Re: to potential Fjord owner
This message is from: Kim Manzoni kim.manz...@yahoo.com I've really enjoyed reading these emails over the past few days. It has definitely made me very happy with my decision to buy a Fjord. I have had several different breeds of horses over the years. I still have QH's and TWH's at this time, but when the opportunity came up to add one more to my herd after my old QH Cocoa died (she was my first horse and with me for 27 yrs), I decided to go with the breed that I had wanted since childhood. A Fjord! I met a Fjord years ago in Florida and always wished I could be a Fjord mom. There are so few Fjords in this area though... and its mostly a QH area. I am sure that my Fjord will be an unusual sight for the people here. Hopefully I can introduce people to this breed and show them how terrific they are. I knew I had made the right decision but all of these emails have just made me that much more pleased and excited. I cant wait to bring Titan home! He comes home in March and I am counting down the days (literally! I have a countdown app on my ipod. LOL) My husband is a Tennessee Walker fan and he has a long yearling that he has been working with and training since he was a weanling. It has been so rewarding for him and watching the growth, training and relationship between them has been rewarding for me too. Thats another reason why I decided to go with a young Fjord. I am looking forward to working with Titan from the beginning. I have so many plans for the little guy! And to Bonnie... you cant trade your Fjord for a hamster - they are far too small to ride. LOL Thank you all for these emails about your Fjords and your experiences. And thank you to Eunice and John for letting me purchase their little boy. - Kim ... on the Eastern Shore of Md counting down the days until I bring Titan home (1 month, 3 days) From: bbd...@aol.com bbd...@aol.com To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 3:16 PM Subject: to potential Fjord owner This message is from: bbd...@aol.com Each Fjord horse has a unique personality, IMO. My Thor is a 15h, big powerful boy with a dominant attitude and a big appetite...for life and food! He will gallop for miles, jump everything with exuberance, then ask to go another 10 miles. That horse needs a 6' 5 300 lb Viking and ten mountains and rivers to cross in a day. Ground manners to die for though. Some pet! My 14.3h Stine Gutten is the easiest fellow to get along with. So comfortable to ride and will do anything he's asked tobut doesn't like to jump or gallop cross-country. Dressage and trail horse extraordinaire.. I never let others ride him because I am selfish. My new gelding, 14h Milo, is another sweet grey boy. He is my driving pony and has an easy-to train attitude and a loving personality. All that in a flashy compact sport-model. The point I'm trying to make is that, although to a non-Fjord person all Fjords tend to look alike, they vary as individuals just like any other breed. They still take my breath away when I see them in the pasturemy eyes see the perfect equine when I look at my Fjords. However, there have been moments when I've felt like trading them in for a hamster. Bonnie Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
why not a fjord?!
This message is from: brass-ring-f...@juno.com Hi Ellen, I guess you are as mystified as I am! Thank you for sharing your experiences and trying to put it in words. Other people too. I had a younger Fjord mare we raised from a weanling and had a local Pony Club girl train her to ground drive and backed her. Another young lady who did OTT thoroughbreds taught her to jump. The mare only matured 13.2 so I can see why they would not want to show her (though one did at a local show), but they sure had a blast teaching her - then back to the TBs. The only time I felt the full power of a Fjord was when we ran into a ground nest of yellow jackets. We were the third horse; my drafty mare did not buck or rear, but she wasn't going to stick around either. I felt like I was on an exploding powder keg as she power trotted out of there. I yelled to the 2 riders in front of me to get going, because I guessed we were going to steamroll them. All ended well. I was run away with by a 14.2 Morgan mare 20 years ago. A very long ride at a full gallop - nothing I did, sawing, pulley rein, one rein stop, nothing even registered. So any horse can do it, but I think most Fjords would just not expend the energy. So far, so good! Valerie 53 Year Old Mom Looks 33 The Stunning Results of Her Wrinkle Trick Has Botox Doctors Worried http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4f26ae27b3a411fd7fm03vuc Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: fjords vs others
This message is from: ruth bushnell fjo...@frontiernet.net This message is from: Ellen Barry ethba...