Re: Don't ever say it can't be done
This message is from: "Carol J. Makosky" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Pat Holland wrote: This message is from: "Pat Holland" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> With the MWFHC 20th Anniversary I, with the approval of our Executive Committee, started working on corporate sponsorships. Today I just received sponsorship from Fiskars Brand, Inc. The scissors we all use! You would not believe the packet I sent them and how I tired to explain how we use their product - believe me - it wasn't easy. But somehow I got it! A big WOW to you Pat. Maybe in the future there will be a Fiskars commercial of someone trimming a Fjord mane. Now wouldn't that be something. -- Built Fjord Tough Carol M. On Golden Pond N. Wisconsin
Re: Don't ever say it can't be done
This message is from: "Pat Holland" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> With the MWFHC 20th Anniversary I, with the approval of our Executive Committee, started working on corporate sponsorships. Today I just received sponsorship from Fiskars Brand, Inc. The scissors we all use! You would not believe the packet I sent them and how I tired to explain how we use their product - believe me - it wasn't easy. But somehow I got it! A long time ago I tried the same thing with Ford Motor Co..and well that didn't work, but who knows, maybe I'll try again. Never say it can't be done ...in anything you strive for! Maybe if I get Ford everyone of you who show at the Midwest Show this year will find a key ...under your saddle - Like the Oprah Show... : ) Pat Holland, happy in northwest Illinois.
Re: Record Book II - I can hardly wait!
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dear Sandy, Put me on the list for Book II! Shout long and loud when it's time to order them!!! Kay Van Natta Yellow Pony Farm SE MI
Re: long maybe boring toot toot
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] wow Lisa!!! congrats! That is so neat you can show them how it is done. I am proud of you and your Fjordie!! I just started riding again after a layoff of a couple of years (other than a little walk up the road now and then on my 24 y.o. Arab). I understand your feelings totally! Hubby got me a new horse for Christmas and we hope to hit the trails this summer. Perhaps we can come see YOU! I would also bring a driving horse of course. Please keep us informed of your experiences. Sounds like you are in for a great time. My new horse is not a Fjord, but someday I may get one again. They are simply the best. Lou DoubleDay Farm - Miniature Horses "I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." Bill Cosby. The best thing to do if you find yourself in a hole is quit digging !!!
A Winter Drive and some Stallion Questions
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have been having so much fun lately, I just can't stop myself from Posting! Here it is in the end of January and its mid 50's here in the Bitterroot Valley, Montana Today was another day of FIRSTS! Saturday I got to drive my 2 1/2 year old stud WHR Elsker with his training partner a Belgian Mare TODAY we hooked him for the first time with our 11 year old Fjord mare Tone' I have to admit I was a little uneasy at first, Elsker hadn't seen Tone' for two months and the Hello was a little more like "Hey Baby Look how I have grown up!". After a few squeals and getting after them both for just a few minutes, all was well, We hitched them to the hay wagon and went out to feed cows. They were wonderful, no crabbing or teasing and they worked well together. When we were done we put Tone away (Elsker didn't like that Part) and then hooked Elsker up to a cart with shafts, This was the first time driven single. He was great!! He did some circles and backed and walked and trotted and acted like the cart was no big deal He is even starting to side pass a little! Here are my questions! I have never raised a stud, (we owned the old stallion Eric for the last few years of his life and he was a great way to break into having a stallion) I want to do it right. We spent a lot of time with Elsker on ground manners . He just started driving training in Dec. He was born end of June 2002. I have decided not to let him whinny, or knicker or make any noise while haltered or harnessed. Is this unrealistic to ask of him? How many of you drive your stallion with a mare year round? How many of you let the stud live with the mares (we do) If I let him live with the mares, What the heck am I gonna do at Libby when he has to be by himself?? If I seperate him a month before will that help? I want a well behaved stud, or he will be cut, (so far he is, but he is just realizing he is pretty HOT) Any advice is welcome Michele Noonan Stevensville , MT
Maryland Expo
The crowds were smaller than usual because of the weather, but many people were able to meet, touch, hug and admire that wonderful ambassador of the Kingdom of Fjord, LFF ULEND, owned and shown by Curt Pierce. Jacob Blanks GRYLA was also there on Friday and did his part as well.The booth set up by Curt Pierce and Marsha Korose has a collection of wonderful pictures showing Fjords doing . . . well just about everything! A video of Beth Beymer's group at the Denver Stock Show and others of Fjords in Norway ran constantly and attracted quite an audience. John and Martie Bolinski and Joe Glick and Moses Blank gave tireless hours to educating people about out wonderful little horses. Kudos to Curt and Marsha for expending the not insignificant effort and expense to showcase the Fjord. I was also there and can't even number the people who had no clue "what kind of horse" this is, or who had only seen a picture somewhere. One of the exhibitors on stallion row was asked by a man if his child could pet the horse, and the answer was "No, but go down the row to the one with the racing stripe and you can pet that one." Ulend is awesome. And in harness, in hand, and under saddle at the breed demos showed the incredible atheletic ability and excitement so surprising in such a calm, quiet, lovely horse. A special thanks to John Bolinski who came early Sunday and stayed late, helping pack up and pack out and who provided hot coffee for the trip home! We look forward to the Harrisburg Expo next month and Richmond at the end of April. We talked to a lot of people who were interested in looking further and purchase. Send your information to Curt and Marsha--the interest is out there, and thanks to those like Curt and Marsha around the country who take the time and effort and invest their own resources in these public venues, there will be fewer people who can say "what's that? Is it an Icelandic?" and many more who will look to this rare and versatile little horse for their own needs. Sue Freivald in Northern Virginia.
