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This is Feedback from our customers that have bred to our Friesian stallion RAVEN or have a foal by RAVEN .

Hi Judy, Sylvia had her foal this morning. He is the sweetest baby ever. She is such a very very good mom. Most babies have had in the past had been so scared of people at first. Not this one. He is like a puppy. He follows me around the stall. I take 2 steps he takes 2 steps. I was actually cuddling with him when he was sleeping. I am so very happy. I am glad he is a boy. Attached are some photos which are kind of dark. I will get some more soon of them outside. Thank you thank you thank you Judy. Oh and tell Raven thank you I think he will be hopefully seeing Sylvia in the spring I will love to do a breed back. Thanks Jodi  

UPDATE: Merlin is 3 years old and Sept 15th 2007 Jodi took him to the Friesian Sport Horse inspections. this is the result:

Sorry it has been so long since I have emailed, but I have been sick and very busy! Feeling much better now and had to get a word out to you about Sam. He is wonderful. We have most of his baby coat shed off and he is fabulous! It's hard to say what is most stunning about him. Such a great mind, movement to die for, or his rich dark color! We could not be happier with him, and my husband has chosen him as his life horse. They have such an amazing connection that no other horse has had with him. We look forward to taking him to inspections next year.  Signed Kim Shogren

I am thrilled, thanks again so much.  Any time some one would like a reference or to talk to some one who's already used Raven, I'd be happy to give a glowing review, signed Amanda

Judy,
 

Just thought I'd let you know that I measured Dreamer today (she is growing so fast!) and she is 14.3 1/2.  Not even 15 months old quite yet!!  My vet thinks she'll top out well over 16 hands.  He also commented that she inherited the Friesian bone.  Good boy Raven!!  Dreamer grows even more beautiful with every passing day and she is oh so sweet.  And smart too!! She is so easy to work with - brilliantly intelligent, and very un-spooky. She already knows how to bow - that took about three minutes.  Literally. Had a pocket full of treats and thought, what the heck!  She is so settled and mature, but with spirit and fire.  She is already mentally mature enough to be started under saddle, just have to wait for the body to catch up. That's OK, we have lots of time to play and continue our friendship and partnership.

Susie

This is CHANCE with Julie his happy owner. He is 2 years old in the picture.

Julie bought Chance as a weanling and has done all the training on him. She is now riding him. Chance is by Raven out of a breeding stock paint mare.

Judy-

Our first Raven baby for the year was born on Easter morning, talk about the best Easter basket ever!  Helen had a gorgeous black filly, all legs.  I’ll send some pictures later one but we couldn’t be happier.  Mom and baby are doing great, Helen really surprised me because motherhood has calmed her down.  She’s turned into the best, most laid back Mom…definitely an improvement on her slightly neurotic coming off the track personality.

Thanks so much for another wonderful foal!

Amanda Wrigley

Hello my name is Marissa Platter from Crete, Illinois. I bought one of Raven's sons from a woman who lives in Springfield, IL. She had a thoroughbred Mare. I just wanted to tell you guys that Raven makes WONDERFUL babies!!!! I have just gotten Beau going under saddle and he is so awesome! Looking at Raven's photos i see so much of Beau in him!! If i ever have a mare to breed, i will definitely be contacting you guys!! I've enclosed some pictures of him for you guys maybe to put on your website so people can see what gorgeous babies Raven can produce!! Thank you!   Marissa

I want to thank you again, I love this horse, we do ground work or play
twice a day, morning and evening. She has made so much progress, she loves
the attention and is so respondent. Each time I come to the fence she is
right there to learn something new. What we start one day by the next she
figures it out and knocks the socks off me. I'm not in a hurry to ride her
yet, I'm having too much fun doing the ground work. People like you are
hard to come by, who really cares about their horse and is very honest. You
are a special person. Thank you, Loretta (from Green Bay, WI)

Judy,
I was looking over Ravens website and saw the foal photo album, here are some of Salsa's pictures taken when she was about 7 1/2 months old.  I'm in love with her! She's almost 14 hands, and I've never seen her upset about anything (even when we weaned her- we just put the halter and lead rope on her and led her up the driveway to another pasture, no big deal) Raven has definitely passed on his disposition (thankfully)!
Megan

