Testimonials

We took Hawk to his second show.

He got a 67% and a blue ribbon (training level) at a dressage schooling show - so he can be very good! He has very nice movement and people admire him.

 He enjoys grooming and Hawk is VERY handsome.

Leslie in Maryland

HI Janna.
Haven't been able to sell Venice because I have fallen in love. 

So much for business! 

He starting to learn Spanish walk along with improving his strength and balance in his working gaits. Planning some shows in May. This horse is an absolute darling!

I was wondering if u could tell me who u buy your halters from.  Such nice quality.

Update...

Here is a picture of Venice with my working student. They were the Gothic presenters at our Christmas festival.

We love him :)

Best,
Carol, dressage trainer in NY

Hi Janna,

Thank you for writing- it's nice to know that you like to keep in touch w/your clients and horses to make sure everything is going ok.

He has  found a "forever home" and  you can be happy for him.

Stacy

Janna, You are great.

Thank you for everything Janna, and getting these blankets to us too – YOU’RE THE BEST!!!! Becky and I went and played with the horses and rode today and they were great. Watse was feeling good. He is just fabulous. We have a couple of awesome horses. They seem to be right at home and everyone is ooohing and awwwing over them both. Thank you Janna!

Update...
Carrumba has become the star of our barn and I have a Frisian trainer,  training and showing him.  So far he as won nothing less then a third in all his classes – mostly firsts. Jody is still madly in love with Watse as I am with Carrumba. She rides him daily and has a woman give her lessons once a week so life with our boys is mostly good. 

Becky and Jody in Oregon

Janna,Thanks you so much for finding Ulrik - we could not be happier. Terri (our trainer) is thrilled... it is a true testament to your integrity.  So thank you - I   so appreciate that you are willing to accommodate us.  I have to tell you that Aramus [2nd BSF Friesian] had his first full body clip three days ago and he was sooo good that Terri has officially named him the best horse in the barn !  To give you a perspective on this statement, their are over 60 horses here.  Wayne Browning ( our Vet) thinks he is wonderful, and Terri ( our trainer)  is very happy with his conformation and temperament. Carl decided he was great the first day he rode him.

Thank you again for all your help! I am so pleased Aramus has a new BFF (Best Friesian Friend)!
Thanks for everything,

Jan

Hi Janna,
I just wanted to send off a quick note to let you know we saw Wessel and Brent for the first time Friday afternoon. Wow, they are gorgeous!!!!!!!! Wessel is, as he was in California, just as sweet as can be and beautiful! Brent is big, has lots of hair, and wow when he moves! His behavior was exceptional, considering his long journeys in such a short amount of time. I’m looking forward to spending time with Brent and getting to know him. Thank you for all of your assistance and understanding in making this a wonderful experience.

Best regards,
Sharon in Indiana

["Maggie" , a 1st premie STER mare, has won all over the country, after being sold by BSF, with Cheryl Baird and her daughter, including numerous World and National Championship titles in 2007!].

Dear Janna, I wish I had nominated Maggie  with USEF(she was highpoint saddleseat horse of the year).  I really did not think we would have such a good year! I am really enjoying Maggie. 

 She is the nicest horse I have ever worked with.

Cheryl in S.C.

During a visit to a local horse barn our daughter saw her first Friesian.   Since that day Jenny has had “Friesian Fever” and we’ve been on a hunt for her dream dressage partner.   Eight months of Friesian searching later, that hunt ended this weekend when we picked up “Jorn fan de Marwei” from Black Sterling Friesians. When he arrived yesterday, the other boarders came out to see him and commented on his striking jet-black color, long mane, bushy tail and curly feathers.  Today Jenny spent eight hours brushing, braiding and riding her new friend.   He’s  so well trained that he does whatever’s asked of him calmly and with a gentle demeanor.  Jenny really loves Jorn.  She rides him every day! 

