This message is from: "Cheryl Beillard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I don't think any of the explanations offered so far have really been clear on the rationale behind the question of why the Norwegians tend to trim the fjord mane flat across, as a rule, and the Dutch like to have the black strip stand up about 1/4 inch. Apparently, no one on the list has heard the one given to me by Olaf Nyby, one of Norway's top carriage driving instructors. He does a lot of clinics with fjord owners in Norway and also worked with training stallions at Nordfjordeid for a number of years. He told me that leaving the black higher than the white of the mane is called 'the funeral cut". I don't know how widespread this is in Norway, but it makes sense to me that the average farmer in years gone by would not have bothered to take the time to do the more precise trim, unless it were for something 'special' .. like a funeral, or perhaps a wedding (although Olaf didn't mention that it was used on those happier occasions too). I usually cut straight across, but if I am tempted to put the effort into that special trim, I prefer to think in terms of weddings, than funerals, even if tradition doesn't bear this out! Sorry to put a damper on the discussion. Cheryl Beillard