I just wanted to let you guys know that Abel is doing great.  He has such a great personality.  He is in a stall next to our stud Quarter horse and they have made great friends (for now).  We turn them out in the fields to play and they are in opposite fields so it is really cute to watch them run along the fence and play with each other.  My 14 year old daughter has great plans for him in the future, she is the one that loves to ride.  My 20 year old daughter thinks that he is the greatest, she is the lover in the family.  My husband plays with him in the stall all the time and I just think that he is beautiful.  I just love to watch him run and play and be a horse.  Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know that he is doing really well and he has been a prefect match for our family.  I hope that you guys have a great Christmas!  Robin

Hi Judy,

This is Melissa and Pat Cummins, These pictures aren't the greatest, (it was cold that day and I was shivering so the pictures are blurry) But I thought I would pass these on to you. Leo gets more handsome by the day. He string tested 17hh+. Vet remarked that Leo had the straightest legs she had ever seen on a foal. At eight months is picking up his feet by voice command and will back up by voice command as well...smart boy! I do see him pace but he seems to prefer the fox trot, though when he's feeling frisky he does indeed pick up those knees and prance around like a king. He jumps like a real champ...over just about everything including the fence. (Five foot)  Movement is extremely uphill, back is short, and he's all leg. His temperament is Fabio meets Sponge Bob Square pants...happy all the time but a big show off when he knows your watching. We will let you know how his inspection goes at Buffalo Mills this year. We're very excited!!  Regards,

Melissa and Patrick Cummins of Uniontown PA.  

  Hi,  a while  ago I was going to purchase a mare you had , but I ended up in financial hardship.. You where honest and understanding and did something I never would have thought possible - you returned my money!. In the horse world THAT kind of honesty is a Rarity.  And again,  I Thank you. I have told that story to a few others how you where kind and honest - I  do value that!  Thank you- Jacquie Skadeland

 Hi!  Just wanted to send you an updated picture of Abel.  He's doing great.  He's very intelligent and willing to learn, he's picked up very quickly on everything.  He's doing great in the round pen and his ground manners are already excellent. Jeff Watson

 Hi Judy, I just wanted to tell you that we named Moner's filly Astrid and she is wonderful. Beth Finney

 Don Kummer from Canton, IL bred his Saddlebred mare, Charming Robin, to Raven in 2005 the foal named Buddy at 2 years old is fantastic. Don called to tell me Buddy floats across the field. He is the most sensible 2 year old he has ever worked with and he wouldn't be afraid to put his grandchild on him even at his young age. Don made the comment that if people knew what kind of horses Raven was throwing there would be NO other breeds, just Friesian sport horses as they are not just beautiful but athletic and sensible.

Hi Judy, I wanted to write and tell you thank you so much for showing us Raven and your beautiful babies. Raven is even better than his pictures. We were impressed with your horses and your horsemeister business. We want to book Arianna for the third week of July. I didn't tell you when we were there but before contacting you we emailed and called a couple of other Friesian stallion owners and you were by far the most patient with us. Sincerely, J. Staub

Hi:

3 years ago I bought one of Raven's colts. Thought that you might like to see what he looks like as a 3 yr old. We call him Buzz because he's such an in-your-pocket kind of guy we were always telling him to 'buzz off' and he thought that was his name! He stands 16 hh  and turned 3 in May. Should top out at approx. 16.1 - 16.2 hh.

As you can see he has retained his gentle nature and is probably the only stallion that I would trust around my babies and children. Thanks for selling him to us!

