Fjords preferring Fjords
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (BRIAN C JACOBSEN) In response to Anneli's question about Fjords preferring each other's company when in with horses of other breeds, I have seen this also. In two instances when one Fjord was in a herd of horses of other breeds, and another Fjord was introduced (they had never seen each other before), the Fjords almost immediately became fast friends and basically ignored the other horses. Speaking of Fjords with other horses, has anyone else seen what I am about to relate, or was it perhaps just an isolated incident? A large 8-y-o Fjord gelding who was top dog of the 20 Fjords we had at the time (excluding stallions - he wasn't with them) was loaned to a nearby friend who had two horses. There, our gelding was low man on the totem pole. The friends' Thoroughbred gelding was head honcho, followed by their small Arabian mare, and then the Fjord. The Thoroughbred being more dominant was not too much of a surprise; He was larger even if he was pretty laid back (calm). The Arabian mare was not especially bossy either, and she was smaller, so that was a little unexpected. I realize of course that many things are involved there - personalities, past experience, age, etc., so maybe that's just the way it was going to happen in this case. But it did get me wondering? Anyone else seen something similar? Brian Jacobsen Salisbury, North Carolina _ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
gestation lengths
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (BRIAN C JACOBSEN) The results of the gestation length survey are in! Out of 41 foalings, the average gestation length was 341 days. These included foalings from 13 different years, and from several different parts of the country. The average varied considerably by year. The lowest average was 332 days (1980)(five foalings). The highest average was 357 days (1989)(three foalings). The shortest gestation length reported was 318 days (10-1/2 months). The longest length recorded was 367 days (12 months, 2 days). I believe we actually had a mare go 13 months one year (this was a long time ago). I could not find records of her foalings though to substantiate it Was not able to compare colts vs. fillies - was not always told the sex of the foal by those responding. To easily calculate 341 days, count back from your last breeding date 24 days. Don't bother flipping ahead in your calendar to next year - you don't have to. Just look at the month your mare was bred; It doesn't matter what year you are using. For example, if you have a mare who was bred today, June 30, counting back 24 days gets you to June 6 as the due date. Happy Foaling! Brian Jacobsen Salisbury, North Carolina _ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
fjords find fjords...yes!
This message is from: Ingrid Ivic [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hello Anneli... But there is something about Fjordhorses and herds I´ve thought about: It seems to me that when you release 2 Fjordhorses in a field with 10 brown horses, the Fjordhorses ALWAYS seem to find each other and become friends. Has anyone else noticed this? Oh my, yes! Ours always gravitate towards each other...it's a fjord thing, definately! (he leaves the other horses and approaches me as soon as I enters the pasture, very cute) Mine do this too...I love it! As funny as it sounds, it took me a short time to get used to such devotion on the horses part! I was used to other breeds, nice horses, but just not so affectionate. It IS wonderful to be acknowledged this way by a horse. Makes you feel like you are doing something right! ALSO...wanted to thank those who helped give me information on ultrasounding our mares...I'll wait impatiently now, till the time is right. Wish us luck! Ingrid ;o)
Re: Update on Asta - Thank you for your support and encouragement.
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] What a heartbreak. I just did a search through AOL and came up with a few things that may or may not be of help to you. Dr. Ric Redden, of Versailles, KY is a DVM/farrier who specializes in treating founder and other serious hoof problems. Some feeds that were recommended on the AOL message boards that you may want to ask your vet about are MSM, JFlex, Equiflex. Good luck. I'll be sending some prayers out to you and Asta. Pamela Medley Hillsboro, Oregon
Re: Update on Asta - Thank you for your support and encouragement.
This message is from: Gail Russell [EMAIL PROTECTED] I think we know what you are going through - the responsibility of deciding what is best, getting your hopes up, but trying not to, then disappointment and uncertainty about what to do next. I am so sorry to hear that Asta is still struggling. I do appreciate your keeping us posted. Gail At 04:53 PM 6/29/98 -0400, you wrote: This message is from: Marge Littleboy [EMAIL PROTECTED] Most of you are aware that Bill and I have been dealing with a serious founder situation with our 9 year old mare Asta. Things are not looking good as she has had another relapse this weekend. SNIP Marge Littleboy. Blomsterdalen Fjordhest Gail Russell Forestville CA [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Update on Asta - Thank you for your support and encouragement.
