This message is from: carol j makosky <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Meredith Sessoms wrote: > This message is from: "Meredith Sessoms" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >This message is from: "Lynn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > >>>What do you think about Norwegian Fjords? > >**I had a chat to a lady at Equitana who imported a few some years ago - > >and > >she is most disappointed in them...I got them impression that they are very > >mule like - stubborn and rude. <snip> > > > >I do not bring this up so you can all leap to their defence! The Norwegian > >vet who was staying with me also said she found that "some" could be quite > >stubborn and some were snappy. > > > >If I am going to take the step of importing some of these horses I do not > >want to end up like the lady mentioned above. > > I am no expert by any means, having owned only two Fjordies, but I find the > Fjordhorse to be delightfully different to handle than other horses. > > I jumped in and bought a mare and a filly after only two visits with Dr. > Brian's Fjordhorses and I have never, for a moment, regretted it. My two > come from completely different bloodlines: Dorina - Holunder, German, Dutch > and Austrian lines; Aagot's grandsires are Grabb and Solar with four > Norwegian grand sires and dams. They do have strong personalities. They > are confident. They act like the the world is there for their amusement. > They are too easy to spoil. They can be mouthy so you have to get a handle > on the problem and nip it in the bud. > > You have to be diligent with their ground work because they will take > advantage if you let them get away with pushing and hauling on you. Being a > rookie at training I have had some problems with who's boss but nothing I > can't deal with. They can be stubborn and rude if someone has spoiled them > and they never learned basic lessons. They don't frighten like other > horses, so people who rely heavily on getting a horse to behave through fear > might not have an easy time training a Fjord. I have yet to learn how to > send a Fjord out on a longe line! I can flick a whip, stomp and yell all > day long and Aagot will walk up to see what the commotion is all about. I > have given up on longing her until I learn more about handling them. It > slays me to watch my dressage instructor lounging her horses of various > breeds, she just clucks at them or waves the whip their way and they > practically jump out of their own skins! > > Fjordies are very loving. I believe mine truly enjoy my company. They are > really happy when I return from a trip or come outside to give them > attention. Aagot thinks I am her personal amusement park. She will even > walk away from her food to see what I am up to. Aagot is extremely steady > and has a curious 'what's around the bend?' personality. Dorina is more > high-strung but this makes her a very demonstrative pet and a fun riding > horse. > > They are different from other horses. When I have been with other horses > all day, I am so happy to come home to my Fjords with their beautiful eyes, > sweet faces, and familiar ways. I wouldn't trade them for any other breed. > > If you have reservations, is there any way you can spend time with the breed > before committing to buying some? > > >>><<< Meredith Sessoms > >>><<< Soddy-Daisy. Tennessee. USA > >>><<< Dorina & NFR Aagot Hi from Carol M. You sure hit the nail on the head with this. Keep at the lunging. Heidi played dumb at first or she had never done it b4. I do not know. Start by just getting the horse to walk in a small circle. That way you can reach them with the whip. Then as they get the idea, you can make the circle bigger. As I mentioned b4, I use a Flexi lead, that reels in and out. It sure beats getting tangled up in the extra line. If you want more info, email me. The Flexi lead is really for a dog and the largest has a 65 lb. test strength. Good Luck Carol M. On Golden Pond Siren WI