Sincerely,
Susan Muszynski
Tippecanoe OHio

 I can not believe Arial is a year old already.  She is so precious.  She loads, stands for the farrier and does anything I ask her to do. Kristy Stalker

 Thu, Sep 4th, 2008 -
HI, I wanted to tell you that Raven is absolutely gorgeous. We bought a filly from Ann in Idaho & Raven is her sire. Storm as we call her, is often mistaken as a full friesian & we give total credit to Raven. Storm has a very sweet, easy going attitude & in spite of us being total novices she has excelled at anything she has been given to do. She is actually my son, Greg's horse. He is 30 & this is his first horse & he feels extremely lucky to have such a smart girl. We did buy another horse to keep her company but Storm is the only horse anyone see's when looking into the pasture. Raven throws himself & Storm is proof of that. Just wanted to let you know. Debbi Gardiner

Thank you soooooo much!  It was well worth the (what seemed like a long) wait!                                                                 Suzanne Towns (from Canada)

(Update December 14th, 2008) Adara and Onyx are wonderful!  They are both very special.  Onyx is a brave little soul, he takes no guff from any of the other horses.  Adara is less friendly with him now that they're more settled.  I feel a little sorry for him as he keeps trying but she likes him to keep his distance for whatever reason.  She likes to love on me and loves attention.  Onyx lets me brush him a couple of times a day, lift his feet, etc.  He's a good boy... I swear I can see him growing every day.  He has such long legs!  He's beautiful!  They both really are everything I'd hoped and then some!
I find it humorous that you and others feel sure that Adara's going to have a colt, as I have the same feeling!  lol

Just wanted to let you know that all is well... and I LOVE Adara and Onyx!  Thank you soooo much!  Suzanne Towns

I wish I could express in words the happiness I feel with this little Filly...Here she was yesterday ( Aug 1st, 2009 ) on her first day out of the pasture being ponied by big brother Bubba. She did not spook one time as cars, tractors, motorcycles and dogs wizzed by her came at her.  At one point she became bored and wanted to play...she likes to keep her mind active for sure.  NOTHING phases her, NOTHING! Her mane is so think it hangs on both sides of her neck same as Bubba.  Everyone thinks he is her momma. well until they check the plumbing.  Thank you so much for putting out there quality Raven babies...everyday I wake up I can not wait to start working with her.  She is AMAZING.  And beautiful.  Melody Miller and Liberty

Judy,

 

Hope all is well with you.  My husband and I came to your farm last year and looked at one of your mares.  At that time you also were gracious enough to let us meet Raven.  Since then we have purchased an Andalusian mare that we would like to breed to Raven this breeding season.  I took her to our vet today and had an ultrasound done on her.  She looked fine and is actually coming in now.  My vet had it figured that she should be in heat again about 4/13.  I was wondering if you had a spot available for that time frame. 

 

Many Blessings,

Beth Ulrici

Judy, Abel is the most laid back colt i ever raised, we have worked him a lot ,Morgan climbed on him in the picture last night first time any one has been on him he did not care. You can put this on your website, I have owned horses for 30 years he is the calmest smartest colt I ever started.  thanks Jeff 

Hi Judy,

  Hope you made it home safe. We did just fine on this end. What a sweet horse. When we stopped at a gas station on the way home, she didn't talk or get impatient, and when we got home I left her in the trailer for about 15 min. so I could put the other horses in a pen, and she was very patient again. 

  I introduced them over the fence for awhile and slowly put one at a time out with her and she was so dominating right off the bat.  I knew she was going to do just fine.(They didn't know what to do with that).

  I can see the difference in the way she carries her self too. That's so cool.  It's allot different then mine.  Thank you again for bringing her up this far and I just wanted you to know, how pleased I am with Lady.  I'll keep in touch and when the baby arrives I won't forget the pictures. TTYL,   Sandy         

 

We are thrilled with Palmer!  He is a beautiful colt with a sweet temperament.  Will & Jenni Moser 

     Hi Judy,
Just thought I would let you know Caspian made it home just fine and is settling in nicely. He is drinking and eating well, and he already has one new friend, a rocky mountain gelding that is very sweet and very laid back. We are slowly introducing him into the herd and by the end of the week he will be running with all of them from that point on. Jan has about 75 acres on her property so he will have plenty of pasture but will always have access to get in out of the weather, she has several stalls/run in sheds in the corrals.
He had a bath today and he really liked it, I think he thought I was giving him a massage. =) Man he is such a pretty thing!!
Ok, thats all, sorry for talking your ear off, I'm just really excited that he is seeming to be so comfortable at our place. For some it seems like it takes them a bit to get settled in, but with him, he is cool with everything.=)
Take care,
Andrea

