Dreams Come True Farm Horse Shows

Welcome to Dreams Come True Farm's Horse Show Site

2024 Shows	2022 Shows	2020 Shows	2018 Shows	2016 Shows	2013 Shows	2011 Shows	2009 Shows
2023 Shows	2021 Shows	2019 Shows	2017 Shows	2015 Shows	2012 Shows	2010 Shows

   Hamilton began his 2024 show season in Florida with Suzy Stafford, continuing his driven dressage training and making his pleasure show debut hitched to Sjaantje's 1890's butter yellow Studebaker carriage.
   During 2023 Hamilton, in his second year of training with Suzy Stafford, Solstice Farm, wintered in Ocala to continue his driven dressage career and his pleasure show career, this season upgrading his vehicle to a spindle back road cart that had been his mama's first show vehicle! After an intense year of FEI level training, Sjaantje and I needed to slack off a bit, so participated in driving and Friesian demonstrations at BreyerFest, entered 2 Spotlight Horse Shows video dressage tests, and exhibited at the Orleton Farm show. Lesson learned during the plandemic lockdown: it is easy to do nothing!!!
   In 2022 Hamilton began training with Suzy Stafford, Soltice Farm, so he wintered in Ocala with her where he began his driven dressage career and when they came north at the end of the winter season, he started his pleasure show career. With a goal of earning scores towards my ADS dressage gold medal, Sjaantje and I were also in training with Suzy, learning to master the FEI Advanced Driven Dressage tests, and we secured out last score in October.
September of 2021 found us making the 2 day trip to WI for the famous Villa Louis Carriage Classic, a show we had been looking at for several years. Sjaantje knocked that show out of the park: 4 1st places in classes of 10 and 14 and first place in the Invitational Con Cours d'Elegance class. An exciting part of my 2021 show circuit and a totally new experience was entering all 3 and winning 2 of the ADS Intermediate Driven Dressage video classes in their Spotlight Horse Shows virtual event. At the 2021 IFSHA Worlds we won the DCTF Driven Dressage High Point Perpetual Trophy along with both the Richard Snavely SH Turnout Perpetual Trophy and the Anita Mellott HP Driving Perpetual Trophy. Deciding to winter with Sjaantje in FL for the show season to work on our FEI level dressage tests, we timed our trip to show at the inaugural October Ocala International Horse Show held at the new World Equestrian Center. What an incredible show facility! Sjaantje was also a USEF Horse of Honor!
In 2020 the Corona-19 Virus pandemic national shut down forced all of my planned shows to cancel. It was a cost-saving, easy summer, hunkering down on the farm, driving recreationally to keep us fit, and learning those new ADS dressage tests. Thanks to several organizations, there were a couple of opportunities to compete virtually, a totally new, delightful experience for us exhibitors.
After another 2 year breeding stint, in 2019 Sjaantje was back on the carriage driving show circuit, continuing her winning ways. I drove her to 2 more 70+% Intermediate Driven Dressage scores to finish qualifying for my ADS Silver Dressage Medal
   2018 was a breeding year for DCTF, so it was a light show year--only attending 3 shows. Since Sjaantje foaled in April, she wasn't ready to show until October, and Isobel was bred for a 2019 foal in the spring, so not ready to go to her trainer until August, Trainer Suzy Stafford qualified Isobel for Worlds at the Region 1 show, both Isobel and Sjaantje competed at IFSHA Worlds, and Sjaantje and I competed at MLMDC's Driven Dressage show.
   2017 was an interesting show year, because we showed 2 mares in 8 events and at 3 of those events, the mares competed aginst each other--Isobel with trainer, Suzy Stafford, and Sjaantje with me. Isobel was put into training with the goal of presenting her to the Dutch judges to be upgraded from a 2e to a 1e ster mare and exposing her to the various types of carriage pleasure driving: CDEs, CTs, pleasure shows, and breed shows.
   Our 2016 show year proved to be one that couldn't be much better: after taking a 2-year break from the show ring for motherhood, Sjaantje traveled up and down the East Coast and across the Midwest, claiming a multitude of regional and national titles in both USEF and ADS competitions along the way.
   2015 turned out to be Isobel Ypkje van het Kasteel's event year on her way to achieving her Friesian Driving Predicate Sport title and keuring star status.
   With Sjaantje and Lillee in foal, we did not attend shows in 2014, but we did attend the Harrisburg, PA Horse Expo and the FHANA keuring in Coatesville.
   Under the auspices of trainer Suzy Stafford 2013 found us focusing on driving accomplishments with the Lexington, VA, September FHANA keuring and October IFSHA World and National Show as the grand finales of our show season.
    In 2012 for the 2nd year in a row international champion whip, Suzy Stafford, trained Sjaantje, focusing on the International FEI # 9 advanced level driven dressage test. Those tests and their scores earned Sjaantje her KFPS/FHANA driving predicate "Sport" title. Suzy also taught me to drive driven dressage!
   2011 saw us teaming up with world class CDE driver, Suzy Stafford, who agreed to give me a weekly driving lesson with Sjaantje, as well as train 6 YO Sjaantje for her driving IBOP test and for the October IFSHA World Championships driving classes.
   In 2010 Thomas & I did our own show circuit with Sjaantje, where I soon learned it was I who needed training, and in 2011 I started taking weekly driving lessons from international champion driver, Suzy Stafford.
   For 2009 I made the leap to what I call "big time" showing, taking 4 YO Sjaantje to a trainer who took us to various shows and with the experiences and fun we had, as well as our successes, became hooked on showing our Friesians.
When I got my first Friesian, I had absolutely no plans to show, but once I had Heidie going under saddle, realized it was my responsibility to the breed to share her beauty, so after a 33 year absence from southern California show rings, I joined a local riding club, Twin Brooks Saddle Club, here in central PA, and entered a few classes there.
   Show ribbons and trophies won by Dreams Come True Farm Friesians, as well as show photos add splashes of color throughout my home on shelves, on the walls, and in baskets.

