This message is from: Mike and Casey Rogillio <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I don't think this took the first time, my apologies if it's a repeat.
"". . . any 1,000 pound animal is very capable of hurting any of us, especially our kids. It is important with any horse, Fjords included, that children be taught all safety and handling rules applicable to horses and large animals. And that they be properly supervised, wear helmets and be taught to respect the horse and what it is potentially capable of. To clarify, I also keep ours on a lunge line in an open area, or I lead the horse. My daughter (7) was able to ride our older mare in an enclosed area under our supervision and they did just fine. Overall, I still believe the Fjord temperment is a steadier one, and they are much less likely to spook or react badly in any given situation. I have ridden a Fjord mare that spooks at EVERYTHING ... but she is the exception . . ."" Sometimes lead lines still aren't safe. Let me share this with you all, as a warning I suppose. I attended a small show yesterday where my (I thought) calm, steady Fjord spooked at nothing as far as I could tell and took off with both my children on his back. They fell off, we spent 3 hours in ER making sure my son (who landed on his face, yes both were helmeted) and daughter had no other injuries. What happened? I'm still clueless and heartsick that my horse did this as well as caused another young rider to be toppled off her horse. All I know is that we were in the leadline class and doing well, standing calmly, as the top 4 winners began filing out. Suddenly Tyr took off like he was buck-shot, ripping the lead thru my hands, burning them. There were 11 horses in the class, so there was plenty of company in the arena, as well as plenty of horses and people to tromple thru. I would NEVER have taken him in that class if I'd had an idea this would happen. Tyr has been used as a lead-line pony for 2 years and never done a thing like this. He was used as a birthday party pony by his trainer with no problem. The only thing I can think of was that this was too new to him. He'd done just fine in the halter class, was calm, not antsy, nothing. Maybe he got stung? Maybe the stress was too much for him? Maybe another horse "threatened" him from behind? I don't know. The moral of this story I guess is that I wouldn't just automatically trust a Fjord to not spook & squirt just because they are normally so calm and unflappable. They have a lot of power and can generate an unbelievable amount of energy quickly. Sadder and wiser Casey
