March 1, 2021
Harry Witteveen in 1992 (Source: The county of Brant Public Library)
Harry Witteveen died in Canada on Friday the 27th of February at the age of 94. Witteveen is one of the founders of the FHANA and was included in The Hall of Fame list because of his great accomplishments for the Friesian horse in North America. He is the breeder of Michiel 442 and with Anne Okkema also co-owner of Monte 378.
After retirement into Friesian horses
Born in Friesland, he emigrated to Canada in 1947 and became very successful with his butcher’s shop ‘Witteveen Meats’. After his retirement in 1986 he threw himself into the world of Friesian horses and he has imported more than 200 of them to North America. Dubbed the ‘Godfather of the Fryske Hynders’, he travelled all over Canada and America with his (four-in-hand) team of Friesians to give shows. In Ontario he made sure that all emigrated Friesians in the community bought a Friesian horse. Every year the Witteveen Cup is presented at the Stallion Inspection, the prize for the best stud stallion in front of the sjees.
Click here for the Canadian IM of Harry Witteveen
Below a half-hour documentary from 2011 (in Friesian and English) about Harry Witteveen, made by Omrop Fryslân.
