This message is from: "ruth bushnell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Peter and the Randall Family and welcome to the Fjord Horse List! I'm sure you'll receive many answers to your questions, but there's not much activity on the List on weekends-- everyone's out with their Fjords. I can make brief unqualified comments on some of the items you mentioned until you hear from some of the others.
1) manes: I would forget the notching technique until I mastered the general shape first. First envision the finished product of a rainbow shaped crest.. take sharp shears and maybe cut the highest point to the desired height to mark your pattern. (maybe approx 4" high) Then begin at the withers, cutting close, angling up and aiming for the mark at the apex (in a slightly curved line.) Then I would cut the bridle path down and aim for the apex again (working back toward the center). Cut white and black hairs even, once you've achieved this you can cut the white down a half inch or so if you like. (practice makes perfect!=)) 2) water: It's been our experience that horses are naturally suspicious of entering water and will proceed cautiously if at all. we have a deep creek here too and they never attempt wading it. 3) breeding: not until a young mare is three years old. 4) good question about inbreeding.. someone more knowledgeable about genetics may work on this one, but it appears to me that inbreeding is not a wise practice because it compounds any weak characteristics; ramifications of what may have occurred in a reckless gene pool are multiply intensified. (because there no longer exists the natural selection process)... or something like that =))) 5) riding... I have heard three years too, and even upwards of that, but it's never too early to give them a feel for something light on their back, or a surrounding of their girth. 6) supplements... whatever the pocketbook allows I guess in the way of vitamins and minerals =)) but we will not feed sweet grain to ours. (same as junk food to kids). too much green grass, especially all at once, can be harmful also. 7) night foals...and they usually are, because they'd rather you weren't watching =)) are usually born easily, but there is the odd occurrence and that's why it's necessary to monitor regularly... maybe take turns with your family on late night and early morning stable checks. Best of luck to you and your Fjords... Ruthie, nw mt