We feel very lucky to have found such a wonderful new member of our family and Black Sterling Friesians made it happen.  Janna and her staff always welcome prospective buyers warmly and it’s easy to see that they share a love for these horses, too.   Apparently there’s no cure for Friesian Fever.
Update 1 year later....
Jorn fan de Marwei and Jenny are getting a long fine.   Everyone at our barn thinks he's gorgeous.   Jenny braids his hair and puts sparkle polish on his shoes every day!  Jenny made a YouTube channel for Jorn: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/JornTheHorse

Ken (Jenny's dad)

 Here is one of the more recent photos of Gilliad (Maji) and me . He is truly wonderful, very calm and kind, and loves anyone that will stop by to say hello. He is truly a social butterfly and is already the barn favorite.
PS. We are taking dressage lessons and he is really learning to move out. He is now more supple and doing lateral movements, including leg yielding and turn of the forehand. Everyone comments that he has a good head on his shoulders, is a fast learner and are amazed that he is only 3 ½ years old.

Update..........................................................
Hello,
 He is now 5 1/2, almost 16.2, 1500 pounds and doing pretty good. We are starting to really work together as a team. We have been in consistent dressage lessons with Susie Braun and taken clinics with Jennifer Roth. He really can move forward and has suprised the trainers at how well he can move. Many people have commented that he is one of the best moving Friesians they have seen. We participated in the Friesian Breed Demo at the Western States Cal Expo in Sacramento 2 months ago, which was his first BIG outing. He was overall a star. 
Magi (Gilliad) and I participated in a clinic given by Shaana Pritchard Risley of Frieze Frame Friesians last weekend in Chico. It was between 95-98 degrees with lots of mosquitos during our ride but Maji still had a good work attitude. We got many compliments from the other attendees and Shaana. Shaana said he is an FEI horse with a walk of a score of 9. She loved his big movements and suspension and said it is not a matter of "if" but when we are ready to do passage and piaffe. (He actually gave a little passage in the beginning just to show off). She really liked his shoulder and hip/croup angles and said his pastern and shoeing is correct. She said he is a horse she also would have bought. He is doing well and we plan on showing next season.Thanks again!!!!

Terrilynn

Janna,I forgot to mention how beautiful he is! He is so sweet and I can't wait to see him grow!

There was a mature Friesian on the front of the truck and he was absolutely the most majestic and incredible looking horse I have ever seen - I can't wait until Wellington matures! I will be sure to send pictures in the future as he grows.

Thank you for all your help with the shipping and ensuring he made the boat!

Update...
Wellington is doing wonderfully and is such a love.  He is quite the extrovert, and feels comfortable walking up to anybody in the pasture.  He has grown a lot in the past 4 months and is as tall as my shoulders.  He is extremely intelligent and has figured out how to escape from his paddock by opening the latch. He learns very quickly and accepts a blanket with ease and also allows sprays to be applied.  He is gentle and allows me to groom his entire body and his feet.  I can lean on him, pull his tail, and smooth my hands over his entire body.  He has never tried to kick or bite in an aggressive manner. I will let "the boys" mature in pasture so they can run and play and develop as babies should.  

 Best regards,Laura in Idaho

hi janna,
bach (which will soon be his former name) arrived yesterday!! i spent alot of time throughout the day and night just sitting with him in his pen. he is a real cuddler. he's very intrigued by all the animal noises we have here. the howling of the wolf joined by the coyote's made him quite curious. our parrots talking also seemed to interest him. we are doing fine, Bach is learning at a rapid pace with the help of my trainer. we are having loads of fun! he is one cool horse...
thanx!!

Update...
I am writing you this because i am so excited about bach.

It turns out you were as smart as you are beautiful!!

He has become the quiet, kind, well mannered horse you percieved him to be. today he went out on his longest trail ride, ever, a few miles. he was very relaxed not at all spooky and just kind of meandered along. he is my best friend and i couldn't dream of owning a more noble well behaved animal.

2 years later...........................................................
hello janna,
ZEUS(Bach) and i are doing well!!! he has settled into being such a nice horse. we have become such close friends and he is like a dog in the sense he follows me whereever i go. often times i dont even need a lead rope :) he is not perfect but no horse is, but i am VERY HAPPY i have him. here are a couple pics of him and i and his little friend (mini) charger. he and charger stand together all day and its pretty awesome to see. one of these days id like to come up and visit again and see you and the horses. life has many ups and downs thats for sure but for me one thing is constant and that is my boy zeus. when i get lonly he is there :)

i wish you the best in st louis (IFSHA Grand Nationals) im sure you will do well!!!!