This message is from: Julia Will [EMAIL PROTECTED] At 04:53 PM 6/29/98 -0400, you wrote: Marge, I'm sure I speak for all of us as we share your agony and send best wishes your way! Julie @ Old Hickory Farm
Update on Asta - Thank you for your support and encouragement.
This message is from: Marge Littleboy [EMAIL PROTECTED] Most of you are aware that Bill and I have been dealing with a serious founder situation with our 9 year old mare Asta. Things are not looking good as she has had another relapse this weekend. On Friday we took her back to the vet so that she could have the heartbar shoes reset, and could be re x-rayed (this time front and rear). The reset was not painful for her, but there was some very evident bruising on both front feet. She had good hoof growth, and we were hoping she would continue on the right track. The x-rays were not good on the front though - with the coffin bone even more rotated. The hind feet were fine, with no rotation, and the posturing I had been seeing was due to pain in the front feet. We got Asta back to the farm and she seemed comfortable, even stepping off the trailer with her front feet, keeping her hind feet on the trailer and reaching down for the bite of grass she just had to have. On Saturday Bill and I went to the barn to get the trailer and we were going to pick up my new carriage. We made a stop at the barn to see the girls, and Asta could not walk. We checked to see if she had shavings packed into the shoes, she was not comfortable standing on 3 legs and the soles at the toe seemed soft. We immediately called the vet. We gave Asta bute and Ace, got her stand on a good layer of shaving, and she finally got off her feet. While she was down, we iced her feet, as I could feel slight heat in both front hooves. The vet finally came, and gave Banamine and more Ace. She even did the DMSO into the stomach via the tube. The picture does not look good though. If we pull the shoes, with the soft sole and such a severe rotation to the coffin bone, will she be even more uncomfortable? With the sole soft, how long will it take for the bone to come through? Do we keep the shoes on and keep her strongly medicated, to see if new hoof growth will help the situation? How long is too long? Will we get her through this, the fifth relapse, only to have her relapse again? What is so frustrating is not knowing the cause, is she allergic to something causing this? If the original thought was that the cause was allergic, should we be treating her with antihistamines? I do not think we are going to pull her through this. If we do get her through this, what will her quality of life be? At Fridays appointment we were told that she would never be able to handle being driven on roads, or doing the combined driving. We would not mind her being a pasture horse, having foals (as of Friday she still could have been bred), but she deserves to be comfortable. So many questions, with so few answers. It is not going to be an easy week, as we will have to come up with some very hard answers to these questions. None of us want to see our animals suffer. I wish the news was better. Will keep you all posted. Thanks for listening, it helps to be able to share what we are going through, knowing that you understand the decisions we will be and have made in our care for Asta. Marge Littleboy. Blomsterdalen Fjordhest
Re: Herd behavior
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anneli wrote: ... It seems to me that when you release 2 Fjordhorses in a field with 10 brown horses, the Fjordhorses ALWAYS seem to find each other and become friends. That's very true in my experience! We have 3 Fjords, one brown horse, and one elderly paint pony -- the 3 Fjords routinely graze and hang out as a group, unless Finn our yearling Fjord wants to play -- then he finds Frosty (the brown horse). It isn't that the Fjords are antisocial toward the other horses, they just seem to want to be near each other. DeeAnna
Re: fjordhorse-digest V98 #95
This message is from: saskia [EMAIL PROTECTED] Bernardine, thank you for your encouraging words! He'll be one of the group in no time.(Oops, if it is a mare, SHE will be one of the group.) No, no, he's a he (a gelding). Believe me, I'd rather have another horse, than a Blizzard. However, I will think of you when we are having our Dairy Queen's in Minnesota!! Yes! And please tell the Dairy Queen that she would be received with open arms in Europe!!! Happy Fjording! Saskia
Re:
