This message is from: Marsha Jo Hannah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Kari Ann Owen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I am very interested in Fjord Horses as I am five feet tall and on > the hefty side, [...] > My riding instructor inthe hills of Oakland, CA would like to > purchase a Norwegian Fjord Horse for short riders like me who may be > hefty but are well balanced. [...] > > would people here please tell me more about the Fjord's temperament, > gaits and ground manners, and stability? And how much weight can and > should a Fjord tolerate in a rider?
Well, I'm 6' tall, 210 lb; my husband is 5'9" and 200 lb. Our 3 Fjords are between 14.1hh and 14.3hh, and they don't seem to have problems packing us around in the steep mountains where we live. After all, Fjords were the vikings' horses, and those guys weren't exactly "dainty"! Fjord temperament varies---2 of mine are of the "calm, quiet, idiotproof" variety; the 3rd answers to "Squirrel-brain"---spooks and snorts at lots of things, and develops phobias easily. Gaits also vary---my old mare (before she got so arthritic) had a glass-smooth trot and a lovely rocking-chair canter; our small (spooky) gelding trots like a jack-hammer when he's tense. Ground manners are whatever you're willing to let them get away with---they're mostly agreeable, but can be pushy about putting their noses down into grass, i.e. tend to require a "determined" handler. Or, one with lots of time to "graze" from here to there. ;-) There are probably more Fjord breeders in California now than when I got mine (1986--90). I had to go to NordicFest, in Libby MT (Sept 24--26 this year) to the annual show, to see a good "selection". Now, you can go to SkandiFest, in Turlock CA (Sept 10--12) to their Nordic horse show to see some and meet the "local" breeders. Warning---Fjords are addictive, and have a way of worming themselves between you and your wallet.... Marsha Jo Hannah Murphy must have been a horseman-- [EMAIL PROTECTED] anything that can go wrong, will! 30 mi SSE of San Francisco, Calif. -------