Judy,

I have been meaning to email but have been crazy busy.  I have attached some pictures I thought you might be interested in.  Loki is great.  I have been riding her and she is doing wonderful.  We are beginning her dressage training and are working on her moving off my leg.  She is also jumping crossrails.  She is very willing and I think she shows great potential.  Astrid is looking good and is a fluid mover.  She is gentle and easy to handle.  Sunny's baby this year is very cute.  We have named her Anya.  She is feisty.  She pushes her mom away from the grain and one day she laid in the feed pan and ate between her legs so that Sunny couldn't reach any grain.  All three are intelligent and level headed.  I can not imagine going back to horse that isn't.  Loki loads, stands in the trailer, stays tied however long I leave her.  She takes new things in stride.  I plan to event her next summer so I will let you know how that goes when we get started.  I've attached some pictures.  I made a website:  www.macedoniasporthorses.com  check it out if you get a chance.

 

Hope things are going well for you.  Take care, Beth

I simply must tell you that your video has left me speechless and in tears. Although it has been a year, I still have hope that I will find a horse that I can buy with meek means! Laura

Judy, Just unloaded her... she is stunningly beautiful and so sweet.... I will be working with her later today with a natural horsemanship trainer who is really wonderful... he spent five minutes with her and fell in love ... said she was wonderful and going to be real easy to train and be a really nice horse...
thank you and Ruth so much for such a lovely addition to my home.... belle

 
Judy
I haven’t updated you for a while, but we are so VERY glad that we kept one of our Raven babies. I think I sent pictures of Cassi last year (tell me if not and I will), she’s one of the 4 Raven/TB cross babies we bred. When Emily (Keegan’s owner) was out last summer, she said she couldn’t tell the difference between Cassi and her full Friesian filly of the same age. She’s stunning to look at and so much fun to train and ride. For us though, the biggest thing is her personality. I swear, if she could climb up in my lap she would do it- it’s like having a very, very large dog! Cassi’s 16 hands now, and I think may add another inch before she’s done. Anyway she had a colt by our Welsh stallion and he is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. He’s 7 months old now and we are planning to keep him as a future stallion as long as he continues to develop nicely. He’ll be registered with the FSHR and the WPCSA (1/2 welsh). Welsh ponies have a lot of feathering, and he got his dad’s flashy coloring (a blaze and 4 socks). The most amazing part though, is he looks like a fresian colt! Other than the coloring, which he inherited from Foxy- everything else comes straight down from Raven. He’s huge and should end up well over 16 hands, and he just moves beautifully. I’m attaching some pictures and when we get around to a video I will send that too. We are as thrilled with our Raven grandbaby as we have been with our Raven Daughter! Amanda Wrigley

 

This has been a pretty productive summer with our "baby". Izzy is now 3 1/2 years old, she is broke to ride and is doing so well under saddle. I wasn't sure I had it in me to train her myself, since I don't bounce near as well as I used to, but with all the ground work we have done since the day she was born, she has been very easy to work with. I'm pretty proud of her. We have been trail riding and riding out by the highway, doing a lot of basic work in the pasture and dry lot. It takes her a while to check out new things, but once she gets them, she's got them. She still has some growing to do I think, she has grown an awful lot this summer. I'm glad we didn't start her any earlier.  I don't have a stick but I'm sure she is well over 15 hands. Julia has just started working with her in the last couple of weeks but she certainly looks better in the pictures than I would.

Sandra                            

 A lady buying a 4 year old Raven daughter (Amber owned by Glory Redmond) called to get some information. She told me that when she first told her trainer she was going to look at a Friesian TB cross in Indiana, the trainer was not at all thrilled. She told him the 4 year old is by the Friesian stallion Raven down in Peoria, IL. He (her trainer) said, "I know that stallion, BUY her!"
What a wonderful reputation Raven's offspring are getting!

