This message is from: "Carol Riviore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hello from Carol Rivoire at Beaver Dam Farm in Nova Scotia
These remarks are directed to Phil and Lori who have both questioned
my integrity in regards to Gjest's trotting record, and to anyone else
interested.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lori & Phil -- Do you really think I'd have advertised Gjest as Norway's
Champion Trotter for the last 18 years if I didn't believe it to be
rue? --
Of course I wouldn't! --
For eighteen years I've told the world about his accomplishment in printed
ads, face to face conversation, and on the Internet. -- NOBODY has ever
suggested that it might not be true. -- NOT A SINGLE PERSON IN ALL THESE
YEARS.
If, in fact, Gjest did not trot the kilometre in Norway at his Stallion
Trials in 2.12 min., then I would like to know about it. -- I'm ready to be
convinced, but at this time, given all the evidence to the contrary, I am
not convinced. --
Here are the reasons why . . . . .
** Over the years I've often wondered and marveled that no other Fjord
stallion has equaled Gjest's record. I've asked Van Bon about IT , and was
told . . . so far, it hadn't happened.
** Quite a few years ago, Julie Will was going to Norway, and I asked her to
ask the Norwegian judges if any other stallion had ever equaled Gjest's
time. -- When she returned, she said she'd asked the judges, but they
didn't
give her an answer. They just said that The Trotting Test was no longer
considered as important as it once was.
--
** Van "Vestlandhest" tot "Fjordenpaard" by B. J. van Bon was first
published
in 1985. --- It is a factual history of the Fjordhorse filled
with
statistical information as well as pedigrees of all the most
important
bloodlines starting around 1850. -- The 1985 edition has a section
on Gjest and his trotting record of 2.12 min. for the km. on page
74 in the section devoted to the Baronen bloodline.
** The second edition of the book published ten years later in 1995,
contains the same
information about Gjest trotting a 2.12 kilometre at the stallion
trials in Norway.
I have both the first and second edition in my office.
** If this information as published in Van Bon's book is incorrect . . . .
Why in the world,
didn't somebody from the Norwegian Studbook . . . or elsewhere . .
.notify Van Bon after the first edition? -- If that had
been done, surely he would not have published the same thing in a second
edition, TEN YEARS LATER.
** Years ago, I noticed that the 1981 Norwegian Studbook says Gjest
trotted the 1,000 m. in 2.40, and I asked Van Bon about that, and was
assured his book is correct about Gjest's time. ---
As to the stallion Myrhaugen, and his incredible time of 1:57 . . . .
I've
never heard his name mentioned which I think is astounding considering
that
blazingly fast time ---
Considering the hundreds of times I have publicized Gjest's trotting
record, wouldn't you think somebody would have mentioned
this stallion (Myrhaugen) with his much faster time? --
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was told about Gjest's trotting record TWENTY YEARS ago in 1985 in Holland
at the Netherlands Studbook's biggest horse show -- the one they hold every
five years. -- I've believed this to be true for twenty years -- a heck
of a long time in which nobody ever questioned or refuted this fact.
However, if it's not true, of course, I want to know. --
I've driven Gjest for eighteen years. -- Gjest is blazingly fast! - I
have no way of knowing for sure, but I suspect I've driven him faster than
that 2.12. --- At Woodstock years ago, I drove him in front of
Standardbred breeders and they told me they'd "kill for his shoulder
movement" in their breeding programs. -- I've driven him so fast here at
the farm he, indeed, seems to be flying. -- Gjest's worth as a typey Fjord
stallion, a performance horse, and as a breeding stallion has been proven
over the years. -- At 28 years, Gjest needs no corroboration, although
there's been plenty of that as well. --
But, the biggest, most important aspect of Gjest is the good offspring he's
produced. -- Van Bon's book says of Gjest - "His offspring are held in
good esteem". -- The many owners of Gjest sons and daughters in North
America would agree.
A lot of top drivers have seen and driven Gjest, and all of them have
been impressed with his speed and movement -- This includes Larry Poulin
(international pair driver - 5-Time U. S. Pair Champion), Bill Long
(international 4-in-hand driver and World 4-in-Hand Champion) Bill Lower
(international pair driver) , Muffy Seaton (international 4-in-Hand driver),
Barbara Black (past ADS president & Chef d'Equipe for World Championship
4-in-Hand Team) & Christe Paulson from Sweden (international 4-in-Hand
driver - who, by the way, told me he'd be very pleased to have his Swedish
Warmbloods trot that fast.)
GJEST IS --- AN INCREDIBLE, AWESOME, FANTASTIC STALLION OF MYSTICAL MAGIC
PRESENCE, TREMENDOUS ATHLETIC ABILITY,ASTOUNDING MOVEMENT, A WORK ETHIC
THAT NEVER QUITS, SUPERB HEALTH AND SOUNDNESS, INTELLIGENCE, STRIKING
BEAUTY, GORGEOUS COLOR, REMARKABLE FERTILITY PROVEN BY HIS HUNDREDS OF
QUALITY OFFSPRING IN EUROPE, THE U.S, AND CANADA.
I make no apologies for the superlatives -- This horse deserves every
single adjective.
Best Regards, Carol Rivoire
--
