misc. committee
This message is from: "duane trupiano" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> O.K., Bernie, I give. What is the misc. committee that you want me to volunteer for? I'm game for some things my time is limited, but mostly I don't know how to be of help. Wouldn't call myself a natural leader but I can take directions well. I had a call on my answering machine tonight from someone doing a promo of fjords for Record Stockman...anyone ever heard of it? Why they called me, I have no idea. I'll keep you posted on what thy want, and may send them on to the Promo dept :) On introducing a new animal, I'll admit that I've never had a big problem with this, but have never brought in a stallion. With dogs it is best to take both dogs into neutral territory to get to know each other. At some point in time, you will have to supervise them together if you only have one pasture, and let them take their knocks. To keep doing it once a week for a few minutes only reinforces the geldings ability to dominate the colt and may make the fights more intense. I'd suggest gelding the colt and give it 3-4 weeks for the hormones to decrease, then take them both somewhere else and somehow work the two of them together, lunging or riding the gelding around the colt or something. Kepp the two of them around each other without your other horses at home so they can hopefully bond somewhat before going back home. Horses seem to bond with whomever they are around at the moment... ever notice on a trail ride with a friend that all of a sudden its these two horses that don't want to be separated? Thanks for the log pull info..I always wondered what the rules were for it. I've brought logs up from the woods with Wally before. Had an old horseman make me a draft harness from parts that he had. He came to the house and measured and fitted... it ain't pretty, but its functional. I questioned who got the most benefit tho..my husband cut the logs and hooked them up, and then Wally and I walked two fields back and forth to take them up to the house. People said that I should have ridden him back to the woods somehow, but how do you do that with the harness and all? We just hooked the log with a chain to the singletree( is that correct) that attached to the chains on the harness. We didn't lift the log onto any sort of carting devise. It was fun, but a lot of walking . (There was snow on the ground so the logs skidded fairly well) The Cheff Center ride was fun. Judy and I did the 15 miles in the cold and rain and thought we were half crazy. We both figure that at the 3 hr. mark our bodies start to hurt no matter how fast we've been going. Wally was UP for 14 miles, and nice for the last mile. We jumped the first two jumps along the trail, and went to the third when he stopped dead in front of the jump. Seems a board had been knocked off and was on the ground on the far side. He was smart enough to know we wouldn't have made it and saved us from getting in trouble. The trails can be narrow, tho..made for thorobreds and such..not a tank. I've hit my knees more than once on trees and so tend to take it slow in tight quarters.
Re: To Martie
This message is from: john bolinski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Mark and Ann Restad wrote: > > This message is from: Mark and Ann Restad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > thanks for the harness info. i have a smuckers brochure somewhere. > What style of collar did you go with? Thanks > Ann Ann, I wound up with an all leather 22 in collar. I don't know if it has a particular name, but it comes apart at the top for tacking up and can be adjusted slightly using the latch that fastens it. My trainer prefers the cloth backed collars because they are a little softer and do not need to fit the individual horse so closely - take less time for the horse to fit himself into. The one I use is just an ordinary draft collar like the local Amish are using. I got the harness with the brass fitting because they looked so good on Kilar compared to the chrome. Hope this is helpful. I am new to driving actually, so my nomenclature is limited. Martie
Perspective on Equitana and advertising
This message is from: Doug Knutsen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Gail and Pamela, You've got it exactly right. Back in the olden days when I was starting my own professional career, an advertising and promotion expert told me that if folks encountered a name, concept, service, breed, etc, three different times, they were most likely to use or buy the product. As with both of you, I encountered Fjords for several years in different settings before I made the leap, so to speak. Our stated purpose at Equitana '98 was to avoid promoting anyone's farm and to promote the breed in general. Those who wanted to advertise their farms forked over $200.00 for space in the "magazine rack" plus an additional several hundred [in my case] to create the flyers to put into the rack. I chose to spend the $ to do this, even though I had no stock actually