The mare below is a Raven daughter owned by a lady from Michigan out of an Oldenburg mare and she is for sale. I remember well when her dam was brought all the way from Michigan to breed to Raven. We offered cooled fresh shipped semen but the owner at that time really wanted to bring her down. It is nice to see how wonderful the foal turned out. Every trainer that works with any of Raven's offspring say almost the same thing, Just read her ad that follows: Belladona is a nice 6 year old mare has been brought along slowly. Well started under saddle and with trainer now~ Trainer says this mare is one of the smartest horses he has ever worked with! Sweet temperament, intelligent and quick to learn. She has been on many trail rides and she is ready to take on in the discipline of your choice. With a solid build and her exquisite "swan" neck, she is truly an impressive mare. Solid walk, trot and canter. Dressage/combined driving/English pleasure/Trails~
She is for sale for $4200.00. She is owned by M. Moon and her phone number is: 231-762-4469
                                      

Hi Judy,
Meike was shipped to Ottawa and was kept there overnight, she arrived at midnight on Sunday on my place. She was calm and brave. She did adapt to me right away, she was not spooky, she wants to be
petted like a dog. actually she behaves like a giant dog. I could not believe her size. she is only 4 month old and her legs are as long as the legs of my other horses. I have small horses about 14.5 hands and Meike is over 13 hands, nearly their size.Thank you for the holder and leadrope you bought for her. The holder I bought (for a 4 month old filly) is much to small and I have to bring it back. Meike was so calm that I thought she made have been drugged . I thought- wait another day- she may come out of it and be a wild little horse, but fortunately she is the same, today, she is still the calm big filly who liked to be petted and is putting her head gentle on my shoulder. She is very trusting and I have to thank YOU for that, she had only good experiences with people. I was the whole day around to observe: she is eating , drinking, pooping peeing -well, I guess she is healthy. To make it short, Meike is more as I was hoping for. A wonderful breed with an old pedigree that seems to run through her blood and makes her brave. I was so happy with Meike that all the other thingsdidn't seem important. Meike is greeting my with a loud nicker when ever I approach , that gives me a very nice feeling. It was pleasure to deal with you Judy, if I can sell my Motel in 2010 I will contact you for another horse.....
Good Day
 Brigitte

Hi Judy,

I just wanted to write to you and let you know how wonderful Caspian is doing!!  

He is the sweetest horse I have ever been around. When I go out to the pasture, he usually nickers to me and always comes walking/running up. I can pick up his feet and take cockoburs (sp?) out of his hair without even a halter on him, he just stays there eating grass and doesn't mind at all. He gets along with all of the other horses and most of the time is the one who leads them out to the pasture and back in. It's halarious because he is the youngest one out there but is the bravest by far.

 He now stands right at 15H and is really filling out nicely. His feathers are REALLY coming on and his mane is growing so fast. He is such a beautiful horse and he just gets better looking every day it seems.

 He is sooooo smart and always retains what he learned last. He is extremely easy to teach anything to, he always tries hard and likes to be messed with. I keep the lessons very short each time since he is so young. He knows how to do all of the Parelli Seven Games including sidepassing and backing up with a shake of the rope. He is very light, just a light touch and he will move off of your hand. I pony him when we go on short rides, usually just around the farm, and he loves it.  He has also taken to ground driving extremely well, he is a natural. I think he will really like driving a cart when he gets older, he really seems to like getting out and going places. I just got him gelded last month and he did wonderfully with the procedure and healed extremely well. It really didn't seem to affect him nearly as much as any other horse we have had gelded, I was so glad. I took him a few weeks ago on a camping trip with a group of people. I had so many people complement me on him, on his looks and his behavior. One person even had me give her your website address so she could look at your available horses, she was just so impressed with him. He was absolutely PERFECT the entire time we were there, he was fine with being left behind in the barn by himself (he was in a stall just munching on his hay, like no big deal) and he was great when I took him with us on a short trail ride. I ponyed him off of another horse I was riding and we ended up leading the whole group! He was really happy to go with us, he crossed creeks and went up a hill and even drank water on the trail!! I was so excited I was just grinning from ear to ear the whole time! =)

 Well, I could just go on and on about him all day, but I won't, you get the picture, he is a wonderful horse and he is doing really well. I don't think I will ever have another breed of horse again besides a Friesian or a Friesian cross, Caspian has just exceeded all of my expectations! Thank you so much for selling him to me, he is the best!

