Friesians have found the perfect home on Mackinac Island!

This beautiful and historic island, located in the Straits of Mackinac, has a long and rich equestrian history. In 1898 the City of Mackinac banned the use of motorized vehicles in favor of the quiet clip-clop of horses hooves when the horse-less carriages were frightening the local livery horses. Visitors and residents travel only by horse and bike and enjoy the wooded trails and high bluffs first treasured and revered by Native American tribes and protected as Michigan's Mackinac Island State Park.

Many different breeds of horses are used on the island for pleasure riding, driving and work and the newly arrived Friesian fits right in.

Friesians were first introduced on Mackinac Island in 1995 when cottagers Jay and Janet Stingel brought four Friesian geldings with them to summer on the island. As of 2010 four owners have increased their number to eleven (eight geldings and three mares). One owner also has a Friesian/paint cross. The Friesian is now the most popular breed of horse on the East and West Bluff Victorian communities on the island.

Seven of the Island Friesians traveled to the 2007 World Friesian Extravaganza and Competition held October 24 to 27 at Springfield, Ohio. Read about the trip in the Mackinac Island Town Crier article.

The combination of thousands of visitors, hundreds of horses, boat whistles, firing cannons and other exciting activities can pose challenges to the island horses. The Friesians' quiet, adaptable and gentle disposition serves them well. Tourists and residents love to see these spectacular horses out on the trail or taking an evening stroll on Main Street. They certainly contribute to the romantic and quiet pace of this historic and unique island.