Meet Team Sovereign
The Sovereign Friesian team was created from a friendship that developed from a passion, love, and respect for the Friesian horse breed. We all want the breed to be sustained with the highest quality and integrity of the breed. After experiencing or learning about many horses and owners mismatched due to a focus on the sale and not on the lifetime partnership and story, we decided to create our own importing service for interested Friesian buyers. As a team, we each bring different experience and skills to our mission that allows a cohesive, successful outcome for our clients and the horses we bring over for them. As we all have our own full time careers, the Sovereign focus is on the quality of our horses and the match made for our clients, not the quantity of horses we sell.
Matthew Mazza, Sales and Training Leader:
Riding since age eight, Matt brings a lifetime of accomplished riding, training, competing, teaching and coaching to our team. Currently, as owner and operator of Matt Mazza Training (see full biography of Matt is in the Matt Mazza Training section), Matt brings an incredible gift of deep understanding of horse and rider to our team. Matt’s desire to create the Sovereign Friesian Horses team originated with a frustration of finding so many rider/owners mismatched with their Friesian partners with distress for both horse and rider. By interviewing and getting to know the needs of prospective buyers, and then consulting with our Netherland partners, Matt succeeds in matching owners with their high quality Forever Friesian. “Honesty and transparency at my end builds trust and respect from my clients to hopefully earn their loyalty: It is what I would expect if I were the buyer.” Matt is the full time Sovereign team member who actively engages with clients from start to finish.
Arnaldo J. Silva, Creative Lead:
“AJ” has been involved in importing and selling the Friesian breed since 2001. Having owned his own farm for many years, he imported some of the top winning Friesians in New England. Arnaldo’s life long career has been in the fashion industry, having multiple retail stores which carried day wear into evening wear, as well as creating couture Bridal and pageant gowns. Currently Arnaldo owns two ARNALDO JOSEPH Boutique located in Bedford, NH and custom designs for his Arnaldo Joseph Bridal in Concord, NH. Using his artistic and design capabilities, he also creates show clothes and costumes for riders and horses alike. As an artist, AJ’s incredible eye for beauty and perfection, along with his long friendships with some of the top Friesian barns in the Netherlands, is a true gift he brings to our team. AJ states, “I love finding spectacular horses to suit each clients’ specific needs” - the results and testimonials speak for this ability.”
Kathy Smith, Business Manager:
Originally a hunter/jumper rider in her tweens and teens, Kathy earned her rides as a working student for a local barn for whom she competed until adulthood. Turning her focus to her family and career for many years, she rediscovered her passion for horses and riding. As one of Matt’s clients, she discovered the Friesian horse breed and hasn’t looked back. Currently riding hunt seat on one Friesian, and learning saddleseat on her own, she looks forward to many years of fun and adventure with these gentle and giving equine partners. As Kathy is a full time career executive, she runs the business end, coordinates care and other needs for the horses, and helps keep the team running smoothly.
Matt Mazza with Tuke fan ‘e Klaai in the winner’s circle