About

Sired by Jasper 366, Vela was our first homebred mare, born in 2006 to our MODEL mare, Femma L. She was awarded a 2nd Premie as a foal at the UK inspections and entered the studbook with a 3rd Premie in 2010.

Vela was a beautiful, strong mare with a super willing temperament and desire to learn. Born in Cartmel, she benefitted from being brought up on our Farm and displayed the amazing gentle and kind nature the Friesian is renowned for. We backed Vela to ride as a late three year old, and she quickly learnt to drive the following year. After a couple of months of schooling, we threw her in the deep end with her first dressage competition where she scored a very creditable 67.39%. She followed this up with a succession of wins with scores of 74.16% and 79.58%, but time constraints meant we were not able to continue a competition career.

Vela was an extremely kind natured mare who would always stand back in a field of mares so she didn't get pulled into any confrontation. It was an entirely different matter if she went out with any of the boys who she kept well and truly in their place!

In her last few years, Vela was truly in her prime. Not only did she drive many brides to their weddings, but she also took part in wedding dress photoshoots and was happy to have inexperienced people sit on her. This was vital when she took part in some filming for 'Macbeth' when she was ridden by leading actor Cosmo Jarvis who, by his own admission, was not a rider yet managed to move Vela to where she needed to be! Many of our visitors were able to enjoy Vela out hacking when this was part of our Experiences, but she was in her element out on the Sands at Bardsea Beach and would often give her Auntie Renske a run for her money during a good gallop.

Vela passed in 2017, too soon. She has a special apple tree planted in our Memorial Orchard near her sister, Ischka.