re: foal colors and feeding
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (BRIAN C JACOBSEN) Pamela, Mike is out of town until tonight or tomorrow I believe. I had some information on Capstone's Prinz, and I didn't see any greys for several generations back. I don't have info on Nikki. It is possible, though, to get a grey foal from two brown dun parents. Even if none of the recent ancestors have been grey, it is a recessive factor, and can travel unexpressed in the bloodlines for quite a while. I don't think anyone can give you exact odds except to say they would be small. I know one grey breeder who can usually tell at a very young age if a horse is a grey by the presence of dark "mascara" markings above the eyes. Does Skylark have markings like that? Regarding your feeding question, how to feed a Fjord foal, if everyone sends you their own feeding program I'm sure you will get 100 different responses. I think the basics you probably used in feeding your foals of other breeds will stand you in good stead though. Realize that a foal does not HAVE to have grain. Man has not (and will not) developed any feed better than momma's milk until they are 5-6 months old. There is nothing really wrong with some grain for foals, but with some grass or good hay, grain is not necessary. If you want to feed grain, however, plain oats or sweet oats are good and should not get a foal into any trouble by growing too fast. Or, a 14% protein sweet feed or pellet is good to use. Even though feed companies like you to buy their higher-priced foal starters, a lactating mare feed (14%) works every bit as well, enabling you to feed mom and baby the same thing. One nice thing about Fjords compared to some other breeds (in general) is that the mares share better with the foals. I really like this as it enables me to pour the grain in one pan and the mare and foal both get a proper amount - the mare gets the larger share of it by virtue of being able to eat more and faster, yet the foal still gets enough. You will see some feed companies lately pushing 16% protein feed for foals - personally I feel that 14% is better and won't get you into as much trouble with growth problems or a foal bouncing off the walls due to excess energy. A rough guideline of how much grain to give is 1 pound per 100 pounds of horse - weigh it on the bathroom scale. If it's hard to tell how much your foal weighs, ask your veterinarian for a weight tape. You measure around the girth with it and it gives a pretty accurate reading of weight. If you have beautiful pasture, your foal may get too heavy with grain and beautiful grass both - you may want to forego the grain. If the pasture is average then free choice grazing plus grain is fine. If the pasture is poor, then free choice grass hay plus grain would be good. By weaning time at 5-6 months, the foal, if not getting any grain, should be getting free choice grazing, or 2% of its bodyweight in good quality grass hay, or somewhere between the two. For example, a 400 lb Fjord foal would need 8 lbs hay daily if there wasn't much grass to eat. If there was some just decent but not beautiful grass, then perhaps 4 lbs hay daily in addition to grass. If getting grain as described above, the hay need drops to around 1.2-1.5% of body weight. I'm postulating for everyone on the list as well as Pamela. May I caution everyone not to overfeed Fjord foals? Pamela's question was very astute - i.e. she knew there was a difference in feeding Fjord foals vs. the other breeds she has had. There is definitely a difference. Many Quarter Horses today, for example, have done 95-99% of their growth in height by the time they are just two years old! For Fjords, in general, they do not reach 95-99% of their mature height until they are three years old. This means the Quarter Horse must be fed differently to sustain that kind of a growth rate. Remember that Fjords originated in Norway where the growing season was short and food was often sparse. I'm not sure if I can believe it, but legend has it that some Fjords survived harsh winters on fish cleanings (fish heads, etc) when there was nothing else to eat. Since many Fjords are easy keepers as adults, if we allow them to be overweight as youngsters, we will cause their metabolism to slow down and predispose them to serious weight problems as adults. One question that inevitably comes up: "But will they reach their full potential if I don't feed them really well?" The answer is, YES. A horse has to be practically starved to stunt its growth. A foal's growth can be sped up by providing optimal nutrition, and it can be slowed down by providing only marginal nutrition. But unless there is serious deprivation, they still reach the mature height they were genetically programmed to reach. It may take longer, but they still reach it. So, my take home message is, if you want to feed your foal(s) grain, great, just be reasonable about it. If you remember nothing else, remembe
Fjords for sale!
This message is from: Robert Lafleur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> We would like to announce that our farm has fjords for sale at the moment. We have a 7 year old champion gelding who is trained to ride and drive. We also have a 6 year old mare in foal who is also trained to ride and drive. Bred to our stallion. We also have 3 1998 foals for sale. For more information please contact us. [EMAIL PROTECTED] 1-705-268-0848 We could scan pictures to you!
