Wallbrook Wilem By Jill Aschman written January 2006 One long weekend I went to visit a friend of mine for a horsey weekend. We went for a trail ride, went to look at some horse studs, and I went with my friend with her horse to a show. I was hoping that Nadeen Davis from Wallbrook stud would also be at the show as I knew she had Friesian Wambloods so I wanted to meet her. I had always liked the Friesian Warmblood and hoped to have one sometime in the future. I admire their lovely temperament, movement, looks and upright conformation. Also the part bred adds a bit of extra athleticism. I was a bit worried about finding the right one. Because I live in Tassie, its expensive to go and look at horses on the mainland and risky buying sight unseen – but this was a problem for the (distant) future and for now I would content myself from looking at them on the internet and in Horse Deals. Anyway, sure enough Nadeen was at the show and I said hello and basically invited myself to look at her property the next day (whether she wanted us to or not). So we arrive only slightly late, me and two friends, and are shown around all the horses, Nadeen making us very welcome at her lovely property. We had been having a little chat about each horse as we went, age, breed etc. Now before we go any further, I want to say that I don’t as a rule go gooey over every foal and horse that I see wanting to buy it. Of course I like looking at horses, I just don’t want to buy every one I see. In the large front paddock, far in the distance was a mare with a 4 month old foal. I hadn’t realised Nadeen had a foal on the property. Well that foal took one look at all the people coming into the paddock and came straight over to say hello and ask for scritchies. He was so polite and respectful of humans he was very impressive. Oh, and did I mention? He was a Friesian Warmblood! Ok ok, now my heart starts to pound, is this the horse I have been searching for? It’s the right breed and temperament so now lets look at his conformation. Ok, now I don’t want to seem too keen, I’ll just have a casual surreptitious look from the front, sides and back and his conformation is GREAT! Such a lovely foal MUST be sold already. So I ask (trying to sound really casual) “So what are you going to do with him?” – we’d been asking this question about the other horses so I was hoping it wouldn’t sound too suspicious. Nadeen replies “He’s for sale”. Oh boy oh boy now I got goose pimples! So its into Nadeen’s kitchen now for a coffee and Nadeen kindly gives me a spare copy she had of a Phryso magazine with a photo of Sape on the cover, earning my undying devotion for life! Oh and of course I had to ask for her phone number (again trying to sound really casual). So then I have to ring and ask for a price, visit a second time to check his movement and that was that! I had my own Friesian Wamblood and he was stunning. I had got in first because Nadeen hadn’t planned to advertise until he was weaned. I just got lucky I guess. The photo at the top of the page is from my second visit, he’s just shy of 5 months. Isn’t he cute? Who wouldn’t buy a foal like that? As of January 2006 Wilem is now 4 years old, he has been ground schooled, gone to shows, taught some tricks and I’ve started to ride him. He has been cooperative and willing at every stage and been a joy to own and handle. He is intelligent, playful and a little bit lazy and he is lots of fun. Lots more photos on Wilem’s web site Back