Steve

she is a very sweet filly and very excepting. 

 tonight i just worked on haltering her, rubbing all over her body and picking up her feet. 

i am so happy. by the way Lieke is such a sweet and nice gal-- who you have working for you.  i can't say enough good things about her.  thanks a bundle and i will keep in touch.  we were all so impressed with the horses you had in your barn.  they were all so gorgeous.

we love our girl.

thanks,

paula in idaho

Hi, Janna -He arrived safe and sound.He is extremely pretty!  He is extremely sweet! He is extremely graceful!  I am very glad we are his new "parents."Thanks for all your help in getting us together!
......In the message I sent after Jens arrived, I said he was extremely pretty.  At that time, I had only seen him in the dark.  After seeing him in the daylight, and groomed, I have to revise that: he is stunning!  I don't think we have ever seen a more beautiful horse, and that includes quite a few approved stallions.  "They" say that no horse has perfect conformation, but I don't think "they" have seen Jens. And he does have a really sweet disposition. I must say that his gaits are awesome!!  I have been to three Friesian Extravaganzas, so I have seen a lot of Friesians, and I haven't seen any that I like better. I decided that I would ride him.  His transitions were easy and calm in both directions.  You said that his canter was rated very highly, and I must agree.  It is just wonderful.  The canter is by far my favorite gait when it is nice, and Jens's canter is bliss! He is a very calm and sensible horse.  In short, he is everything I hoped he would be. 

 We love him deliriously already! Thanks for bringing Jens into the U.S.A. so we could buy him!! 
Jens has been an almost exemplary horse since we received him almost three weeks ago.  He is obedient, easy to ride, and mostly calm and unspooky. 
Update...
I got back to Idaho last night and met our new boy Jens.  He's sensational!!!  Not only is he gorgeous, but he's lovable too; he comes up to us constantly for attention. 
Update...
I LOVE Jens!! He is very sweet and friendly, and he is really fun to ride. We really appreciate you as a business associate and as a friend. Jens is a fabulous horse, and we are developing a special bond.  We are working on First Level stuff, and I plan to take him to his first show soon.

Update...
I am attaching some pictures that Julie took at Jens's first show with me today.  I arrived at the show grounds two hours ahead of my ride, and Jens and I went for a walk around the place to check it out.  We strolled around, ate grass (actually, only Jens did that), and got into a somewhat relaxed frame of mind. 

Thanks Janna,

Again, it has been a pleasure working with you. Orchid seems to be doing good. She is a sweet girl and is making herself right at home. I'm excited to hop on, she looks like she's going to be a great riding horse with a good head on her shoulders. Orchid is doing great. We had the vet out this afternoon and he was very impressed at what a nice horse she is. She's continuing to look great everyday as I work her. I rode her yesterday and she is so fun to ride! She has a lot of go!!

Brechtje (Orchid)  foaled!  Everything went like clock work and we have a BEAUTIFUL, strong filly we are going to name Anke.Here are a few pics of the little girl.   She definitely has attitude!

Sharon in Oregon

thanks so much!
Hielke is settling in nicely and Nicole (who rode at BSF when attending Berkley) has been so sweet to help me get to know him!
3 months later...
Hielke is doing wonderfully and is so very happy. He is beautiful and going so well. Hielke got a 1st place ribbon in his training level 2 class(61.8 score) yesterday and scored 64.8 in his training level 4 class with his peers including 14 riders(5 trainers and famous dressage riders like Hilda Gurney). I was SO proud of him. Dressage Judge, Jennifer Roth, spoke very very highly of him.

Hielke was the Dressage Hack Champion at Rainbow Royal!!

3 years later...
The Fiesta was two weeks ago and Hielke was Reserve Champion of In Hand Gelding and the Show Hack Champion! He also got the IFSHA High Point trophy!!!

Shari