@yahoo.ie There's a little bit of fear I guess for the enormous power that a Fjord represents, sitting there right under your but. A little Hummer in stead of a Volkwagen. The idea that if this short-necked creature ever wanted to take off on you, there's nothing you can do about it. My Idea is that Fjords are not for everyone. I remember someone saying on this list that accidents with Fjords don't easily happen because of their quiet disposition, but the accidents with Fjords that she has encountered were usually worse accidents. Well, I guess I rambled enough. I don't know how the others on the list see this. I would love to hear more opinions. Ellen in TN my opinion? you are one smart lady and honest to boot =)) we've been in Fjords several years now and have come to the very same conclusion. they are not for the frail, the novice, and certainly not for children. I marvel that we weren't seriously injured in the beginning, because we wholeheartedly bought into the warm and fuzzy innocence of the Fjord--as portrayed by their owners and by the Fjords themselves. At the time I had an Arab with a waspish disposition, and the serenely sweet Fjord seemed a wonderful change. It was true what people said about them! They behaved like big cuddly St Bernard's, and after all there were all those promotional photos with children wrapped around their legs.. how could anything possibly go wrong? We rode them into the mountains, all terrain, they were a dream come true. Then one blissful day as we rode down the driveway to the barn, pre-supper, mine unexpectedly imploded and effortlessly lobbed me into the air as from a cannon. Surprisingly, no serious injury, but the impact stayed with me for weeks.. ears ringing, flashbacks, etc. No longer did I regard the Fjord as harmless. Would I change breeds, no way. I love the Fjord breed. But I am always aware of the injurious potential their incredible STRENGTH affords. They can toss you farther and harder, and that's a fact. So we need to always be reminded of this aspect, and we need to always wear a helmet. Thanks for the reminder, Ellen. Ruth, nw mt us Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: fjords vs others
This message is from: Jo Wilgus rjrfj...@verizon.net MY opinion. If you do not know about horses, get some experience before you buy ANY horse. Lease for at least a year, then buy. ANY horse has the capacity to cause hurt and injury. FJORDS are awesome but highly intelligent, first and foremost though, they are horses. If started incorrectly they will fend for themselves lacking confidence in the rider/driver etc. This is true of any animal, people too. Fjords do spook, they can be pushy. Regn is very respectful of me but she can be bossy with Duffers and she WILL try to get her way with others. For me, Regn is perfect for me . Next year Jennica (granddaughter) will be 10 years old, she will have enough experience to ride Regn and Duffers. She rides Duffers now, he is such a sweet boy, he is a horse though and does horsey stuff. Love the breed but I do not live with my head in the sand. Get experience, do your research and have a great time doing it. It pays off. Buy from a reputably breeder. I did!!! Fondness for Fjords, Jo Wilgus Gavilan Hills, CA where the weather is perfect for riding, yahoo and poop howdy My Idea is that Fjords are not for everyone Well, I guess I rambled enough. I don't know how the others on the list see this. I would love to hear more opinions. Ellen in TN my opinion? you are one smart lady and honest to boot =)) we've been in Fjords several years now and have come to the very same conclusion. they are not for the frail, the novice, and certainly not for children. I marvel that we weren't seriously injured in the beginning, because we wholeheartedly bought into the warm and fuzzy innocence of the Fjord--as portrayed by their owners and by the Fjords themselves. At the time I had an Arab with a waspish disposition, and the serenely sweet Fjord seemed a wonderful change. It was true what people said about them! They behaved like big cuddly St Bernard's, and after all there were all those promotional photos with children wrapped around their legs.. how could anything possibly go wrong? We rode them into the mountains, all terrain, they were a dream come true. Then one blissful day as we rode down the driveway to the barn, pre-supper, mine unexpectedly imploded and effortlessly lobbed me into the air as from a cannon. Surprisingly, no serious injury, but the impact stayed with me for weeks.. ears ringing, flashbacks, etc. No longer did I regard the Fjord as harmless. Would I change breeds, no way. I love the Fjord breed. But I am always aware of the injurious potential their incredible STRENGTH affords. They can toss you farther and harder, and that's a fact. So we need to always be reminded of this aspect, and we need to always wear a helmet. Thanks for the reminder, Ellen. Ruth, nw mt us Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: Fjords vs others
This message is from: kngould kngo...@earthlink.net While Fjords are indeed stronger than most other breeds of horse, I've never had an occasion where I could not control, stop, or turn any of the Fjords I've owned. (Five total, all large geldings, and not all of them well trained at first when I got them) It seems to me that they as a rule don't lose their minds the way most of the other breeds can when frightened, spooked, or just plain pissed off. I've heard it said that Fjords don't have as strong of a flight instinct as other breeds because the breed developed in a region where the had few natural predators, but many physical dangers (cracking ice?). Supposedly this caused them as a breed to become more thoughtful and better able to assess a situation for danger? I don’t' know if this is true or not, anyone else hear this? My last real experience of danger on the trail was a tree that fell almost on top of us from the hillside above. My ride (a Friesian) and my trainer's ride (a Friesian) freaked, both bolting and then mine pitched me off when I tried to stop him after we cleared the danger zone. The third rider, my son on his Fjord (whom he almost never rode) took off at a fast trot (not at my son's request), and stopped, (again not at my son's request) turning to look at the fallen tree about ten yards past. My son immediately dismounted in distress, dropping