Douwe
This is the story of my heart horse ❤ the one who taught me the most about love, trust, and creativity, and whose spirit continues to inspire hearts around the world.
Before our Paths Crossed…
Douwe was born in Holland on May 16, 2001. He was imported to the United States when he was seven years old as a driving horse, with some basic saddleseat training under saddle.
Eventually, he was sold as a trail horse and ended up living on an island off the coast of Maine. Life there didn’t suit him—he became unsafe to ride and needed a new home.
A Horse without a Herd
When I first heard about Douwe, I wasn’t looking for a “problem” horse. But something about him caught my attention. I had a feeling that his behavior was more about his environment than his temperament.
He was the only horse on the property—lonely, anxious, and misunderstood. When I brought him to Isaac Royal Farm and he was surrounded by other horses in a safe, consistent setting, he began to change.
It took time, but layer by layer, his true personality began to shine through. ❤
From Heartbreak to Hope
I met Douwe in 2008 after one of the hardest years of my life. I had lost two upper-level horses, including one I had trained from a foal, and I was heartbroken—ready to give up riding altogether.
Then one day, I saw Sabine Schut-Kery performing with her Friesians and something stirred inside me. That’s what I want to do, I thought. Perform with a Friesian.
Two weeks later, I found Douwe—and our journey together began. ❤
Uncovering his True Self
He was stoic and guarded at first, hiding behind a dull, unresponsive exterior. But I sensed the brilliance beneath it.
With patience, creativity, and a lot of trust-building, Douwe slowly revealed who he really was—a highly intelligent, sensitive, and expressive soul who just needed someone to see him.
Dancing in Harmony
Together, we found our rhythm. We focused on dressage, and Douwe quickly proved his talent.
He was undefeated at Training and First Level with scores consistently in the 70s and earned 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—a performance that perfectly captured his strength and spirit.
The Performer Within
If Douwe could speak, he would tell you that his favorite part of life was trick training. He loved to learn and was always ready to perform.
He knew how to lay down, rear, bow, do the Spanish walk, pose on a pedestal, smile and talk like Mr. Ed, say yes, ring a bell, pick up objects, give hugs and kisses, paint, and—his all-time favorite—wiggle his lips. 🤪
Where Douwe really found his groove was when I rode him bridleless. This was a horse once labeled dangerous to ride—yet the less tack I used, the more relaxed, focused, and joyful he became. He seemed to thrive on trust and freedom. I even performed with him wearing large fabric wings, soaring through the arena without a bridle.
He loved liberty work as well, and we spent countless hours experimenting, learning, and discovering new ways to communicate. Every performance was an expression of our bond—a dance of trust, play, and pure connection.
He kept learning new tricks and performing right up until the day he passed.
The Artist Emerges
As Douwe grew older, he began facing physical challenges. He developed ringbone and a cyst in his hoof that couldn’t be operated on, which meant his performing days had to come to an end. But retirement didn’t suit him—he was far too intelligent, expressive, and eager to connect.
So I decided to channel that energy into something new. I thought, what if he could paint? It felt like the perfect way to merge my two worlds—horses and art—and give him a creative outlet of his own.
Douwe took to it right away. With gentle guidance (and a lot of laughs), he learned how to hold a brush and make bold, sweeping strokes across the canvas. Every painting felt like a conversation between us—his movement, my direction, our shared joy in creating something together.
Just before he passed, he had started painting on a large stationary easel, fully embracing his role as an artist. Though his time as a painter was brief, the works he created—and the happiness they brought him—became one of the most meaningful chapters of our story.
Forever in My Heart
In 2020, Douwe passed away unexpectedly from a ruptured spleen. That very morning, he had been painting for my parents as a Father’s Day gift. They still have his two beautiful paintings hanging in their home to remember him by.
He is now buried at Little River Friesians in Havana, Florida, where I can visit him anytime. The outpouring of love and admiration from his fans after his passing was deeply moving—and a reminder of how many lives he touched.
My dear friend Ashley Mancuso captured his story beautifully in a tribute video that continues to inspire others. ❤
His Legacy Lives On
It’s my hope that Douwe’s legacy lives on through the art, performances, and memories we created together.
He was my heart horse, my muse, and my greatest teacher—and I am forever grateful for the time we shared. ❤
I invite you to visit Douwe’s online art gallery and celebrate the joy he brought to so many lives. Each piece is a reminder of his incredible heart, and owning his artwork helps keep his legacy alive.