After being involved in horse breeding for decades, Christine Bourne of Shady Rill Farm decided to devote the operation to Dutch harness horses a decade ago.
It’s a decision she has never looked back on.
After buying her first driving horse, a hackney cross, Bourne soon realized it was not the right breed for her farm, located just north of Moorefield.
After researching the Dutch harness breed, she fell in love with “their style and temperament and their trainability.
“Also it goes with my Dutch heritage,” said Bourne, whose parents emigrated from Holland, a country she is planning to visit for the first time later this spring.
The handsome breed is often thought of as a Sunday driving horse, but Bourne points out, “they are such a versatile horse and they work very well for the dressage industry.”
As a breeding horse, Dutch harness are relatively new in North America, having been introduced in the past 12 to 15 years.
They were first imported to the United States in 2000, with stallions first included in the American Saddlebred Breeders Guide in 2001.
Since then, the breed has flourished in Canada and the United States, often being crossed to saddlebreds, Arabians, Morgans, Andalusians, national show horses and sport horses. The breed is currently represented by the American Dutch Harness Horse Association (ADHHA).
However, in Europe, the breed has a rich history. The Shady Rill Farms website points out the Dutch harness horse is one of the three breeding directions of the Royal Dutch Warmblood Studbook (KWPN).
“Warmblood breeding in the Netherlands is over a century old, during which period the breeding objective was constantly adapted,” the Shady Rill Farms website states.
“In the past there was a high demand for agricultural horses, but many farmers wanted to own a ‘Sunday’ horse as well, so a more noble type of horse was produced, one that would move proudly and impressively in harness, with high carriage in front, which they could show off on their way to the market, the church or on family visits.”
Shady Rill added an in-house stallion, Charmant, to the operation in 2008.
“He has an amazing personality which he puts in his foals, along with his good looks,” states Bourne, adding Charmant’s oldest foals are now turning four and starting in dressage, combined driving and pleasure driving.
While still home to some Tennessee walking horses, today Shady Rill boasts 10 pure KWPN-registered Dutch mares, including Rosalieni, who was a 2002 National Champion in Holland, and Calista, whose dam was a seven-time sport mare champion in Holland as well.
“Our oldest pure foals are now two and they look very promising,” notes Bourne.
Shady Rill also has saddlebred-Dutch crosses suitable for fine harness and saddle seat.
Bourne said Shady Rill’s buyers come from all over North America, including New York, Florida, Alberta and Quebec.
Bourne started driving herself two years ago, participating in both dressage and combined driving, and is hoping the sport picks up in popularity in the region.
“I tried my hand at combined driving and love it,” she said.
“I wish more people would take up this great hobby.”
