This message is from: mabo...@aol.com
Actually the market is much better this year than last year. I've sold 5 Fjords this year -- two of my own and three consignments -- and I have had a number of quality prospective buyers as well. I think the key is training. There are plenty of untrained, out of work, inexpensive horses out there, but you also get what you pay for. If you buy cheap, you'll need to put the training in yourself or pay someone else to do it. Or you can pay more and buy trained. I have no problem selling well trained riding horses. The greener ones take longer, but I also keep them in training and their price goes up over time. Young stock is slower to move because it takes a more specialized buyer. One of the reasons that Fjords do well in Virginia is that we have a group of owners showing them to great success. This year our stallion Ironwood Blitzen won the Area II Beginner Novice Eventing Championship. Our mare Helle has been driven with good results by a handicapped driver at shows. Lee Rouse has several Fjords eventing with her daughter Cameron and other Pony Club kids. Marsha Korose drives her pair LFF Ulend and Hog Solvar competitively. LeighAnn Hazel-Groux is active in dressage and has bought two more Fjords for her kids to event. Lindy Hild does EVERYTHING with her mare, DC Dagney. It really helps to have a community of Fjord owners out there showing and doing things with their horses. I've sold Fjords to a number of people who have seen one in action and are just amazed by the breed. So I think sales depends on where you are located, the type of training the horses, and the overall Fjord community. We have a good thing going in Virginia. Margaret Bogie Ironwood Farm Rixeyville, VA http://www.ironwood-farm.com Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
