Re: CA State Fair #2 : )
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] OK, enough of the bad stuff! Our Anvil's Tommes & Fair Acres Knute were great ambassadors for their breed. The CA State Fair has a a section called the "Cavalcade of Horses" which highlights various breeds. Among the breeds represented were Appaloosas, Missouri Fox Trotters, Andalusians, and the always-show-stopping Friesians. This was Knute's first time at an event of any kind, and he did great. He allowed people to pet him all day. Sometimes he got a bit tired, and moved to the other side of the stall. But this lasted only a few minutes, and he was back front and center when a child wanted to touch his soft nose. On Saturday morning before the start of the performances, I noticed some people free lunging their horses in the arena. I hurried to do this. I wanted to give Knute a chance to stretch his legs and show people how a Fjord can move. Boy, can he MOVE! He obliged the crowd by cantering around in fine style. I noticed several people filming him with video cameras and snapping pictures. A few minutes later a staff member told me I shouldn't be in the arena, so I put Knute back in his stall. Lots of people came to visit after that, commenting that they didn't know this type of horse could move so nicely, and swiftly! Tommes' head was never in the stall. All day, he had at least 3 people hanging off of it. Men, women, kids, handicapped, down syndrome, wheels chairs ... he loves them all. It's hard to describe the noble, wise look on his face when he does this. After a while, I looked around and noticed we were the only ones with a CROWD around the stalls. We were also the only ones who left the top part of the French door open, welcoming admirers. Dad got pretty good at answering the usual questions: is that mane natural, are they just for driving, how old are they? He said he felt much closer to the horses after spending a day with them : ) I think we turned lots of people on to the breed. It's too bad we didn't have anything to hand out, but we did give my web address to several people who requested it. Time for the Horse & Carriage demo! Tommes & I were proudly showing in my newly restored antique oak sulky. Our restoration guy had really burned the midnight lamp to have it ready for this event, and it shone beautifully. Tommes was quite nervous as we waited for our turn after the Minis, Clydesdales & Morgans. As the announcer began to read my script, I took a deep breath and centered myself as we entered the ring. "And now folks, for something completely different, the Norwegian Fjord Horse..." Something happened to Tommes as it does to me when I'm performing. He becomes a showman, and performs better than he ever does in practice. Part of my script demonstrates the three trots, and I have to admit the pleasure trot was as close to perfect as I've ever felt! The announcer was great. He read my whole script and added a few more comments. He obviously is well experienced, and knows horses very well. After the demo Tommes returned to his stall and his admirers. I got lots of complements from the audience, which made my day. The announcer even told me I'd written a great script! We left the fair grounds soon after, due to major problems with management. However we were not discouraged. Dad gained some more confidence with horses, and I really enjoyed performing for the public. We won't return to this particular venue, but we can hardly wait to participate in other events. Happy Fjording! Brigid M Wasson San Francisco Bay Area, CA http://ourfjords.freeservers.com/fjord1/Our_Fjordsx.html";>Our http://ourfjords.freeservers.com/fjord1/Our_Fjordsx.html";>Fjords / )__~ /L /L
Re: CA State Fair #1 : (
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi All- I decided to post two emails to the list about my experience this weekend. #1 : ( will detail all the snafus we endured in an attempt to be "Fjord Ambassadors." #2 will tell of our accomplishments and successes. Read on... My "learning-to-be-horsey" Dad & I put forth a great effort to participate in the CA State Fair. He turned down two days of overtime, and I canceled many pet sitting visits. I stayed up late Thursday packing my stuff and writing a script that I thought would be suitable for my demo. After work on Friday, we loaded up 2 horses, newly refinished cart, harness, grooming equipment, etc., and hit the road. Arriving in Sacramento at midnight, we began negotiating the huge maze of the Cal Expo Fairgrounds. We were supposed to receive passes in the mail, but they never arrived (still haven't) so we had to talk our way past the