Fjiona Training
This message is from: "Lisa Wiley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Fjiona is now a pocket pony. She nickers when I go out to her. Not what I expected from a PMU. I really wonder if she had prior handling before she became a PMU mare. The add said she was nervous and she isn't at all. I think she didn't like being tied and was bored. I have her in quarantine at the top of the road. It is very busy there. While I was out a big tanker truck stopped right across the street and the airbrakes sounded. She just flinched never moved and went back to what she was doing. I think I am going to keep her there for a while because the road noises will help for driving training. I started clicker training her and she got the idea right away. I was clicking and treating when she came to me and when she would stand still while I patted her all over. I am using heavy pats to get her used to lots of movement. She does pick up her feet for me but doesn't hold them up yet. It got so she was nuzzling me for treats. She really is in love with her cookies. Lisa Wiley Turnabout Portuguese Water Dogs Connecticut State Director Ponies With Purpose http://www.angelfire.com/ar3/ponieswithpurposeinc/ http://www.geocities.com/summerct/horses.html http://www.geocities.com/summerct/Turnabout.html
Evaluations
Suffice it to say that I value our own opinion of good horseflesh over that of any evaluator with less experience, so why pay big bucks and turn yourself inside out to go through the chute of conformity! Ruthie, nw mt US I have thought quite a bit about this comment from Ruthie and I have a few questions. I'm relatively new to the Fjord world--acquired my first fjord five years ago from Julie Will--a sweet gelding that rides and drives and takes good care of me. I'm not in a position to breed, so you may wonder why I'm wading in on the issue of evaluations. I was able to attend my first ever evaluation in Lexington, VA this past year and found it to be a very educational process. I'm sure we all trust our own opinion about our horses, but I don't know very many of you. When I am looking for a particular animal, it is extremely helpful to have an understandable standard of quality. Knowing what is involved in the evaluation of each horse gives me an idea of the overall issues--conformation, versatility, atheleticism, and temperment. When I'm recommending a particular breeder to someone looking for a fjord, what can I base that recommendation on? Reputation, of course; reports from people who have purchased horses from them; and a consistent record of good results from the evaluation process. If you care enough about your horses to validate your opinion in the broader world of breeding/selling/performance, that says a lot to me. I do know that it's not inexpensive to have horses evaluated. It's a business expense. And other breeds are coming more and more to value the evaluation process. What objections do you have to contributing to the validation and reputation of the various bloodlines in a venue that is open to all? Sue in Northern Virginia
How I got Hooked on Fjords. . .
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dear Fjord Folks from Alex(andra) Wind [EMAIL PROTECTED] (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) Thanks for all the outpouring of energy! Goes to prove what I decided a long time ago: Fjord People are naturally friendly and will reach out to other enthusiasts of the breed at a moment's notice! I have cold called on many farms, to be greeted with offers of rides or drives for me and family members and lunch or tea afterwards to warm up. You guys are wonderful! Here's how I got started in Fjords. I checked a book out of the library, called "What Pony for Me?" for my children, ages 7 through 12) When I returned the book, quite overdue, the librarian said "Oh, but this book is water damaged; you have to buy it!" So I shelled out thirty-five bucks and went and sat in the car and paged through my purchase. I had been into horse culture since a child, but when I turned to the Fjord pages I was blown away. How could I not even know of a whole breed? I was hooked! I subscribed to The Fjord Herald. Seeing how expensive they are, I despaired of ever owning one. My then typical horse purchase price was free to a good home. Then I started investigating Fjord Farms. We went to Wakefield, MA every February for my father-in-law's birthday. From there we made many side trips into Vermont, New Hampshire, etc. I got more and more impressed. Then I was involved in a car wreck (the fault of the other driver) which put me out of work from my job as a rural carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. The eventual settlement gave me some discretionary money, so in 1993, I purchased Techla, Lindsay Sweeney, agent. Along with her, I got a Meadowbrook, harness tack, and a breeding to Solar. March 17th, 1994, Sollyskur was born. We made another trip to Vermont to breed Techla again. On that trip I purchased Gillyn. Techla did not conceive and died suddenly at age 13, on May 29, 1996 of "colitis X." That broke my heart, as she had taught me so much and been such a companion. It put a crimp in my training program, as I had intended to use Techla to train her two year old daughter. Sollys and I did a lot of walk/trot/canter and line driving, but I never had the guts to hitch her to the precious Meadowbrook. I got more involved in my art and started going to graduate school for fine art, as well as working full-time. Then in 2003, I got my eye cancer diagnosis, and was consumed with fighting the disease, and The Post Office, which fired me, because I lost an eye. I finally secured a disability retirement from them. The Post Office is exempt from The Americans With Disabilities Act! How's that for injustice? So that brings you up to date to the current situation, in brief. Although the $32,000 per treatment is covered by my insurance, there are still travel expenses. The decision to let the horses go was partly financial, as my income went from $50,000 to $19,000. I am grateful to have experienced the Fjords. As a breed, they can't be beat! Here I am preaching to the choir. Thanks again and any prayers sent my way will be put to good use. Sorry the tone seems so maudlin, but these are the facts of my life. Much love to all and scratch the babies behind the ears for me! Alex(andra) Wind & Paul Boody 1353 Harmony Rd. Shawsville VA 24162 (540)382-0296
