overall champion gaining a 2nd Premie and Ster status.

Trained initially by Scott McLellan they’ve more recently had some help from Linda Barnes their aim this year is to return five scores of over 60% in Medium test 75 or 76 under at least three different judges which they achieved elevating Aaike to the status of Sport Predicate.

This makes Aaike the second ever UK based Friesian and first Scottish based to be awarded this predicate and the only one produced from scratch by an amateur owner/rider.

Not wanting to rest on her laurels Carrie now aims to carry on up the levels hoping to take Aaike to Prix St George where they can gain the Sport Elite predicate and follow in Aaike’s sire’s footsteps.