security guard at the gate. Finally locating the barn in the "Cavalcade of Horses" area, we unload Tommes & Knute and put them up in their stalls. The stalls were well located in a shady, high-foot-traffic area right in front of the arena, and they were clearly marked with Fjord signs & pictures. However, there was no promotional material as I had hoped. I would have liked to hand out NFHR flyers, invites to Skandifest, or some such so fair goers could look further into the breed after returning home. I had my first hint of a problem when I looked at the Cavalcade schedule, and noticed Fjords were not on the agenda for the weekend. Saturday was Appaloosas and Sunday was Spanish Breeds. The All-Breed demo wasn't listed until Tuesday! I had been specifically told to write a script and prepare for a Fjord breed demo. Yikes. Too tired to worry, Dad & I retired to our motel room. In the morning I called the Cavalcade manager, Nancy. Imagine my shock when I discovered she had no idea who I was, wasn't expecting me, and had no use for my demo. When I told her I would be driving, and I'd come a long way with a lot of equipment, she agreed to "squeeze me in" to the Horse & Carriage program which runs each evening at 5:30. OK, at least we're in. I told Nancy I had no passes, and she said she would send some to the front gate. So far so good. We drove to the fair grounds and picked up our passes, then proceeded to the Cavalcade area. We parked in numbered spaces outside the barn, and I put a note on the windshield with my cell phone number in case I was in someone's spot. I proceeded to the office and turned in my script, neatly typed with a pronunciation guide (FEE-ORDS). The staff member looked at it and said, "Oh, well we may not need this, it may be too long, we'll see" and she tossed it on the desk. I then asked her where I should groom & tack up my horses. She gave me a blank look. I repeated the question, to which she replied, "Well, there really is no specific place, just wherever you can find room." Great. Wherever I can find room, in a very crowded area teeming with over 100 horses, their people, tractors... At this moment my cell phone rang. I needed to move my truck. I asked the staff member where I should put my cart, and she said she didn't know (we had no tack stall or any other space to put anything). She took my number and said Nancy would call me. I ran outside to move my truck. Wondering where I should move to, I checked my pass and saw that I had 2 tickets for "Lot P." OK, I'll park there and drive back later to unload my equipment. No sooner do I get out of the Cavalcade area, Nancy calls and says she has a place for my cart. I turn around, and the guards won't allow me to reenter. "No reentry after 10AM." I explain that I have a large heavy cart that needs to be unloaded, and I need to park near the barn. The guard said that's too bad, I can park in Lot P and carry my things in. Just one problem... Lot P is about a mile (no kidding) from the barn. When I protested, I heard something that would become the pat answer to my every complaint, "That's what everyone else does." Sure. Called Nancy back, she said no problem, she'll send another pass to the gate. Wait for the pass, reenter, park again. This is getting tedious. The parking pass says "Display in window, park in Cavalcade area." I asked the guard if I should park in any numbered spot, and he replied anywhere near the barn was fine. Well, it wasn't. After unloading my cart (the storage area, by the way, was a grassy spot with members of the public milling all around, and children playing around the carts) I returned to my truck to find a parking ticket. I presented the ticket, and the pass, to a staff member. "Oh, she said, "you weren't supposed to park there." When I replied that that was the only legal parking area, and all other areas were clearly marked with "Tow Away" signs, she said, "Nancy will tell you were to park, maybe by that fence there." and then the mantra, "That's what everyon
Re: CA State Fair #1 : (
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 8/21/01 7:26:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << How very odd. I never received the Ca State Fair posts. Except for Carol's response to them. Anybody else? >> Hm, strange. OK, I'm reposting them now. Brigid
Re: CA State Fair #1 : (