his reins. My Fjord calmly walked over to where I was struggling to my feet and checked me out thoroughly for damage. My son was 17 at the time, obviously not a rider. Ten years earlier, my son was on the same horse, second in line on a trail ride when the lead horse got his leg and tail caught in a small fallen tree. The lead horse freaked, and it took his rider some time to calm him down and extricate him from the tree. My son's horse quickly trotted up the hillside off the trail about ten yards (his idea, not my son's), turned around, saw what was actually happening and calmly rejoined the lead horse. Since that day I've told my son, if anything happens, just listen to Woody. At age 17 after not having ridden in over two years, when danger threatened, this novice rider stayed calm knowing Woody would know what to do. Btw, Woody is now a therapeutic riding horse at Hearts with Hands in Georgia. He is the star of their program, but I made them promise to send him home when he stopped having fun. He seemed to be getting really bored and depressed after my son stopped riding him regularly (after all he was 16 when I got him), and told me he wanted a job. He is now 27 years young and having a ball. We get a copy of their newsletter every month and there are always more pictures of him then any of the other horses in the program. I love this breed! Kim Kim Nord Castle Ladyhawke www.castleladyhawkeweddings.com 828 894-0466 -Original Message- From: bbd...@aol.com Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 10:54 AM To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Subject: Fjords vs others This message is from: bbd...@aol.com Hello list and potential Fjord owners, I think we were all reflecting on the power of our Fjords to make people realize that Fjords are real horses, not overstuffed ponies. Horses with the strength of a coldblood, the grace of a warmblood and the beauty of a hotblood with the brains of, well...an extremely intelligent equine. Our Fjords are capable of so much and IMO only limited in their capabilities by what the owner/trainer is willing to do with them. Good training is paramount for any horse or pony.. I certainly keep learning that over and over again. Most of us have put a lot of thought into choosing our breed of horse and we have certainly had many other breeds to choose from. Dare to be different and own a Fjord! Bonnie Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: horse breed genetics
This message is from: Steve McIlree st...@carriagehorse.com On Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 6:38 AM, Barbara middleagespr...@rconnects.comwrote: This message is from: Barbara middleagespr...@rconnects.com This article came in my e-mail this morning thought some of you might find it of interest. Inbreeding greatest in thoroughbreds, standardbreds - research Horsetalk.co.nz - International horse news Barb Middleage Spread Eagle Creek OR First of all, the link Barb gives us to this very interesting article is to the Home Page of the newsletter which evidently changes content rapidly. The first time I checked it out I found a summary of the inbreeding article with direct link to the main content, but when I went back the summary and link were no longer there. So here is a link directly to the article: http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2012/01/230.shtml. So why should the folks here be interested in this study? Well, although Fjords are not specifically mentioned in the article, if you look at the accompanying table you will find that in the midst of the three breeds that are mentioned as having the highest inbreeding coefficients is nestled Norwegian Fjords. This is something that I have harped about on and off over the years. The genetic bottleneck that was introduced to the breed in the early 1900's with Njal 166, is probably responsible for a great deal of similarity of ancestry. The efforts to keep the pure dun coat has possibly also been some factor since it has undoubtedly lead to the culling of some potentially good individuals from the breeding pool because of unacceptable markings. And if the rumors of piebald Fjords in the 1800's has any merit, it probably took no little amount of inbreeding to get the pure dun colors as well established as they presently are. I don't believe that we can point to any specific bad results which have popped up in the breed because of a lack of diversity as one can in many dogs which have been closely bred, However, the results of this study make it clear to me that inbreeding coefficient is something that Fjord owners should probably take into consideration when deciding on suitable crosses. -- Steve It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.-- Aristotle 384-322 BC Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Fjord
This message is from: Me Kint me.k...@yahoo.com I think many of you say it very well, a fjord is a wonderful breed, but they are a horse! Individuals vary in temperament, but as a whole most are very friendly. I have had some of my worst accidents on fjords, but I don't fear my fjords because there usually was a good reason for the accident, I figured it out and then dealt with and solved the problem. Not like with an overly spirited TB that was too much horse for me that dumped me more times than I care to remember. But I love what Clinton Anderson says, of all domesticated animals, horses have the fastest reaction time!. I am sure many of us have experienced this first hand. This includes Fjords, even drafty, laid back, lazy specimens! I remember this in working with mine and while riding/working with my two I continually read them. This is just a good practice in general in working with any horse! The older I get the more I learn, I don't know how I got by with so few accidents in my early years! From Mary's iPad Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: to potential Fjord owner