2023 Shows

In his second year of training with Suzy Stafford, Solstice Farm, Hamilton wintered in Ocala to continue his driven dressage career and his pleasure show career, this season upgrading his vehicle to a spindle back road cart that had been his mama's first show vehicle! After an intense year of FEI level training, Sjaantje and I needed to slack off a bit, so only scheduled carriage demonstrations at BreyerFest, entered 2 video dressage tests, and 4 classes at the Orleton Farm show.

2022 Shows

This year was Hamilton's first year in training with Suzy Stafford, Soltice Farm, so he wintered in Ocala with her where he began his driven dressage career and when they came north at the end of the winter season, he started his pleasure show career. Sjaantje and I also in trained with Suzy, to master the FEI Advanced Driven Dressage tests and to earn my gold medal. Hamilton returned to Ocala in December for another year of dressage training.

2021 Shows

In April traveled to the ADS South Carolina Aiken Carriage Classic, beginning our single horse reserve and championships season. Sjaantje made us proud at the famous Villa Louis Carriage Classic: 4 1st places in classes of 10 and 14 and first place in the Invitational Con Cours d'Elegance class. An exciting part of my 2021 show circuit and a totally new experience was entering all 3 and winning 2 of the ADS Intermediate Driven Dressage video classes in their virtual show hosted by Spotlight Horse Shows.
By the end of the 2021 Friesian World Show, Sjaantje had earned 8 Campionship and 6 Reserve Championship titles! We ended the show year competing in the Ocala International Horse Show held at the new World Equestrian Center--5 classes and 5 wins for Sjaantje!

2020 Shows

The Corona-19 Virus pandemic national shut down forced all our shows to canceled, but thanks to several organizations, there were a couple of opportunities to compete virtually, a totally new, delightful experience for us exhibitors.

2019 Shows

After another 2 year breeding stint, Sjaantje was back on the carriage driving show circuit, continuing her winning ways. I drove her to 2 more 70+% Intermediate Driven Dressage scores to finish qualifying for my ADS Silver Dressage Medal, and as in the past she not only rose to the top of the IFSHA Friesian driving records with high point awards at their World Show for purebred Friesian and Carriage Driving, but also EOY Chapionships in Friesian Driving, Open Carriage Driving, and Open CDE. These accolades positioned her for the FHANA Championship in Driven Dressage and their Region 5 Driving and Dressage Championship titles, making her their driving nominee for Horse of the Year!

Sjaantje also showed in front of 3 different carriages: an 1890s yellow Studebaker Ladies Phaeton, a 1910 Moyer Ladies Wicker Parasol Phaeton, and a Kuhnle Presentation Carriage for driven dressage.

1890s Studebaker Ladies Phaeton

1910 Moyer Ladies Wicker Parasol Phaeton

Kuhnle Presentation Carriage

2018 Shows

Isobel was in foal when she competed in both her shows, and Sjaantje had foaled and her colt had been weaned when she showed. Although both mares started the show season late, both Isobel and Sjaantje continued to shine in their driven dressage classes, earning IFSHA World Championship titles in Intermediate Dressage. Sjaantje helped me earn 2 qualifying scores for my ADS Silver medal.

2016 Shows

After a 2 year show absence for Motherhood, Sjaantje regained her 2013 USEF and IFSHA national carriage pleasure driving titles! This year we switched from carts and used 2 carriages, a 1890s Studebaker ladies phaeton and an 1910 Moyer wicker ladies phaeton, for our rail classes, during the show season added a collar to Sjaantje's harness.

2017 Shows

This year we showed 2 mares, so needed 2 carriages in addition to the Kuhnle presentation carriage for driven dressage: Isobel used the butter yellow 1910 Studebaker ladies phaeton and Sjaantje used the maroon 1890s Moyer wicker ladies phaeton. Because Isobel had always gotten Sjaantje's carriage driving hand-me-downs, I bought her a brand new custom fitted deluxe Zimmerman show harness!

2015 Shows

With 2015 being a year of keuring prep for Isobel, focusing on her driven IBOP, we only attended shows for a change of training pace and sought out those with driven dressage classes. To offer Isobel the experience of showing in a colesium we did attend one breed show, the IFSHA Region 1 Championship at the Big E in MA, and were undefeated in our 7 carriage driving classes!

2015 was the first year we trained and showed in Florida during the winter and enjoyed it so very much will return to Ocala in 2016.