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi All- I decided to post two emails to the list about my experience this weekend. #1 : ( will detail all the snafus we endured in an attempt to be "Fjord Ambassadors." #2 will tell of our accomplishments and successes. Read on... My "learning-to-be-horsey" Dad & I put forth a great effort to participate in the CA State Fair. He turned down two days of overtime, and I canceled many pet sitting visits. I stayed up late Thursday packing my stuff and writing a script that I thought would be suitable for my demo. After work on Friday, we loaded up 2 horses, newly refinished cart, harness, grooming equipment, etc., and hit the road. Arriving in Sacramento at midnight, we began negotiating the huge maze of the Cal Expo Fairgrounds. We were supposed to receive passes in the mail, but they never arrived (still haven't) so we had to talk our way past the security guard at the gate. Finally locating the barn in the "Cavalcade of Horses" area, we unload Tommes & Knute and put them up in their stalls. The stalls were well located in a shady, high-foot-traffic area right in front of the arena, and they were clearly marked with Fjord signs & pictures. However, there was no promotional material as I had hoped. I would have liked to hand out NFHR flyers, invites to Skandifest, or some such so fair goers could look further into the breed after returning home. I had my first hint of a problem when I looked at the Cavalcade schedule, and noticed Fjords were not on the agenda for the weekend. Saturday was Appaloosas and Sunday was Spanish Breeds. The All-Breed demo wasn't listed until Tuesday! I had been specifically told to write a script and prepare for a Fjord breed demo. Yikes. Too tired to worry, Dad & I retired to our motel room. In the morning I called the Cavalcade manager, Nancy. Imagine my shock when I discovered she had no idea who I was, wasn't expecting me, and had no use for my demo. When I told her I would be driving, and I'd come a long way with a lot of equipment, she agreed to "squeeze me in" to the Horse & Carriage program which runs each evening at 5:30. OK, at least we're in. I told Nancy I had no passes, and she said she would send some to the front gate. So far so good. We drove to the fair grounds and picked up our passes, then proceeded to the Cavalcade area. We parked in numbered spaces outside the barn, and I put a note on the windshield with my cell phone number in case I was in someone's spot. I proceeded to the office and turned in my script, neatly typed with a pronunciation guide (FEE-ORDS). The staff member looked at it and said, "Oh, well we may not need this, it may be too long, we'll see" and she tossed it on the desk. I then asked her where I should groom & tack up my horses. She gave me a blank look. I repeated the question, to which she replied, "Well, there really is no specific place, just wherever you can find room." Great. Wherever I can find room, in a very crowded area teeming with over 100 horses, their people, tractors... At this moment my cell phone rang. I needed to move my truck. I asked the staff member where I should put my cart, and she said she didn't know (we had no tack stall or any other space to put anything). She took my number and said Nancy would call me. I ran outside to move my truck. Wondering where I should move to, I checked my pass and saw that I had 2 tickets for "Lot P." OK, I'll park there and drive back later to unload my equipment. No sooner do I get out of the Cavalcade area, Nancy calls and says she has a place for my cart. I turn around, and the guards won't allow me to reenter. "No reentry after 10AM." I explain that I have a large heavy cart that needs to be unloaded, and I need to park near the barn. The guard said that's too bad, I can park in Lot P and carry my things in. Just one problem... Lot P is about a mile (no kidding) from the barn. When I protested, I heard something that would become the pat answer to my every complaint, "That's what everyone else does." Sure. Called Nancy back, she said no problem, she'll send another pass to the gate. Wait for the pass, reenter, park again. This is getting tedious. The parking pass says "Display in window, park in Cavalcade area." I asked the guard if I should park in any numbered spot, and he replied anywhere near the barn was fine. Well, it wasn't. After unloading my cart (the storage area, by the way, was a grassy spot with members of the public milling all around, and children playing around the carts) I returned to my truck to find a parking ticket. I presented the ticket, and the pass, to a staff member. "Oh, she said, "you weren't supposed to park there." When I replied that that was the only legal parking area, and all other areas were clearly marked with "Tow Away" signs, she said, "Nancy will tell you were to park, maybe by that fence there." and then the mantra, "That's what everyon
Re: Which Bit?