Sincerely,

Andrea Jessup (used to be Lee

Salsa is a gem, and is so much fun to play with.  Luckily she inherited Raven's calm disposition, I was doing a little beautification on her a couple of weeks ago and all she wanted to do was keep her head on my shoulder. She's been sooo easy to start, I waited until she was 3. Never bucked, spooked, or even thrown an fit. And she's hit another growth spurt and is a little over 16.2 hands now. If I was going to breed Tango again I'd definitely come back to you (due to the economy I'm taking a break from making babies ;)  I'll sent you pictures if you want once she sheds her winter coat and doesn't look like a big hairy moose…  Megan Gallaway (used to be Stout)

Judy,    

Took some pics this weekend while I was waiting for the farrier to arrive.  She is dirty and still has some hair to shed but I thought you could get and idea of what we got from the cross of Jackie and Raven.  She is kind, honest and easy to work with, let's hope they produce another beautiful foal next year.. Thanks, Heather                                                                                                                                                

Hello Judy, I thought you'd like to know that we bitted and saddled Clara up this afternoon, and she did wonderful. She was more concerned with going to sleep then anything we were putting on, taking off or resizing. I can't begin to tell you how impressed I am with her, not to mention my mother in law, who normally dislikes mares quite a bit but is extremely impressed with Clara. We are beginning to wean Zephyr today (he already nicked himself on the round pen) but he should calm down in a day or so. Thanks so much for the wonderful pair of horses.

~Katy

Hi Judy,

Princess just turned two years old on June 21st. With Raven's genes,  Princess looks all Friesian. At 2 years old she stands at an even 16 hands tall. Her forelock is almost to her nose and she has a very thick tail. She has beautiful conformation and our farrier says she has excellent feet. And, unlike her dam, she is the very first one to greet you in the pasture! haha! She will follow people anywhere and is curious about absolutely everything (which is a clue to her intelligence.)  She accepts everything that we tell her is ok.   Alesia   

 Hi Judy, I will stick the deposit in the mail tomorrow. I am going to take one or the other. That much I have definitely decided on. I'm going to watch the videos about 100 more times each. They both have a lot of suspension. And I better not look at any more babies you have because I'll have to start all over again. Ha. I didn't expect them to be that nice at such a good price. Vicki Yahn

I subscribed to your you tube video's.. and I watched the recent one of Steven and the two yearlings.  DRIVING them down a neighborhood street.  You could have knocked me over with a feather.  I would have been impressed just have taken them somewhere and them be quiet and well mannered.. but he hooked them up together with a little thing between their heads and to long lines and WENT DOWN THE STREET.  oh, my goodness.  I as SO impressed!!!  And what nice horses.. and they are both young stallions.  Again.. I'm so looking forward to him working with mine. 

Judy, Judy, Judy!

 I just have to tell you!  I rode Princess,(26months old), for the 1st time this Sunday!  She stood quietly and never moved a foot while I mounted from each side and sat on her. I gave her a good scratching and told her what a good girl she was! Then she noticed Ty with the video camera and she just started walking in his direction. She carried me around like she had been ridden before! She never gave a thought or a care that I was up there AT ALL!  I gathered up the reins and guided her around the arena and up onto a wooden box where she posed. She was so confident that I decided to take her straight out to the corral and... (gee, you are going to think I'm fibbing!)  we proceeded to ride over a piece of plywood, through water, stepped carefully over an 18 inch pipe, and under a tarp and then out by the road with 55mph traffic flying by!  Ty had climbed on top of the horsetrailer to video and she watched him, and heard the trailer noise, but wasn't worried about that either! All of that on her very first ride of about 15 minutes!!!

Alesia :)