Welsh pony Blue Dyfa's Jaimy steals show during Friesian Proms

The Friesian Proms at the KFPS stallion show in January is a big event where mostly Friesian horses steal the show. But some other breeds also appear on stage. For example, on January 12 and 13, 2023 at the WTC Expo in Leeuwarden, a Welsh pony also walked along, namely Section A stallion Blue Dyfa's Jaimy in the show ‘youth has the future’. It was a Pas de Deux of two mothers and their daughters.

Introducing

Ela Okkema is 10 years old and her parents are Age and Marieke Okkema of Stal de Mersken. So riding and stallion husbandry are in her blood.
Blue Dyfa's Jaimy is a six-year-old Welsh section A Studbook stallion.
Dieke Slingerland is the breeder and owner of Blue Dyfa's Jaimy

How did the duo Ela and Jaimy come to be?

Dieke Slingerland: “Age Okkema came to us to inseminate a Friesian mare just before the stallion show of De Mersken stable in 2021 and then we were talking about what the kids were going to do. Age mentioned that Ela had fallen off her own pony so no longer dared to do what she really wanted to do at the show, which was jumping! And I then said very madly of ‘then she will ride Jaimy!'”

“Jaimy was only four years old! And Age said if he is really well behaved it is allowed! Well Jaimy had been ridden maybe five times in total and then also always just for a little while because it was never necessary! So one time back and forth and practice and then Ela was already in love and at the stallion show she even started doing tricks on his back! It was an instant match.”

Did Jaimy find it exciting?

Dieke: “Jaimy was a bit tense, but I think that's also quite normal! The good thing is that Jaimy really loves an audience! And as soon as he realizes that people are watching him, he always enjoys it very much! The Sunday in Leeuwarden they started playing with the light while the girls were riding in the hall, so the ponies had already seen a lot! After that, actually the light they finally had was very quiet and clear. Music he is also used to from the Stallion Show and he actually always enjoys that the orchestra was especially beautiful.”

Why did Jaimy walk along during the Proms?

Dieke: “Ela called me November 18 with; ‘I may participate in the Friesian Proms and may I please borrow Jaimy?‘ Well of course I wanted to think about that first, because it takes a lot of time and do we want to! But once we had discussed it at home, we actually shouted ’yes we are going to do that!” right away."

How was the preparation?

Dieke: “We went twice with Jaimy to stables de Mersken to practice in December, this was also the first time he was ridden with other horses in the arena. Sunday, January 8, was the practice in Leeuwarden in the hall and there was then immediately chosen between the different types of light. On Wednesday was the dressage and then it had to happen.”

How did you experience the Friesian Proms yourself?

Dieke: “I found the preparation mega exciting! How will Jaimy do and how will he react to everything? And the orchestra, what will he think of that? It was a really cool, but also exciting run-up to these wonderful shows! The show itself you see very little of, behind the scenes. We can watch on picture screens but you are busy and busy with the pony in between, but the atmosphere behind the scenes is super nice! Everyone helps each other and it really is a lot of people together that make these shows so incredibly cool!”

Photos: Aniek Molenaar and Dieke Slingerland