This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thank you Carol, Your points are well taken here! As a first time advertiser I was shocked by several of Mike's comments. You have pointed out a few. The comment that hit me hardest was, "...they train more like a mule----". Without a doubt these comments point to a much deeper problem. Take Care, Warren Riddle, Teddy Bear Fjords, in Spokane
>-----Original Message----- >From: Beaver Dam Farm [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2006 07:16 AM >To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com >Subject: Horse Illus. > >This message is from: "Beaver Dam Farm" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Hello Everybody from Carol Rivoire at Beaver Dam Farm in Nova Scotia - > >I finally got hold of a copy of the December Horse Illustrated, and it is, >indeed, the best, most positive article on Fjords I've ever seen in any >magazine. The photos were generally good, and for once showed Fjords >performaning. And the full-page headshot was of a lovely Fjord with all the >right characteristics. Generally, it was an excellent article with mostly >factual information. > >There were, however, a couple of things that I wish hadn't been said. >Statements that I found misleading and with a negative impact. >Mostly I liked what Anne Appleby had to say about Fjords in the dressage >world. I particularly liked her comment that "(dressage) judges have become >so educated now, and all breeds are getting a fair shake." > >Anne goes on to say, "I'm not saying all Fjords are good for dressage. They >have thick necks and so can be very heavy at times." -- > >Carol's comment . . . I don't object to that statement, but I do object to >making it a blanket statement because it is not true of all Fjords. Yes, >certainly it can be true with some . . . . but not all Fjords. > >The next paragraph is not a quote from an interview. It's the article's >author speaking. ---- She says . . . "Another challenge when working with >Fjords is their lack of interest in the canter. Since they were bred to be >draft horses, and encouraged to keep to the trot, the canter is not their >favored gait." --- > >Carol's comment: Again, not a true statement. -- It is NOT true that >generally Fjords have a "lack of interest in the canter". -- The author >says "they were bred to be draft horses, and encouraged to keep to the trot >. . . the canter is not their favored gait." > >Carol's comment: The author put her statement in the past tense "were bred >to be draft horses". -- That could be construed as true depending on what >period in history you're talking about. However, even though she put it in >the past tense, it comes across as in the PRESENT TENSE as in "bred to be >draft horses" -- It's misleading. -- Are most people today breeding >Fjords to be draft horses? Some are, yes, but definitely not most. >Therefore, to say that in an article with this much exposure is giving a >very false impression of the breed. > >This paragraph goes on with a quote from NFHR Registrar, Mike May who says . >. . "they might gallop around in a pasture to play", Mike says. "You have >to really push them into the canter, but they are natural three-gaited >horses." > >Carol's comment: I'm sorry Mike, but you cannot. . . you should not have >made this a blanket statement about all Fjordhorses. It simply is not true >as a blanket statement about the breed. -- Yes, some of them. Of >ourse! -- But, not all! -- Frankly, I think that to say this in a >national magazine like Horse Illustrated is damaging to the breed. People >reading this who've had an interest in Fjords for performance will be put >off by this comment about the canter. What a shame! > >But, this is not all . . . . On the last page of the article, under the >section FJORD CHARACTERISTICS, Mike is quoted as "spokesman for the >Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry" as saying ---- "Although the Fjord is >considered a small draft-type horse, the breed has smooth gaits, with >movement similar to an American Quarter Horse, rather than high knee action >like many draft horses." > >Carol's comment: Whoa, wait a minute here! Who says the "Fjord is >considered a small draft-type horse"? --- Bob van Bon has always said . . >. "The Fjord is not a draft horse in a yellow coat . . . The Fjord is not a >TB in a yellow coat." -- The Fjord is unique. I really beg your pardon, >but I do not consider the Fjord a small draft-type. And, I might add, >neither do a lot of draft horse people. > >The next thing Mike said that I really object to is his comparison of Fjord >movement to Quarter Horses. Where did that come from? I've never heard >anybody make such a comparison. > >I've heard Fjord movement compared to Warmblood movement, (not as big, of >course, but generally the same type), but never to Quarter Horse >ovement. -- I can't imagine it! > >The Horse Illustrated article refers several times to Mike May as "spokesman >for the Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry". Is he? Has Mike been appointed by >the BOD as spokesman? -- Has he been given considered, strict, official >information as to what he should say in such interviews? -- If he hasn't >been given such information, he should have been. -- He can't be answering >questions about type and movement off the cuff. -- If he is "spokesman for >the NFHR, he should have been provided carefully vetted printouts of what he >can say about the breed for publication. > >When a feature article comes out in a prestigious, national magazine about >the Fjord breed, and it quotes Mike May, "spokesman for the Norwegian Fjord >Registry", his words carry a lot of weight. -- Hopefully, someone from the >Registry can give me an answer regarding Mike as official "spokesman". -- >Is he that? If so, when did this happen? --- If so, what kind of guidance >is he given? -- Is the Fjord described as a "small draft type" anywhere in >the Evaluation book? -- Does it say anywhere in the Evaluation book that >Fjords have Quarter Horse-like movement? > >Sincerely, Carol Rivoire > >Beaver Dam Farm Fjords II, Ltd. >Phone: 902-386-2304 Fax: 902-386-2149 >URL: www.beaverdamfarm.com >E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >"Raised by the Sea in Health and Tranquility" > >Visit our NEW Riding Vacation page on our website today! >http://www.beaverdamfarm.com/pages/riding-vacation/index.html > >The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: >http://tinyurl.com/rcepw The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
