This message is from: "Shannon Kaplan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> More specifically, do you think that Fjords (as a breed, not specific > horses) ARE or ARE NOT suitable for children, novice horse people, as family > companions, and for therapeutic riding programs?
Depending upon what an individual is looking for in a horse, in my opinion the Fjord horse in general is a perfect horse for a beginner rider, and was my #1 choice in a mount for my children when they were young, however no child or beginner rider should EVER be unsupervised around a horse. Given the Fjord horse general disposition, their laid back draft horse mentality allows them to be slower to repond to stimuli, which in a hotter horse can easily unseat a novice rider. This slower resonse is an asset when teaching young children to assert themselves when they ride. My children are older now and are excellent riders because of their great foundation of learning on their Fjords. Because of their temperment, we have chosen the Fjord horse solely for our Therapy Riding Program and have begun a breeding program allowing us to selectively breed for temperment and confirmation. This is of course speaking in general of the Fjord breed, there will always be an individual that does not display this general Fjord attitude, in fact I have one of those individuals in my barn. She is more of an Arab in a Fjord suit. She is quite the character but does not fit with our breeding, therapy riding program. Ljufvina is listed on dreamhorse but I would be willing to trade her for a mare better suited for our program. She has gorgeous movement and wonderful bloodlines and would be ideal for an advanced rider looking for a dressage/eventing mount. Shannon Kaplan Chehalem Mountain Ranch and Therapy Riding Center, Inc. www.ChehalemMountainRanch.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Like the way Microsoft Office Outlook works? Youll love Windows Live Hotmail. The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
