This message is from: "Beth Pulsifer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I have seen the pictures and read the article and thought it gave nice exposure to the Fjord... I have only one Fjord and still don't know a whole lot about them but am learning..Maybe if I were a breeder I'd feel differently but I feel that the post below is quite nit picky... Sorry but that's how I feel.
Beth in Maine with one wonderful drafty type Fjord -------Original Message------- > From: Beaver Dam Farm > Date: 11/23/06 10:58:39 > 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