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks to all who posted with bit advice. I am really interested in the Mylers. They seem innovative and high quality. However, I would like to have one "fitted" as they are so specialized. I checked their web site, but couldn't find a clinic or some such in my area. Anyone else have a Myler bit fitted, or been to a clinic? Brigid
s-l-o-w posts
This message is from: "Karen McCarthy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I do not have AOL. I experience the situation you are describing about 20% of the time, that is, I read the reply long before I see the original post,(if ever). Karen McCarthy Great Basin Fjords Carson City, NV Original Message Follows From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Subject: Re: CA State Fair #1 : ( Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 19:04:26 EDT This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 8/21/01 3:32:08 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > I didn't get them either and I have AOL. > Yes. But what is weird is I'm getting them from everybody else who has AOL, just not the original poster on this thread. How very odd. Wonder if she's getting ours? Pamela _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
Re: CA State Fair #1 : (
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 8/21/01 3:32:08 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > I didn't get them either and I have AOL. > Yes. But what is weird is I'm getting them from everybody else who has AOL, just not the original poster on this thread. How very odd. Wonder if she's getting ours? Pamela
Re: CA State Fair #1 : (
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 8/21/01 9:18:20 AM Mountain Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << notice you are both on AOL. I wonder if there is a connection? Anybody else on AOL that didn't recieve them? I got them OK, but use a local isp, mosquitonet.com. >> I didn't get them either and I have AOL. Sue
Re: Grazing Muzzle
This message is from: "Jean Gayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I have a sturdy metal muzzle that I have used on all of my horses. This allows them to be with the other horses and to move about. Saves stall mucking also. Be sure to get a well made one and have it padded where it rubs the face. I put it on the horse for a few seconds, then next day for longer etc until the horse accepts it. I find it necessary to bend the frame of the muzzle to make it fit around different heads. The halter on mine is pretty unforgiving so I want to also be sure there is nothing for it to catch on. The horses show some frustration at first but then seem to quickly adapt as they do to other things. Jean Walters Gayle [Authoress of "The Colonel's Daughter" Occupied Germany 1946 To 1949 ] http://users.techline.com/jgayle Send $20 PO Box 104 Montesano, Wa 98563
Sissel and me
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] My Fjord mare Sissel and I went to a horsemanship clinic at the Natural Gait located near Harper's Ferry, Iowa. It is a beautiful place in rugged northeast Iowa that is a perfect setting for playing with horses. Features: Cabins, sleeping rooms, and camping spaces for people, and covered open-air stalls for the horses. Miles and miles of hilly trails, both on the property (200-300 acres) and on the adjoining Yellow River State Forest. Round pen, indoor arena, outdoor arena. Horse "playground" with wooden bridge, big flat rocks to stand on, other obstacles. Saturday: We started the clinic in the indoor arena, which was good since there were scattered rain showers all day. Morning: Groundwork with a rope halter and long lead rope. We learned to yield hind- and fore-quarters. Backing. Softening the neck. Giving to pressure. Sissel did not want to correctly yield her hindquarters toward the right. The instructor worked with her for 15 minutes while standing on her left to get her to stop leaning on him and to correctly swing her hindquarters away while pivoting on her forefeet. It was very difficult for her to understand what he wanted. Her hindquarter yield was perfect, however, when he stood on her right and asked for the same yield away from him. He explained that horses (like humans) are two sided -- they cannot transfer a body skill from one side to the other without practice. That's like expecting a human to write or throw a ball just as well with one hand as with the other. That usually is not the case with most people -- we are one sided in many of the skills we do. Horses are no different. We have to teach both sides of their bodies, and not be impatient as they learn. Afternoon: Riding at the walk and trot using a single rein and rope halter. Yielding, backing, giving to pressure. Working on rider balance, riding with a loose rein (western riding style). Transitions between gaits. Stopping with one rein. One rein riding: How does one turn both ways with just one rein? I wondered too! You must flip the rein out and over the horse's head as necessary. That was a tough skill for me to master at first, but it was fun once I got the hang of it. Adventures: I was riding with my new Tucker trail saddle with an extra-wide tree. I really liked it, although as with anything new, it's taking me a little time to get used to it. I adjusted my stirrup length several times to find the right length for me to keep a correct seat and to post comfortably. What I forgot to check was the girth! The new latigo tie straps stretched enough so the saddle slipped under me when I momentarily lost my balance