Re: Record Book II
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This message is from: "starfirefarm" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I also support an on-line format and would like to see the data integrated with the pedigree site (I've even offered to help with that effort). Perhaps we can figure out a way to provide earlier results on-line and then follow up with a printed version every 3-4 years. I think adding the online format for results would be very timely. Once the format is coded it is easy to add updates and would be much quicker than publishing a book. The hard copies are wonderful resources, but because you have to do printings they are always limited in numbers and hard to decide when to reprint. An online version is available to everyone. I just sent an email to Mike May yesterday offering to volunteer to help with the website as I am a website designer; I would be glad also to work on this project if approved. As I was writing this Margaret's email suggestion of selling electronic copies of the book arrived; what a good idea and another way to generate income. -- Genie Dethloff
Fjord wanted
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi List, I received an email this morning from my sister-in-law who lives in Stockton, CA. She has begun searching for a horse for her 10 year old daughter. This little girl has always been horse crazy, but since they are 'city' folks, living in one of those gated communities, typical yuppie subdivision with a pool in the back yard, they tried to discourage her 'disease'. I laughed as they described her unexplained, ever-growing, fervor. They even told me one time that the best Christmas present we could ever send her would be a box of horse poop! LOL! Maybe they were thinking that'd 'fix' her??!! We horse folks know that there is absolutely no known cure - except for owning your own horse! Medical science has not yet been able to invent a shot to cure this ailment! I suggested that they find a good riding instructor and start with lessons to see if she would remain interested. They did and she did. We have talked about this on several occasions and I told them that as long as she is interested in horses, any $ is well spent! You never see the police chasing a kid down on a horse to bust them for drugs and it's pretty hard to get pregnant on a horse! LOL!! Anyway, I have sold everything here except for youngsters so told them I would start looking for the right Fjord. She is taking English lessons and needs to have a 'well done, been there, done that' Fjord with that kind, willing disposition. If you have one for sale or know of one that would be 'right', please contact me privately. Thanx so much. Gayle Ware Field of Dreams Eugene, OR www.fjordhorse.com
New Record Book
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] It was great reading that the new Record Book might be coming out this year. May I make a suggestion since the cost seems to be driving the print run. I would be very happy to buy an electronic book versus hard copy. While I realize that the Record Book is heavy on the graphics, it still is going to be generated as an electronic file in order to be printed anyway. Many large government publications are now available in electronic form because of printing costs. Obviously this is a useful document, but wouldn't it be nice to have a choice of format? An electronic record book would also be quite easy for the NFHR to sell in future years when the printed stock is gone. I hope this option will be offered. Margaret Bogie Ironwood Farm Rixeyville, VA http://ironwood-farm.com
Driving Froum on March 5, 6 - FREE HARNESS!
This message is from: "David McWethy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> On March 5th & 6th in Sturbridge, MA, the first annual DRIVING FORUM - A trade show for carriage/driving enthusiasts will be held at the Publick Inn in Sturbridge. The Driving Forum is organized by Linda Roth, who has been a friend for several years. I got to know her when I measured her horse for a harness. This is the first of this kind of event she has organized, something that takes a lot of courage to create. Linda comes with a passion for driving and brings with her the skills from years in organizing trade shows for other people, and now is working on her own. There will be a variety of trade booths and a good number of excellent seminar speakers. To generate a little excitement for the event, Linda had suggested we have a drawing for a free Camptown Harness (custom made for the winner's horse). The winner will have to be present, which of course you would want to be anyway. Dave
Re: Record Book -
This message is from: "starfirefarm" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Pat, The process for ordering is just now being worked out -- so, keep your checkbook handy and poised for that information. Mostly, I wanted to let folks know the current scheduling thoughts and the fact that the book IS coming, and relatively soon. A little lead time might allow some folks to put aside a few $$$ now and not be caught by surprise when the ordering starts. If it is a pre-order only printing then there will be a relatively short window for orders if we go to print in late Spring/early Summer. Sandy -- Starfire Farm Beth Beymer and Sandy North http://www.starfirefarm.com "Remember, a horse can tell you a lot of things, if you watch and expect it to be sensible and intelligent." Mary O'Hara - My Friend Flicka
