Douwe the Friesian - Equine Artist & Comedian

History

Douwe was born in Holland on May 16, 2001. He was imported to the United States when he was 7 years old as a driving horse. He had also been ridden saddleseat with basic training under saddle when he was sold as a trail horse.  He ended up on an island off the coast of Maine where he became unsafe to ride and needed a new home. I was not interested in working with a dangerous horse but I had a feeling he was reacting to his environment and upset because he was the only horse on the property. His behavior changed when I brought him to Isaac Royal Farm and he was surrounded by other horses in a secure environment. He also had a lot of physical and emotional issues that we addressed over time.

I found Douwe in 2008 after a very difficult year. I lost two upper level horses, one that I had trained since he was a foal. I was very depressed and on the verge of quitting. One day I was inspired watching Sabine Schut-Kery perform with her Friesians. I thought, "that's what I want to do, perform with a Friesian!" Two weeks later I found Douwe and we embarked on our journey together. It hasn't been an easy road but I know that Douwe was destined to enter my life exactly when he did and I am forever grateful.

I took my time developing a relationship with him, it took many years to build his trust. He was a very stoic horse that hid his emotions. On the surface he seemed like he was stupid, dull, and unresponsive but in reality he was a highly intelligent superstar that was hiding from the world.

We focused on basic dressage training and Douwe scored very well competing at Training and First level dressage. He was undefeated at Training level with scores consistently in the 70%'s. He won the Northeast Friesian Horse Club Training Level Champion Award in 2011. He also helped me earn my USDF Bronze Freestyle Bar with his Outlander inspired First Level Freestyle.

Douwe loved trick training above all else and was learning new tricks until the day he died. He knew how to lay down, rear, bow, Spanish walk, work on a pedestal, smile and talk like Mr. Ed, say yes, ring a bell, pick up objects, pose, bow, stretch, give hugs and kisses, paint, and his all-time favorite was to wiggle his lips.

In 2020 he passed away unexpectedly due to a ruptured spleen. That morning he was painting for my parents on Father’s Day and they have his two beautiful paintings hanging in their home to remember him by. He is currently buried at Little River Friesians in Havana, FL where I can visit him every day. The outpouring of love and admiration from his fans was very heartwarming and special to me. My friend Ashley Mancuso captured this special tribute in his memorial video. It is my hope that Douwe’s life can continue to inspire and entertain for years to come.

Favorite Videos

Personality 

Douwe's personality was revealed to me slowly over the years, like peeling back the layers of an onion. He was quite grumpy, pinned his ears a lot and didn't interact at all when I first bought him. He would stand in his stall facing the back window and ignored me when I brushed and loved on him. I really felt that Douwe never had a "person" of his own and was used to fending for himself and internalizing his anxiety. He was much smarter than anyone gave him credit for and he revealed that intelligence more and more over time. The more I tried to read his emotions the more he taught me. He was truly a once-in-a-lifetime horse and his complicated personality made him all the more interesting. He wanted to be the center of attention at all times and would smile or wiggle his lips to make you laugh and earn some treats.

Art Gallery

Here is a sampling of Douwe’s paintings. We collaborate on each piece and it was a special time for us to spend together. I added extra texture to most of the canvases and sometimes use a scraping tool to move the paint but all the brushstrokes were made by Douwe. Click here to view his entire Art Gallery.