Imported as a foal from The Netherlands in June 2005, Sjaantje grew up in the rolling hills of Dreams Come True Farm in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. As a youngster, the
Friesian underwent her "keuring", the rigorous judging process performed by registry representatives flown in from the Netherlands, earning the superlative "ster" (pronounced "star") classification.
Sjaantje's owner, Gail Aumiller, first discovered the kindness and warmth of the Friesian breed when her husband, Thomas, purchased a Friesian yearling in 2003 in anticipation of Aumiller's impending retirement from being a school teacher. "I had never been around a horse that I would describe as 'kind,' but that is the nature of the Friesian. It didn't take me long to be smitten and enchanted," said Aumiller.
Sjaantje has proven to be much more than just a delightful horse; she's also a record-setting athlete. When this exceptional mare ventured onto the show circuit in 2009 as a four-year-old, Sjaantje earned the first of what would become many more World and National Titles at the 2009
International Friesian Show Horse Association (IFSHA) World and Grand National Horse Show.
"It was an adventure and learning experience. I looked at each show as being a vacation with horses," said Aumiller. In 2011 after teaming up with Suzy Stafford, Sjaantje started to blow the Friesian driving world away, winning the National Driving Championships. In 2011 and 2013, Sjaantje was recognized as the
US Equestrian High Point Friesian Driving Horse of the Year. "There are many exceptional horses and many talented drivers but when you find the perfect match, that is what makes dreams come true!" said Stafford.
Fast forward to 2016, Sjaantje, Gail, and international-level driver Suzy Stafford traveled up and down the East Coast and across the Midwest, claiming a multitude of regional and national titles in both USEF and
American Driving Society (ADS) competitions. Sjaantje was crowned 2016 IFSHA Champion in Regions 2, 4, and 5. Sjaantje and Gail earned prestigious carriage pleasure driving victories in ADS competitions at Grand Oaks, Orleton Farm, and Walnut Hill, where the pair was named Wicker Division Reserve Champions.
Sjaantje also won 15 of their 16 driven dressage competitions with scores as high as an astonishing 79%. Wrapping up a triumphant year, Sjaantje earned an incredible nine World Championship titles at the IFSHA World and Grand National Horse Show, as well as claiming the High Point Driven Dressage Trophy, High Point Driving Trophy, and High Point Show Horse Trophy.
In accepting the 2016 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Horse of the Year Award for 2016, Aumiller said, "Sjaantje has given us so many wonderful experiences. I live my dream 24/7!"