LONDON, Ontario — The Friesian Horse Association of North America honored Janna Goldman of Greenbrae with the 2009 FHANA President’s Trophy at the organization’s general meeting Feb 27. The Perpetual Trophy, regarded as the most prestigious FHANA year-end award, went to the northern Californian woman for the promotion of the Friesian horse by competing and winning numerous large classes at USEF rated shows. She used multiple horses to achieve the highest score in North America and was selected as the person who “best demonstrates the versatility of the Friesian horse”

Her name was added to the perpetual Presidential Trophy which remains on display at the FHANA offices in Lexington, KY.

Goldman, who shows her Friesians in a multitude of disciplines, including saddleseat, huntseat, dressage, driving, and western, remembers her first Friesian.

“At midnight on Christmas Eve, 2000, the anticipation of our first Friesian’s arrival was almost unbearable,” she said. “A big truck pulled in at the hunter/jumper boarding facility we were boarding at, and we heard their air brakes shut down, with a long, low whistle sound. Within 10 minutes, the loading ramp was down, and out came a proud, jet black, high-stepping, snorting Friesian.”

Little did the Goldmans know that the horse they fondly named “Black Sterling”, who had just arrived from Europe, would lead the way, impacting a Friesian fever on the West Coast.

Goldman, a saddleseat equitation world and national champion, rode with Marilyn Macfarlane of Simpsonville, KY., showing the famed Warlock to two World Championships and was crowned the Good Hands Finals Champion in Madison Square Gardens in 1983. After taking nine years off for college and career, returned to the arena in 1992 to win the Adult Saddleseat Equitation National Championship at the World Championship horse show. She was chosen to represent the U.S. on the World Cup team in 1993.

It was eight years later that they searchd for a horse to be shown saddleseat that could be trained by an amateur.

She, her husband Ron, and his daughter, Julia, found “Black Sterling”, an 8-year old gelding that Goldman began training and showing — and creating a stir in open English pleasure classes. He proved to be an ambassador for his breed with his trademark black flowing mane, tail, and feathers. Nine years later, Sterling is still showing and winning with Goldman, currently in the open western pleasure division.

After importing their third Friesian, the Goldmans realized they couldn’t afford to board multiple horses, and purchased a ranch in Sonoma, which they promptly named “Black Sterling Friesians”. Located in Sonoma wine country, the ranch has grown from three-stall barn, to a 26-stall facility with two barns to house show and sale horses.

Black Sterling, now 17, has accumulated more than 200 blue ribbons. He currently shows in Friesian western classes when offered and otherwise shows in open western leasure competition on the Pacific Coast Horse Show circuit.

In 2009, Goldman also showed her husband’s Anton gelding, “Majestic”, to an undefeated season in dressage suitability classes and received the year-end Highpoint on the Pacific Coast Circuit. They also took the Gelding/Stallion Under Saddle title at the FHANA show in Reno, as well as winning the “Bareback Ride a Buck Class”. She also has a gelding, Ate, which she shows huntseat, and two geldings that she shows saddleseat.

Her husband shows the same horses in the open pleasure driving division.

Her favorite moment of 2009 involved a First premie ster mare, Zenobia, for the mare’s new owner, and winning the 17-entry Mare Under Saddle class at the FHANA Anniversary show in Reno.

More coverage: To read more about the FHANA or its 2009 year-end awards, go to website: http://www.fhana.com/