It was quite an overwhelming process. What we have done is open up the door to all other Friesians in Australia to strive to do this as well. When we did this there was no process ... It's amazing for the breed. It made page one news in The Netherlands.
- Katrina Routson
WITH a flowing mane and tail and a shiny black coat, Friesian stallion Braggo looks like a horse from a fairytale.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The stunning 11-year-old has become the first horse in Australia to be approved by The Netherlands Koninklijk Friesch Paarden-Stamboek (KFPS), the Royal Friesian Horse Studbook.
This is a highly-regarded classification that took years of work and training by Braggo's owners Katrina and Simon Routson, who live at Wangoom.
The powerful horse is taking Australian dressage by storm, and is paving the way for other Friesians to make it to the top of the equestrian world.
With the approval Braggo also underwent a name change, and is now known as Baastian 510 - he is only the 510th Friesian in the world to ever be approved by the breed society, which was established in The Netherlands in 1879.
The Routsons own and run Terrarossa Friesians and imported Braggo from The Netherlands in 2013.
"I bought him when he was four-and-a-half years old," Mrs Routson said.
"Then I imported him from The Netherlands when he was five."
To be approved by the KFPS, Braggo underwent a rigorous testing process, which saw a panel of 13 Dutch judges assess him in person and by video footage.
Mrs Routson said when Braggo was still in The Netherlands as a youngster he just missed out on being approved.
"He got through to the final round, but he didn't make the final cut," she said.
"Out of 300 each year only three or four get approved.
"I purchased him a year later.
"In the last decade there have been two horses in America that have been approved."
Mrs Routson said the opportunity for Braggo to be approved came up last year.
"When I was in the Netherlands in January 2018 the KFPS said to me if I could get Braggo competing at Prix St George level they would try to get him approved in Australia," she said.
"The Netherlands considered him the one that got away.
"They like every approved stallion to have an approved son, and Braggo's father didn't have one. They always considered him the best son.
"The society had followed Braggo without me knowing in Australia.
"They were watching him all these years with this in their mind."
After that trip, Mrs Routson initiated the process to get him approved.
"At the time he had been turned out for six months in the paddock and was only doing medium level dressage," she said.
"It was a monumental effort.
"We thought we had to give it a go as we thought it might never happen again."
Braggo was sent to elite dressage rider Jeremy Janjic in New South Wales, who had ridden Friesians at Grand Prix level.
"Within 10 months he'd done 63 dressage tests and he got his three qualifying scores in Prix St George," Mrs Routson said.
"We had a very strict timetable to qualify him. By October last year video footage was sent back to The Netherlands. They then approved to send the two top stallion selectors and the chairman of the KFPS out to Australia to assess him."
At the New South Wales Friesian assessment day he undertook a Prix St George test, an in-hand (led) presentation and a very thorough vet check in front of the judges.
"All the video footage went back to The Netherlands and about four or five hours later I was told he had qualified for the short testing," Mrs Routson said.
That was at Olympians Heath and Rozzie Ryan's property for two weeks.
"The judges then flew back to Australia and went to the Ryan's property and Braggo had an hour-long test and an hour-long vet check," Mrs Routson said.
"They then interviewed Rozzie about his trainability, his manners in the stable and the ins and outs of him. Braggo was the first ever Friesian she had ridden.
"Once again all the video footage went back to The Netherlands before a final decision was made."
Braggo was approved and his name was changed to Baastian 510.
The KFPS website says Braggo is "a good model with stallion expression".
"Under saddle he presents an agreeable image," it says.
"The correct walk displays more than satisfactory length of stride and use of the body. The stallion is good to ride. In trot he demonstrates suppleness but the hind leg should become a bit sharper.
"The correct canter shows good strides with more than satisfactory self-carriage. In canter Braggo makes an attractive picture.
"On the basis of this data as well as his good exterior, good lineage and positive character assessment the Stallion Committee has decided to advise the board to approve stallion Braggo for stud services.
"This is a first for foreign countries and a boost for breeding in Australia."
Mrs Routson said the name change "was a very traditional thing".
"It's from a prescribed list," she said.
"You aren't given a choice. It's a very traditional Dutch name. He is number 510 in the world to be approved.
"Baastian was one of the few names I thought Australians could get their tongues around."
Mrs Routson said it had been a monumental process.
"It was quite overwhelming," she said.
"What we have done is open up the door to all other Friesians in Australia to strive to do this as well. When we did this there was no process so there was lots of emails back and forth on how to achieve it and narrow down all the different components on what was needed.
"There are some wonderful Friesians coming up through the ranks and it gives them the opportunity.
"It's amazing for the breed. It made page one news in The Netherlands."
Braggo has been named the Equitana horse of the year twice and Olympic gold medal winner and world champion Charlotte Du Jardin also rode him in a masterclass.
"He won't be retired, he will continue competing in dressage," Mrs Routson said.
"Every single one of his foals so far presented to the judges at assessments days here have been first or second or premium."