for sale then, because I had an eye to the future. I wanted my name and horses out there for people to become familiar with them. We booth attendants were told that people had, in the past, used the booth to promote their own farms, and we were not to do that. We were to try to make sure that if anyone took a flyer, they took a copy of each one. Neither the pictures nor the video identified any horses or people. People were positively smitten with the breed after being exposed to Fjords in the flesh up to 5 times each day, in addition to the yearlings or mama with baby in the stall next to the booth. There was only one other stall in the entire show which had its door open much of the time for petting and inspecting up close and personal. [Under close supervision, of course] Commonly, folks said, "We love them, but there are no Fjords where we live." This was our cue to whip out the directory and show them that there were, in fact, some near them. We also directed many to the NFHR for more information. I think it's important to say that Equitana isn't about "sell, sell, sell," so much as it is about networking with and being accepted into the greater "horse community." And learning. People who love horses in general learning about Fjords. Many commented that they'd been seeking a horse who could [you name it] and they thought a Fjord might be perfect for the job. You can bet your boots that many Fjord sales will result, though maybe not immediately. I made it my personal objective to corral [so to speak] folks in western garb and point out that Fjords were competing in western events. And as to versatility, I told many that "You can buy your land and log it with your Fjord, then plow and farm it, then go for a sleigh or buggy ride, then ride English or Western, etc, etc." Since I'm on a roll here, I'll address the strong need for education, not just promotion. I absolutely agree that there is a glaring need for owner/handler education, and am heartened to see that is being addressed. We look forward to many clinics and Evaluations here in the west. Somehow we all must find a balance between education and promotion, to avoid a needless "either/or" struggle. I'm reassured that there seem to be many Fjord folks who have this kind of vision and are willing to contribute time and effort toward realizing it. Yup, me too. I'm also happy to write and send articles to various horse publications - in fact, am in the process of doing so. Love reading the Digest. Peg
Re: fjordhorse-digest V98 #210
This message is from: Mike May <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> At 11:10 AM 10/14/98 -0400, you wrote: >This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >In a message dated 10/14/98 6:15:03 AM Mountain Daylight Time, owner- >[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > >> We would love to see you get something started in that area. You could >> possibly draw from Southern California too. > >And Utah as well ! > Great! ANother state heard from. Sounds like the makings of a new group to me. Mike == Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry Mike May, Registrar Webster, NY, USA (Suburb of Rochester) Voice 716-872-4114 FAX 716-787-0497 http://www.nfhr.com mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: fjordhorse-digest V98 #210
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 10/14/98 6:15:03 AM Mountain Daylight Time, owner- [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > We would love to see you get something started in that area. You could > possibly draw from Southern California too. And Utah as well !
Re: Articles/Promotion
This message is from: "briar hill farm" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > I would be glad to write an article or two for the NFHR. I had spoken with > someone a few years ago (don't even remember who now but a BOD member) and > was told that they already had that taken care of. But I think that the > Small Farmers Journal already has plenty of visibility as far as Fjords are > concerned -- they have frequent articles, photos, and innumerable ads for > the breed. I think Equus and Practical Horseman are the kinds of magazines > that we could benefit from exposure in -- and it's not as easy to get > articles in those. I would be glad to try, if I could get cooperation on > getting photos, > The big publications are great, but don't forget the smaller, regional publications too. In the Northeast, there are 2 major equine news publications and many smaller statewide ones also. Every year, the bigger ones do articles on ponies or rare breeds, the smaller ones take news on farms and interesting things people do with their horses. Usually they are very happy to have material. If a puplication doesn't take articles promoting a breed, sometimes they like articles from a personal perspective as in: The Joys of Driving (My Fjord), Pony Cub With a Pony (Fjord), Learning To Ride Over 40 (On A Fjord). Trail Ride Into The Mountains (On Fjords). My Experiance At A Breed Evaluation (With Fjords).You get the picture. The possibilities are endless. Send in with photos. Press releases are also good promotion. Send out press releases on any fjord event or clinic in your area. Could also be sent to local newspapers, not just horse pubs. Maybe the promotion comittee could start keeping a file of acticles for regional groups to use. Marcy Baer / Brair Hill Farm
