This message is from: Phil Odden <n...@centurytel.net>
This message is from Phillip Odden in northwestern Wisconsin where we are packing up to attend the NFHR Evaluation in West Salem, Wisconsin with three nice mares followed by the Midwest Fjord Horse show. I agree with Brian in that some horses that may not seem to have the potential for a good quality trot because of their conformation may indeed have a good trot. The proof is in the pudding. The German word Takt may be translated to hoof beat and the sound of the hoof beat is another way to assess the gait of the horse. In Denmark in 2006 I watched as the evaluators had the horses trots on a hard surface to hear the hoof beats. I mention this only because I think the sound of the hoofbeats is another indication of the quality of the trot. They also walked and trotted them on the traditional triangle and in addition the entire class walked out in circles head to tail for several minutes. Those with the best ground covering walks were sorted with the best walks placed at the front and the poorest eventually last. I am not suggesting we do this in NFHR evaluations but I do think the assessment of the sound of the hoofbeat and the collective circling of the evaluated class made it better possible to assess the quality of the walk since the horses were able to relax when walked together. Those that couldn’t walk out as well as the others either fell behind or had to! trot to keep up. I am working on my Intermediate Level test 3 dressage test coming up soon. In reading through the test I see they are asking for a collected trot, a working trot and a lengthened trot rather than an extended trot. My understanding is that the lengthened trot is different than the extended trot. In dressage language is important. Yes, it has taken some time and a good deal of training as well as some help from knowledgable clinicians for me to produce this lengthened trot on demand from my ponies. Not sure where or how I will find the extended trot. A horse breed needs a job in order to stay viable. I may not have said exactly “ need begets Type” but the phrase accurately describes my thinking on the subject. If you look at photos of important Fjord stallions and mares in Norway in the late eighteen hundreds you will see that they look much more like ‘ modern Fjords’ or lighter more refined Fjords are looking today including a longer more refined neck. The Fjords were smaller then. They simply did not have enough feed to keep larger horses on the West Coast of Norway. these were multipurpose horses that could be carriage horses, pack horses and pull a small hay wagon. I don’t think there is evidence of much farm machinery at the end of the 1800’s and beginning of the 1900’s on the west coast of Norway. The horse drawn farm machinery probably came to Norway from North America as immigrants returned to they native country with new farming technology. My feeling is that Fjords were important as pack horses and riding wasn’! t so important. In fact the canter in Fjord horses wasn’t really evaluated until after 2000 at Norfjordeid. So now there are people, mostly mature women in North America, who are interested in Fjords that will do ridden dressage. In Norway it is primarily younger women who are using the Fjords. The Norwegian Fjord Horse Association seems to be directing breeding of Fjords to satisfy the needs of these younger women for riding horses. There are fewer and fewer foals each year. The Icelandic ponies and larger warm bloods compete for the attention of those who want to keep horses. Fjords have evolved through selective breeding to do the job at hand at that time in history. If not they wouldn’t exist. I believe that our modern substantial and more refined Fjords make wonderful mounts for mature women and men interested in dressage or trail riding. They also make great driving horses. I don’t think we are causing any problems by allowing for three different body types. I feel that we do need to take care of and promote the light draft component of our breed. But if the light draft horse again becomes popular it won’t take long to retrieve it. Just as the the breed has changed through 15 decades it can change back again. The genetic pool exist in all of our Fjords. This makes breeding uncertain. Since the genetic material exist for the three body types we will naturally find them in the population. Modern nutrition also plays a role here. One thing we don’t appreciate generally is the fact that Fjords are still the premier pack horse. Not many take advantage of our Fjords ability to pack but at one time that may have been their strongest suit. Think about it. Walking and trotting over steep mountain trails with 200-300 pounds of dead weight through rushing streams, marshy slews and rocky ledges. Fjords can do that very well. Well I should be washing ponies. Ha det bra. Phil Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
