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It is our firm belief that
Horses need to be Horses: Our
horses are outside all year, with run-in sheds for shelter, with a
companion to socialize.
Dressage is FOR the horse, not the horse for Dressage. Our students don't just learn "to ride", but learn to analyze situations and correct them on their own using the Classical Dressage Training Scale.
Gray Friesian Farm is located in beautiful Fairfield County in Connecticut. Our mission is to introduce to you the beauty and wonderful personality of the purebred Friesian horse. As you can see, our horses are kept in their natural environment, meaning outside, as much as possible (10-24 hours/day, depending on season).
The Friesian horse breed originated in Friesland, a region the Netherlands and it is one of Europe's oldest breeds. Mainly used for carriage driving, dressage, high school and trail riding, you will soon appreciate the dependability, yet athletic ability of the Friesian horse.
Against common knowledge, Friesian horses are warmbloods. They are completely black and mainly recognized for their long mane and feathers, but also for their animated gaits. Friesian mares are desired to be from 14.3-15.3 hands (1.50m-1.60m), Geldings can range from 15.1-17+ hands (1.55m-1.80m). Click here to see all of our horses.
About Us
We are the Gray family, Leeland, Kirsten, Jannike (13), Jarrett (11) and Jettke (6).
My name is Kirsten Lehmann Gray. I was born and raised near Hamburg/Germany and came to the States in 1992. My experience with horses reaches back to my cousin Bernd breeding Hanoverians and putting me on a horse as a 5 year old - as with many girls, I was hooked and rode ever since.
I saw my first Friesian horse about 25 years ago and knew that, when the time was right, this would be my next horse, and it was: when we bought our first farm in Easton, Connecticut, in 1998, we imported our first Friesian mare "Sidonie" as a two-year old and were impressed by her beauty, honesty and willingness to work with me. By now five Friesians and Archie, my 23-year-old Haflinger are living with us. We bought Texas, a 14 year old Quarter Horse, and Fantom, a beautiful 5 year old Paint in 2005 for lessons and leases. In 2006 Curioso, a Spanish Norman, Bullseye and Angel (QH/Arab) joined the farm.
Since 2004 I have been organizing and hosting very successful clinics with German trainers like Johannes Beck-Broichsitter (Crosstraining) and Simone Wiemken (Academic Equitation). In summer 2006 Sabine Schut-Kery, famous Friesian trainer and show rider, taught a clinic at our farm.
For more information on the clinics, please go to NEWS/CLINICS.
Due to my German heritage, I have established knowledgeable contacts in Europe. During my stays in Europe I attend seminars and improved my skills by working with European trainers. We also work with successful German breeders when importing horses from Europe. For more information on horses for sale, please go to FOR SALE.
2000: Successfully completed the German Bronze Carriage Driving Certification (Achenbach),
2001 to 2004: Trained with local dressage rider and trainer Martha Gantsoudes (Student of Jean Luc Cornille / Cadre Noir)
2003: Participated in a clinic with Col. Christian Carde, Head Trainer at the Cadre Noir in France.
2004 and 2005: Rode in clinics with Jean-Luc Cornille.
2004-2006: Rode in Simone Wiemken clinics.
2006: Rode in the Sabine Schut-Kery clinic.
January 2007: One week of training with Sabine Schut-Kery at her beautiful barn in California.
THANKS SABINE AND HANNIBAL!
Our focus is to provide our horses with a natural environment, age adequate, consistent exercise as well as fair and caring treatment.
Kirsten and Leeland Gray
145 Eden Hill Road
Easton, CT 06612
P: 203 459 1962
F: 203 459 9809
email: grayfriesianfarm@aol.com