Evaluations
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dear List, very interesting discusion on the Fjord Owner hosting evaluations, lots of good points. I would like to say the reason I brought up the Fjord Breeder being allowed to show their own horses as well was "being realistic" It all started because I asked Mike if any evaluations were schedualed in my area. None were concrete at the moment. I honestly would want my horses to be evaluated if I put in the enormous amount of effort it takes. Frankly to truck all the horses to be evaluated , keep in mind I would like to show quiet a few , well, and Show them at another facility and Run it , is HUGE. I am not saying I wouldn't do this but if it is easier for me or other breeders to offer to have it, doesn't that create more opportunities to have evaluations open to all in different locations? (Keep in mind , no planss here now )Besides it is not not not a horse show, it is an evaluation my understanding is each horse should be judged against the standard not each other , right Karen? right Wayne? They are judged on their ability, not against a competitor. I do think people are making great points on both sides, giving me alot to think about. I would go if it were at another facility ofcourse, would I offer to run it when I could be evaluating mine, when the last one here was 3 or 4 years ago, Honestly I am not sure. That is being Honest. Food for thought L of the Hollow
Re: Articles/Evaluations
This message is from: Mike May <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> At 07:59 PM 10/13/98 -0600, you wrote: >This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Information Architecture) > >To: The Larsons/Mike May > > But I do think that holding evaluations on the owner's property >brings up a lot of complications, which I was trying to discuss, and of >which I think footing adequacy is an important one. I couldn't agree more. But I have been to many horse shows in the last 10-15 years and have seen the same sites have great footing one time of year and absolutely unusable at another time of year. Weather, at least in this part of the country has an awful lot to do with the footing. >The Oregon evaluation >was sponsored by an individual -- Gayle Ware -- and not by any group, and >very few members of the groups out here supported the evaluation by their >attendance. H, this could be true but I thought the PNWFPG was involved. Their banner was hanging on the brick wall out front when we came in??? >Anyone anywhere else is free to set up an Evaluation just as >Gayle did, the issue is only of whose property it is on. Yes this is true it does not have to be any particular group. Anyone can (NFHR Members) host an evaluation (with BOD approval) >As it stands now, >I believe if it is on a Fjord owners property, then they cannot have their >own horses evaluated -- and my comments were directed at the idea of >changing that to allow their own horses to be evaluated. I don't really >care about the home court advantage for their horses, but I don't want to be >at a disadvantage because the facility is not adequate. That was my only point. > But don't you see that the person could still host the evaluation at their farm and you could end up going. The only difference is that they can't have their own horses evaluated at the inferior site. (assuming that it is in fact an inferior site). I think what we really need to do is more clearly define what things are necessary and what things are "Nice to Have" at a facility in order to host one. I don't really know how to go about defining "Good Footing" though. Just having an indoor arena doesn't automatically afford that either. I have been to some indoor arena's that had such deep footing the horses could barely pull the small 2 wheeled vehicles. I agree footing is very important but I don't know how to specify it in writting so that we always get it. Do you? Or anyone else? If so please help here. >PS Washracks are nice, but not a necessity. Footing is a necessity, >whether indoors or out. I see no reason why evaluation facilities should >be less nice than facilities where a horse show could be held, and to me it >would be well worth the $20 per horse to ensure that they are. Again I think we have to more clearly define the facilities. Just because you pay $200 - $300 a day doesn't mean you get everything you want or need either. Each site has to be evaluated. It really doesn't matter who owns it. Mike
To Martie
This message is from: Mark and Ann Restad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> thanks for the harness info. i have a smuckers brochure somewhere. What style of collar did you go with? Thanks Ann
