The European Speed Skating Championship took place in at the Thialf in Heerenveen, Netherlands, where it is the custom to give the winners a lap of honor in a sleigh pulled by a Friesian horse decked out in the traditional bell harness.
Starting at the 4:02:47 mark, you can see the horses waiting to enter.
The horse in red is driven by Ruurd Hoekstra, the horse in blue is driven by Ruurd's son, Augustinus.
The older man, dressed in white, attending the horses is André van der Staal. He is married to Ruurd's elder daughter.
The two boys dressed in white are Jelte and Ytzen, sons of Augustinus. Jelte is 17, Ytzen is 16. Both boys qualified for and competed in the Horses2Fly Young Riders Indoor Competition Final on January 10 (for some reason, the harness horse drivers are referred to as riders).
Jelte won the event, and his brother Ytzen finished in 2nd place. Their brother Kjeld is only 10 but has already appeared in the Friesian Proms twice with his father. Augustinus rode the sjees pulled by a Friesian stallion, while Kjeld rode a mini-sjees pulled by a Shetland pony.
The family that drives together, thrives together.
Posted by Martha on January 14, 2025, 9:24 am, in reply to "O/T Friesians on Ice"
I watched from the 4:00:00 mark. I was a bit sad that the female winner didn't put her darn phone down and just enjoy the moment. It's not like there were professional photographers and videographers there to capture every moment.
I haven't watched the entire video, just the end showing the horses.
I watched the annual inspection of the Friesian studbook stallions, and the KFPS website had an article about the horses and their drivers appearing at the event, so I searched YouTube.
The woman with her phone was annoying. I don't understand why people think photos of themselves looking at their phones are attractive.