This message is from: "Dave Walter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Steve,
You brought up the discussion of cost in Promoting the Fjord Horse. I would like to add my 2 cents. I have been bringing one or more of my Fjords to Horse-A-Rama in Manitowoc, WI for the last 5 years. I do it all for the pleasure of showing off the Fjords and "doing" something with my horses. I do take in a few open shows, do a lot of trail riding, parades, wagon train, whatever I can find to do with them I'll do it. Now granted this is a smaller fair, and I live 15 minutes from Manitowoc, BUT it does cost still the same. The stalls/paying for helpers when I take more than one Fjord, food, gas, bedding for the horse, costumes, decorations for the stall, etc, etc. This is a 2 day event. The reason I do it-I love how you hear from the front of the barn, "THE FJORDS ARE HERE!!!". That is priceless. I also love opening the stall door and letting the kids pet and sometimes even sit on my Fjords. A lot of those kids never get to get that close to a horse, I LOVE MAKING THEIR DAY. I also have been doing the Midwest Horse Fair in Madison WI for the last 3 years. We live 3 hours from Madison. The MWFHC does sponsor this to a small degree. I ride with the club, along with 8-10 horses. The club pays for the stalls, which includes the cost of entry. WE have to pay for the hotel/gas/food/bedding for the horse/ etc and this is a 3 day event which means you have to be there 4 days. It is expensive. We have some that are breeders and some that are not. There are those that only own one Fjord. I guess it would be wonderful if there was a fund, but until there is I will be out there doing it as I just love to take my Fjord(s) off the farm to show them off and ride/drive them anywhere and everywhere. I may not be the best person to be addressing this as the last few years I have had a small number of horses forsale. BUT the first 2-3 years I had nothing to sell and I still feel the same way about it as I did in the beginning. I can honestly tell you if we couldn't put out sales list, I'd still be there. I want to do things with my horses and whatever you do it costs money. I can tell you I have only sold directly from those events once! Patti Jo Walter Francis Creek Fjords Two Rivers WI
