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SASKIA
Well I finally got around to looking up about Fjords in scotland.
From the books I have got ,I found out that the last Fjords to be
used to improve stock was in 1890, when 2 stallions where imported
from Norway to the Hebridian Islands .
i dont know if it was
the inner or outer Hebrides but the Island of Rum
just below the Isle of Skye has it own breed
line and the Rum ponies
are dun with eel stripes and some times zedra marks on
the legs
I had intended to buy a Run type Highland when i first went looking for
horse but i saw a Fjord and that was that but they are so similar in
every
way.
The Highland stud book is about 70 yrs old ,but many breeders kept good
records long before that.
My friend has a Highland Garron the old fashiond draught type, his
breeding can be traced to 1896 ,Laird is i think a fine example of a
Highland
14.2hs big and very strong,hes no plod though ,hes an
excellent jumper
and can really cover ground
Highlands were used by deer stalkers ,to carry the days hunting
home from
the moors so they had to be strong .
Confirmation wise they are very similar to fjords ,if igo in a horse
show and
the judge has not seen a fjord before i ask them to judge him
like a highland
as they will not go to far wrong.
Colour , they come in shades of grey
to black (black is unusual and very
striking) brown, various shades of dun ,some even have strands
of cream
hair mixed in darker hair just like a fjord with a long mane.
As for temperament i have heard people
say bad things about them,but
I think these folks would say the same about fjords not every
one can get on
with the" pony temperament " each to his own
Personally ive never met an unfriendly one ,they are great to ride
sure
footed and sensible with lovely pony characters ... just like fjords
Laird is as i often joke to my friend margaret just a funny
coloured fjord
he is so like Buller its uncanny.
From a showing point of view,they are excellent
working Hunters,
riding horses ,they are good in Harness and compete in dressage
to a high level. and do long distance riding.
The vikings first arrived in Scotland in the
8th century bringing there
horses with them, so between then and the turn of this century,fjords seem
have left there
mark on Highlands not just in colour but in its lovely nature.
well ive finished now , i hope i havent gone on too
much i only know a
abit about them really, based on ones ive had the pleasure of riding and
handling.
HAPPY FJORDING FIONA, BULLER, BILLY AND SADIE
warm but dull with alittle rain
.
