Never look a gift horse in the mouth

The choice was hardly surprising considering Katrina’s long obsession with horses.

“It was our 10th wedding anniversary and my husband asked what would I prefer, a diamond ring or the Friesian filly you’ve had your eye on forever.

“I said the horse, please.”

Katrina has been “horse obsessed” for as long as she can remember and had long been intrigued by the beautiful look of the Friesian breed.

Although she died young, Katrina said her anniversary gift was wonderful and she was hooked on the Friesian breed.

That one horse has now expanded into 30 based at Katrina’s Terarossa Lodge stud at Wangoom, near Warrnambool in south-west Victoria.

Katrina grew up in Kew but her parents had a hobby farm in Daylesford.

“I was one of those kids that from the age of five I pestered my parents until they got me a pony,” she said.

“I was one of those girls that was always horse-obsessed … now I’ve got 30!

“Even when I went to boarding school and university, my horses went with me. I spent more on my horse agistment while I was at uni than I did on my rent.”

Terarossa Lodge is probably the largest Friesian stud in Australia, although the farm covers just 18 hectares.

Like Friesian cows, now more commonly known as holsteins, Friesian horses originated in Friesland, the northern part of The Netherlands.

The cows were imported to Australia in the early years of colonisation, but the horses didn’t arrive until the 1970s. Even today they are not a common breed with only about 350 across the country.

They are notable for their stunning all-black coat, long flowing mane and tail, furry feet and a high head carriage.

They have a unique, elevated high-stepping stride that has a moment of suspension. They are elegant and graceful to watch and appear to glide along. They are smooth to ride, although a bit bouncier than riding a thoroughbred which has a flat stride.

Katrina says they are definitely not racehorses.

“They would never beat a thoroughbred in a race because they spend so much time in the air,” she said.

However, they are very good at dressage, popular with filmmakers when they need a stylish black horse, and are known to have a soft and gentle disposition.

But they originated for a much more aggressive reason.

“They were originally bred to carry knights into battle,” Katrina said.

“Their big stride came from the need to knock people out of the way. The long mane came from making it difficult for someone with a sword or spear to know where to spike it and they have furry feet because they did a lot of work in the snow.”

When they stopped being used for killing people, they became carriage and farming horses, but their future was under threat when they were superseded by tractors.

Luckily, they were brought back from the brink of extinction and 6000 foals were registered around the world last year.

Terarossa Lodge is one of two breeders in south-west Victoria, with Twin Rivers not far away at Allansford.

Katrina has imported 10 Friesian horses from Europe and the United States, a hefty investment considering the flights, quarantine and import costs add up to $50,000 before you factor in the purchase price.

“A very good breeding stallion is worth a lot of money,” she said.

“It’s a big investment. Of course it’s a risk, but most of the time I have no trouble selling them, the only exception being a drought year like this season.”

As soon as they are weaned, at about six months, they are usually sold. Terarossa Stud also does embryo transplants into recipient mares.

Terarossa Lodge hosted a Keuring, a special biennial Friesian judging event, on April 1 and 2. One of Katrina’s favourites, Isla, was Victorian champion and was named the best Australian bred horse for the last tour two years ago.

Dutch judges from the mother stud come out from The Netherlands for the event.

“They’re being judged exactly the same as in The Netherlands … we don’t get any dispensation because we’re in Australia,” Katrina said.

Usually there is one stop in each state for the event but this year, because of strong entries, there will be two days of competition at Terarossa Lodge and another day at a stud near Kyneton.

Victoria has the most Friesians in Australia.

“Because they are a cool weather horse, they struggle a bit in tropical environments,” Katrina said.

“Victoria and Tasmania are the best states for them so they don’t get skin issues over summer.

“As a general rule, you treat and raise them like any other horse. They are in a strict feeding and training regime at the minute so they will be at their peak for the event.”

Terarossa Lodge also has an equestrian centre riding area open for people to rent by the hour. On most weekends there are riding clinics and lessons.

The stud name came from Katrina’s earlier breeding effort, golden retriever dogs.

“They are very rare dark coloured, almost red or dark caramel, so we came up with a name for red earth,” she said.

“When I started the horse stud 20 years ago, we stuck with the name.”