This message is from: Claudia Cavanaugh <cmcavanaug...@gmail.com>
I think one reason that you see fewer Fjords at the Grand Prix level is that there are fewer Fjords period, if you compare the number of 'big brown horses' to the number of 'little yellow horses' showing. So it's not surprising there are fewer at the upper levels. I have a big chunky Fjord and a tall, graceful Trakehner and I love them both. I have been schooling the Trakehner in dressage for the sixteen years I've owned him, and he's very quick to learn and the upper level movements are very easy for him, because of his conformation. I mostly drive and trail ride with the Fjord, although I have done some lower level dressage shows with him. He did very well there, but the movements are much more difficult for him because he's just different in his conformation. I worked with one trainer for many years and she said, "It's a lot easier to advance in dressage if you have a horse who's built for the job, instead of having to train it all in and overcome the conformational limitations." I found out the truth of that when I bought the Trakehner and realized how much easier things were for him than for the big Morgan I had been riding. And consequently, easier for me. There are some super talented Fjords on the dressage circuits, and they make us all proud. But owning horses of both body types, I would have to say that riding a horse that is built for the requirements of today's dressage competitions is a lot easier than riding a horse like my own lovely Fjord, who could pull a house off the foundation more easily than he could get light in front. Not that he can't get light in front....but it is a lot harder for him. And it takes a much more talented rider to get a Fjord really competitive against the thoroughbreds and warmbloods.. I agree with the person who said that if we start breeding Fjords with longer legs and more slender necks, they might be easier for the average rider to present in dressage, and they might move up the levels with more frequency. But would they still be the Fjords we love? The Morgan breed has been 'improved' so much that many are no longer recognizable as Morgans any more, and are often mistaken for TBs or Arabs. I hope the Fjords won't be headed in the same direction. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