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Anneli, Thanks for your 'respectful' comments!! I too have trained our horses from day one, (have talked to other Fjord owners that also state they are 'herd bound', so I am not the only one.), but perhaps it is more of a certain individuals (horse) 'problem', as not all of ours are like that. One has to consider situations and learn how to deal with the 'problem' at that time. We are not all in any 'like' situations. (Similiar ones maybe!)Maybe I should have added that we were riding with halters and the lead on only one side!! (As per the clinicians request, every one rode with halters.) Anyway, the horse I took is a changed horse, and no doubt with a bit and reins, I could have insisted he go where I wanted him to. Well, it seems maybe I've opened mouth and inserted foot-see what I mean Lori? Lets have some more input in this area. Regards from Michigan, Bernadine karns
Re: fjordhorse-digest V98 #95
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Saskia, Fear not, your new horse will be and do just fine!! Just look into his eyes and have a 'conversation' about you and the other horses, your area and so on. He'll be one of the group in no time.(Oops, if it is a mare, SHE will be one of the group.) Believe me, I'd rather have another horse, than a Blizzard. However, I will think of you when we are having our Dairy Queen's in Minnesota!! Regards from Michigan, Bernadine Karns
Re: Harness Wanted
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Betsy, Congrats to your daughter, the Fjord and you for the recent accomplishment!! It is hard to watch your 'kids' show-I went through that for years and still am!!! On the harness maker-here is the name of a fellow in WA state that has/is making harness for us. Steve Hendricks, 1852 Onion Creek Rd., Colville, WA 99114, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Regards from Michigan, Bernadine karns
Re: Harness Wanted
This message is from: saskia [EMAIL PROTECTED] We have a minor accomplishment to mention... our 14 yr old Fjord and my 7 yr old daughter got their first blue ribbon yesterday. congratulations saskia
Re: This 'n That
This message is from: saskia [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: All for now from Michigan, where we finially had rain! Bernadine karns You should have told me you needed some... we have plenty!!! Saskia
[no subject]
This message is from: Anneli Sundkvist [EMAIL PROTECTED] Bernadine Karns wrote: Of the two Fjords at the clinic, they proved the fact that Fjords are herd bound, in that when it came time for individual work on the rail, they wanted to stay with the other horses, other than that, they did well and as usual drew many questions. Fjords extremly herd bond? Naaah...I respectfully disagree! Any horse that is not used to do individual work is herd bond. IMHO, this is a matter of training. If we consider the history of the Fjordhorse for a minute, we find a horse mostly bred for small farms, in many cases farms with only one horse. Many horse breeds have been bred to do work together with other horses, e.g. TB:s (no race with only one horse:o)). If you look at herd bonding as something breed-related, these should be more prone to be herd bond than a small farm breed. But, as I said, this is a question of training. I have a 5 yo gelding, that I have owned since his first day on earth. He was weaned at 5 months and sent to my barn. Once he had settled, I started to train him to do work on his own, spend short periods in the stable on his own while the other horses were ridden (I sat by him at first), we took walks without other equestrian company, lunged him etc. The first week or so, he was devastated left on his own in the stable, and I had to talk to him and pat him constantly to keep him calm. After some time he got used to the situation and ate his hay, and I then left the stable (and waited outside the door IF he would start smashing his stall). He got used to being left alone and to leave other horses and I think this early training is the reason to why there has never been any problems to ride him on his own. He did great the first time we went out on our own. Of course, his extremly confident personality and strong bonds to me (he leaves the other horses and approaches me as soon as I enters the pasture, very cute) helped too, but... My mare got a colt in 1995, and when I sold him I told his owner to work with these things from the very beginning. So she did, and she now has a horse that leaves his companion for work without even glancing back. On the other hand, the companion who is an cold-blooded ex-harness racer (North-Swedish trotters, a very beautiful breed) gets mad when Thjodolf leaves him in the barn! This fellow hasn´t been trained to be on his own, and since he was in very bad shape when his present owner got him, she has spent all the time on getting him to trust her and on basic handleing so far. But there is something about Fjordhorses and herds I´ve thought about: It seems to me that when you release 2 Fjordhorses in a field with 10 brown horses, the Fjordhorses ALWAYS seem to find each other and become friends. Has anyone else noticed this? Regards Anneli
