Friesians are the original “Fairy Tale” horse, with their long floating manes and their fabulous long flowing tails. They are the horses that dreams are made of, the horses that carried knights and kings into battle, the horses that can capture a little girl’s (or a big girl’s) heart and imagination in an instant. What little girl has never dreamed of being a princess?

Here at Cruso Friesians, the Friesian dream was one that was that was started in the late 1960s. Tabitha and her mother were both raised on a horse farm in Cape Town, South Africa. Tabitha’s mother, Elizabeth Akers, of California’s Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue, at one time used to ride competitively in horse shows in South Africa. She rode many different horses and many different types of horses. One of the owners that she rode for was none other than Ben Mostert, who imported Friesians into South Africa in the late 1950s. There was also the half Friesian gelding, Gentleman Jim that was kept at the farm and ridden by Elizabeth. This was Tabitha’s introduction to Friesians.

After riding all her life, Tabitha’s riding activity stopped when she had her first child, and did not resume until her second child was 14. This was when Tabitha decided that she needed a horse of her own. For several years she found, catalogued, and constantly monitored all of the websites she could find that had any thing to do with Friesians. There were a number of people that Tabitha spoke to about Friesians, and she and her mother, Elizabeth played hooky from work one day in 2002 to attend a Friesian Kuring in the town of Santa Rosa, California. That day was instrumental in Tabitha’s decision to purchase a Friesian.

Tabitha spent the next 2 years researching these amazing horses. She constantly watched and monitored all of the websites that listed Friesians for sale. Finally, in December of 2004, Tabitha saw a Friesian mare for sale at a price that was more than reasonable. She made the necessary phone calls, and went out to see this horse. Every thing checked out with the vet and the fabulous Allie Bouwina made the trip from Hayward, Ca. to Clayton, Ca.

The next several months were spent getting to know each other. Finding a saddle to fit both Allie and Tabitha was a challenge, but finally after a dozen saddles were tried, one was found.

Tabitha made a number of friends while she and Allie were getting to know each other, amongst whom was Eve Alexander of Chevalier Sport horses. Eve and Tabitha became fast friends having shared similar experiences and a passion for horses. They both enjoyed learning Dressage, and both enjoyed the same type of quiet trail rides on the beautiful golden slopes of Mt Diablo, California.

In 2006, when Tabitha moved to Cruso, North Carolina, Eve and her husband Jason moved to Waynesville, NC.

In 2008, Tabitha and her very small herd of Friesians moved back to California and Eve and Jason moved to Florida.

Keep watching for our photo album page!