on a turn at the trot. Sissel thankfully slowed to a stop as I struggled to keep from falling by hanging on her neck, laughing the whole time after I realized I wasn't going to fall. I settled the saddle back in place, adjusted the girth, and off we went again. Sunday: We started in the indoor arena with rope halters, asking our horses to negotiate obstacles. Sissel had no problem stepping over the logs and on the big crackly tarp. She did have a lot of trouble doing a "figure 8" around two buckets -- and, to be honest, part of the problem was her inexperienced human's fault. I kept getting confused at first about what I should ask her to do. After a bit I figured it out: The idea of this exercise was for the human to stand a little off to the side of the center of the "8" and ask the horse to do the figure in front of the human -- the horse does not circle behind the human at any time. It builds control and yielding skills. I eventually realized that she was acting stiff on the left side again, so we went back to the basics of yielding hindquarters to the right. After she warmed up, she did absolutely wonderfully -- doing a smooth, controlled figure 8 right in front of me with the lightest of direction. Afternoon: Seven of us went on a 4-hour trail ride, walking and trotting up and down hills, along winding flat trails, and over two river crossings. The scenery was beautiful and the day was perfect. Sissel got to lead the group, be in the middle, and bring up the rear at various times. She didn't like to get left behind, but did very well in the lead. At the river crossings, I discovered that the problem was not to get her to cross, but to keep her from playing and pawing in the water. I was afraid she was going to lie down and roll, so I had to work to urge her across. The only time Sissel and I really had problems was going up one very steep, very long hillside. She got winded and periodically needed to stop and catch her breath. Considering that Sissel and I are both a bit overweight and underexercised, that was to be expected. We just took our time. At the horse playground, the others encouraged me to ask Sissel to step up on a large, flat rock perhaps 16 inches above the ground. I asked her to face the rock and gently nudged her with my heels to ask her forwa
Grazing Muzzle
This message is from: "lazyao" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I have a fjord mare, 5 years old that I pasture with 7 quarter horses. The schedule they are on is perfect for the quarter horses, but Jayne is beginning to resemble a parade float. I saw an ad for a grazing muzzle which limits the amount of grass the horse gets while grazing, she'd get some but not as much as she could bite off and chew. Does anyone have any experience with one of these? AO
Re: CA State Fair #1 : (
This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I notice you are both on AOL. I wonder if there is a connection? Anybody else on AOL that didn't recieve them? I got them OK, but use a local isp, mosquitonet.com. Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, partly sunnyl and 70 degrees forcast today. At 11:01 AM 8/21/2001 EDT, you wrote: >This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >I never did either. > >Suzan > > > Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: CA State Fair #1 : (
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I never did either. Suzan
Re: which bit?
This message is from: "Starfire Farm, LLC" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Brigid, Since Tommes goes so well in your snaffle mouth Liverpool, you might think of trying one of the Myler bits with a western shank. The Myler bits are jointed with a swivel action, not a "broken" or nutcracker action like a snaffle, so the theory is you get the direct rein communication that you obtain by having a jointed mouthpiece. One problem, however, is that you will probably have to custom order the mouthpiece size you'll need. Most Fjords I've worked with need a 6" mouthpiece. Most "off the rack" bits come no larger than 5 1/2 inches. There are other brands that have copied the swivel action of the Myler bits. I don't know their names, but they're out there. Just be careful of the quality. Beth -- Beth Beymer & Sandy North Starfire Farm, Berthoud CO http://www.starfirefarm.com
Re: CA State Fair #1 : (
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] How very odd. I never received the Ca State Fair posts. Except for Carol's response to them. Anybody else? Pamela
Re: Which Bit?
This message is from: "Hope Carlson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Brigid and all, For a western curb bit I really like the Linda Tellington Jones bit made by Sprenger. Beautifully balanced, made to be ridden with two reins. The bit part is fixed, has a port with a copper roller. Our Liverpool for driving is fixed also, so maybe it is an easy transition for our ponies. I ride them alot in a plain full cheek snaffle also, or an eggbut for the kids riding the ponies in pasture. They will do everything I want them to in a snaffle, but when times get tough on the trail it can get hard for me to turn those stout little necks around as I lack upper body strength due to nerve damage. A small amount of curb leverage goes a long way. The shanks swivel too, which I like esp. for ponies that are not strictly neck broke. Hope N. IL
Driving lessons?
This message is from: Anjer Farms <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello, Does anyone know someone in the Saratoga,New York area that teaches driving? Thanks, Andrea