RE: Fjord crosses
This message is from: Philip Petty <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> DeeAnna, This 16hh Fjord is not crossbred. But in the area where I live there is at least one breeder that does cross and sells the horses as 'fjords'. They, of course, cannot be registered, at least with the NFHR. If you ask for papers they usually say they do not have them, but "I sure you can get them." This angers me but there's not much I can do about another person's behavior. This another good reason for the NFHR to be the only registry for Fjords. (my opinion). I've seen some good looking crosses, usually with quarter horses, look like fjords just a little darker. Also a fjord paint and a team of mules. Philip -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, September 11, 1998 11:32 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Fjord crosses This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ursula's comment about a 16-hand Fjord made me wonder if the horse was a crossbred. I've -heard- that some people crossbreed Fjords with other horses to get a horse that apparently looks like and acts like a Fjord -- then these people sell the crossbreds as 100% Fjords at a full-blood price. I cannot substantiate this in any way, however. Any comments? DeeAnna
Re: Re: fjordhorse-digest V98 #172/babies
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Re: plump Fjords and feeding When my "Sven" arrived at my place my vet suggested he go on a diet. When there is grass to eat he gets l flake hay and l flake straw (he eats in a dry pen) and then 1/2 day pasture. Same in the evening. He is stalled at night. Also gets a little smidgen of grain AM and PM. My feed store recommended one with a low fat content. I have had Sven two months and while he is still too plump he seems to be loosing that "I am stuffed" look. Yes, he would eat CONSTANTLY if allowed to - he also never raises his head the entire time he is on pasture!! Now that our pasture area is over-eaten and we have had no rain so even the weeds are drying up I have increased his hay and eliminated the straw. L. Lottie - Minnesota
RE: Peyton Place
This message is from: Philip Petty <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Thank you, Niki -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Niki May Sent: Saturday, September 12, 1998 3:03 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Peyton Place This message is from: Niki May <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Merek (spelled correctly)- It is not clear why you are trying to upset and get a rise out of the people on this list but I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels you are being ridiculous, and just plain mean, to people on this list for no particular reason. If you dislike the subjects of the conversations so much and don't read 90% anyway, why are you even still a subscriber? It is your own choice to participate or not. Niki May By the way, I own a mare and could care less what gender she is since I am never planning to breed her anyway. A gelding would be fine with me and I know plenty of wonderful geldings, that are well appreciated.
Bits...
This message is from: Ingrid Ivic <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Alison, > On a semi- related subject, does anyone know where I could get a loose ring > french link in a 6 1/4 inch? by next year, the bit I ride him in will be > banned from dressage due to a new rule about the width of bits, and he would > work really well in that. I don't want an eggbut because he leans in them. > I just checked a few catalogs, "Dressage Extensions" and "Tack in the Box"...both have 6 inch bits, but the only 6 1/4 I could find there was a HS Vienna Weymouth, no loose ring french in that size. Dressage Extensions had a 6 1/2 inch heavy loose ring and a bradoon in that size, but also no french link. Sorry...I'll give you their addresses and phone, in case you'd like to call them directly...who knows, they may have what you're looking for and just not have it in the catalog. Here they are: Dressage Extensions, 27501Cumberland Rd., Bear Valley Springs, CA 93561 Phone # 1-800-541-3708 and Tack in the Box, 2413 82nd Ave.S.E., Salem, Oregon 97301 Phone # 1-800-456-8225Hope this helps a teeny "bit". :o) Ingrid
Re: fjordhorse-digest V98 #172/babies
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks Mike and Joyce for the quick response. I have noticed that these fjords put away (or try to) more than any other horse I've ever had. When they're fed in their stalls, there is never a whisp of hay to be seen within the hour. And in the pasture, well, do they EVER pick their noses up out of the grass? I like the thought of no grain, as when we bought Nikki she was FAT. We're riding her now, and with the baby nursing, she is getting into shape, but it is a slow process. She may hate me for a while, but I think I'll take away the teeny bit of grain she is getting. I noticed you're in Ohio. That's the state where I was born. My mom is back there now. And since I've bought Fjords, she now notices every one she sees. Calls me and tells me she's seen some out in a pasture. Wonder if they're yours? Pamela
Re: fjordhorse-digest V98 #172/babies
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] this message is from Mike&Joyce Cook/West Church Fjords/Swanton,Ohio Pamela, in response to your question about what to feed the mare to insure the baby gets full nutrition, our mare Nanja had a Red Dunn Colt in march and every night we gave her plenty of carrots and apples plus 2 flakes of hay and all the pasture she could eat...AND MAN COULD THIS MARE EAT!!! Anyway, the colt is superb and weaned, they still get carrots and apples every nite. He's a spectacular colt almost as big as his mom at only 6 months. Thats all we did and everyone is doing wonderfull. We've never givin the mare any grain at all. On saturday I mentioned we we're going on our first drive with our club, our mare Nanja was incredible. She looked beautifull and drove like a cadillac. I'd like to thank Pat Wolfe for training her like he did a couple of years ago! The people in our club went nuts over her. There was 14 turnouts and everyone had a wonderfull time. Now we can't wait to team Nanja and our new gelding Jerry together in pairsbut we have to get another vehicle for pairs..don't ya just love these FJORDS? Best Regards, Mike & Joyce Cook West Church/Fjords
