Checkerboard Farms

Born: 03-07-2015
Sape X Wander
For Sale. Contact Nina Miller for any futher information.

Taken: 13/July/17

Sape X Wander

Born: 11-July-2013

For Sale: For further information contact Nina Miller

Taken: 13/July/17

Sape x Wander Mare
Born: 22/May/13 For Sale.
Contact Nina Miller for more information

Taken: 13/July/17

Melody CK (Sipke X Wander): Born 17/March/2012

Francis CK (Norbert X Sipke): Born 18/June/17

Pictures taken 13/July/17

Both potentially for sale.
Contact Nina Miller for further information.

Sape x Wander Filly.
Born 9/July/16
For Sale: For more info contact Nina Miller

Pictures taken 13/July/17

A 2 year old Sape X Wander mare being offered for sale.

For more information please contact Nina Miller.

A 2 year old Sape X Wander mare being offered for sale.

For more information please contact Nina Miller.

A 3 year old Sipke X Wander mare is offered for sale.

For more information please contact Nina Miller

Sape X Wander Filly for sale.

Born 3/July/15 and photographed on 21/July/15

Contact Nina Miller for any more information.

More current updates of some of the horses

Checkerboard Farms's cover photo

I feel that all I'm doing these days and is thanking everyone over and over again for all their cards and calls and emails and messages and texts of love and support. Also, I've had a really nice response about folks interested in the Wander semen which makes me very happy. It will be very special to see Wander foals out there in the keurings next year as well as the ones who will come this year. Tiffany Donnelly who donated the beautiful browband that is in the Fenway Foundation auction honoring Wander 352 on the KFPS Friesian Mom's Page did something else very special for me. She designed several ads for the frozen semen which will be appearing in upcoming FHANA magazines. I wanted to share one with you here. Again, I'd love to work with anyone who has thought about including Wander in their breeding program, especially now. And, for a short time I am discounting the cost of the frozen doses. Thanks again to Tiffany for the beautiful ads.

In Memory of Wander 352

It is with profound sadness that I share with you the passing of Wander 352. We let him go May 7 as he was in chronic pain and the protocol of pain management versus quality of life did now warrant further struggle. We decided on cremation and his ashes will be scattered at sea.

Wander was born in 1991 and qualified by the FPS for breeding in 1996. He served numerous mares in North America and abroad and we hope it will be decided that he made a very positive contribution to our breed. He is the sire of one approved stallion, Doiatzen 420 and a number of approved grandsons. For many years, the family owners of Wander offspring have delighted in his "children" and shared their numerous accomplishments and exploits with us. We know they will bring you much joy in years to come.

Wander 352 was the first North American bred stallion to have frozen semen sent to Europe for breeding and the first North American stallion to be approved internationally on offspring based on his "kids" being able to participate in the newly organized offspring training in the Netherlands. This was made possible because we had sent the frozen semen to Holland even prior to the change in protocol for offspring testing.

The story of how he became a qualified stallion is well known. We bought his dam sight unseen from a broker in the Netherlands when there were only 400 or so Friesians in North America. We bred her to the only approved stallion, Barteld, compatible with her "common" bloodlines (Djurre x Mark) and our very first foal, Zorro, became Wander 352.

As many of you know, Wander has graced the photographic artwork of Gabriele Boiselle for a number of years and has also taken his turn in the movie, "Bedazzled." He has been a part of numerous FHANA sponsored exhibitions in Southern California and Reno, has competed in halter and under saddle during the keurings at Pomona and a winner in a number of parades as well. But most of all and most important, he has been my dear friend and a joy to have for 23 years. I have enjoyed hundreds of hours with him on the Norco trails and laughed as he would snort, prance and challenge the iron statue of a rearing horse in front of a local church as we rode by. He really wanted a piece of that horse! He is truly an "old soul" and I swear he had an amazing sense of humor. He was king of our farm and no other horse could come or go off the property without his attention and supervision.

Our local team here at Checkerboard Farms -- Tammy Delight, his trainer from birth and my best friend, our friends Jonelle, Kim, Hanah and many others, and our veterinarians, Bill Swyers, Bryn Moser and Kathy Lynde, are all in mourning with me and we will have him in our memories forever. Fortunately, we do have daughters and grandchildren and, thank goodness, some well saved frozen semen.

Again, we are very sorry to have to bring you this sad news, but we are hoping you will also allow all your memories and your appreciation of his offspring and other accomplishments to make you proud of this North American native son. We know many of you loved him as we have and know that we always appreciated your validation and support.

In times like this, if any of you wish to reach out, as much as I love flowers, I would really like you to consider a small (or larger) donation to the Fenway Foundation. We would like to support their continued efforts to provide education, rescue and research to protect and preserve this amazing Friesian horse.
I cannot think about Wander and his accomplishments without taking a moment to also remember my very dear friend, Jan Engelsma who passed away two years ago next month. Jan was one of the original judges to "discover" Zorro/Wander at the local keuring in 1995 and has followed and appreciated Wander's career from that time on. He, along with his brother, Klaas, were a part of "Team Wander" in negotiating the logistics and politics of having the first North American stallion present offspring for the testing in the Netherlands. It's truly my hope that Wander and Jan find each other and at some point when it's my time, I hope there will be a farm full of horses and many fun trails just waiting for the rest of the team!

Nina C. Miller and Team Wander of Checkerboard Farms

Happy 22nd birthday Wander. Technically I am a day late as your birthday is June 24th, 1991. What an honor it is to have known you all these years and even gotten to ride you a time or two. Your sons/daughters have produced some AMAZING grandchildren who will continue to help carry on your name! Here is to many more years together!

Exciting news!!! Kessa has wax!!! Heading out to Nina's after class tonight and keep your fingers crossed but will hopefully have a new baby in the morning!!!!

Kessa, a Wander mare

Avalon, a Wander mare

Mirage still feels good at the ripe old age of 25!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday's from Wander 352 and the Gang!

I am going to put it out there that unless otherwise stated, it is Hanah Fields-Austin posting for Nina. I am the photographer of all the pictures posted here EXCEPT the profile picture which is photo credit of Gabrielle Bossiele. Thanks for visiting!

The picture that makes the whole shoot worth it! Melody at 4 months old in the riverbed :D

Drakkar, a 3 year old friesian stallion playing with his ball on July 21st, 2012.

The one and only King!

Astuto, a 21 year old Andalusian stallion before and after his bath on Friday July 6th, 2012.

Classica, a 17 year old Andalusian before and after her bath on Friday July 6th, 2012

Drakkar (Kessa *Mintse 384 x Wander 352* ) playing with his ball! He will play for hours until he throws it out of the arena and then waits for you to throw it back in!

Drakkar (Kessa *Mintse 384 x Wander 352*)

Wander 352 shows off to Drakkar proving that he is still indeed the head stallion!

Astudo is a 21 year old Andalusian stallion. This was taken post bath time!

Melody (Alavon (Sipke 450 x Wander 352)) Shown at 3 1/2 months. An incredible filly!

Time for Drakkar again!!!

Mirage! Nina's first friesian! He is 25 this year!

Melody's first time away from mom. She spent 10 min or less in the round pen while Avalon was in the arena right next door. Born March 18th, 2012