This message is from: S K windyacre...@yahoo.com I wish you all the best with your little one! How old is he? From: Kim Manzoni kim.manz...@yahoo.com To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 6:39 AM Subject: Re: to potential Fjord owner This message is from: Kim Manzoni kim.manz...@yahoo.com I've really enjoyed reading these emails over the past few days. It has definitely made me very happy with my decision to buy a Fjord. I have had several different breeds of horses over the years. I still have QH's and TWH's at this time, but when the opportunity came up to add one more to my herd after my old QH Cocoa died (she was my first horse and with me for 27 yrs), I decided to go with the breed that I had wanted since childhood. A Fjord! I met a Fjord years ago in Florida and always wished I could be a Fjord mom. There are so few Fjords in this area though... and its mostly a QH area. I am sure that my Fjord will be an unusual sight for the people here. Hopefully I can introduce people to this breed and show them how terrific they are. I knew I had made the right decision but all of these emails have just made me that much more pleased and excited. I cant wait to bring Titan home! He comes home in March and I am counting down the days (literally! I have a countdown app on my ipod. LOL) My husband is a Tennessee Walker fan and he has a long yearling that he has been working with and training since he was a weanling. It has been so rewarding for him and watching the growth, training and relationship between them has been rewarding for me too. Thats another reason why I decided to go with a young Fjord. I am looking forward to working with Titan from the beginning. I have so many plans for the little guy! And to Bonnie... you cant trade your Fjord for a hamster - they are far too small to ride. LOL Thank you all for these emails about your Fjords and your experiences. And thank you to Eunice and John for letting me purchase their little boy. - Kim ... on the Eastern Shore of Md counting down the days until I bring Titan home (1 month, 3 days) From: bbd...@aol.com bbd...@aol.com To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 3:16 PM Subject: to potential Fjord owner This message is from: bbd...@aol.com Each Fjord horse has a unique personality, IMO. My Thor is a 15h, big powerful boy with a dominant attitude and a big appetite...for life and food! He will gallop for miles, jump everything with exuberance, then ask to go another 10 miles. That horse needs a 6' 5 300 lb Viking and ten mountains and rivers to cross in a day. Ground manners to die for though. Some pet! My 14.3h Stine Gutten is the easiest fellow to get along with. So comfortable to ride and will do anything he's asked tobut doesn't like to jump or gallop cross-country. Dressage and trail horse extraordinaire.. I never let others ride him because I am selfish. My new gelding, 14h Milo, is another sweet grey boy. He is my driving pony and has an easy-to train attitude and a loving personality. All that in a flashy compact sport-model. The point I'm trying to make is that, although to a non-Fjord person all Fjords tend to look alike, they vary as individuals just like any other breed. They still take my breath away when I see them in the pasturemy eyes see the perfect equine when I look at my Fjords. However, there have been moments when I've felt like trading them in for a hamster. Bonnie Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: why not a fjord?!
This message is from: S K windyacre...@yahoo.com Thank you so much for that info Valerie! I needed the confidence boost! I want to take Andy and J.J. to Arcadia and have thought of them running away since reading some emails on here..very scary thought From: brass-ring-f...@juno.com brass-ring-f...@juno.com To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 9:48 AM Subject: why not a fjord?! This message is from: brass-ring-f...@juno.com Hi Ellen, I guess you are as mystified as I am! Thank you for sharing your experiences and trying to put it in words. Other people too. I had a younger Fjord mare we raised from a weanling and had a local Pony Club girl train her to ground drive and backed her. Another young lady who did OTT thoroughbreds taught her to jump. The mare only matured 13.2 so I can see why they would not want to show her (though one did at a local show), but they sure had a blast teaching her - then back to the TBs. The only time I felt the full power of a Fjord was when we ran into a ground nest of yellow jackets. We were the third horse; my drafty mare did not buck or rear, but she wasn't going to stick around either. I felt like I was on an exploding powder keg as she power trotted out of there. I yelled to the 2 riders in front of me to get going, because I guessed we were going to steamroll them. All ended well. I was run away with by a 14.2 Morgan mare 20 years ago. A very long ride at a full gallop - nothing I did, sawing, pulley rein, one rein stop, nothing even registered. So any horse can do it, but I think most Fjords would just not expend the energy. So far, so good! Valerie 53 Year Old Mom Looks 33 The Stunning Results of Her Wrinkle Trick Has Botox Doctors Worried http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4f26ae27b3a411fd7fm03vuc Important Fjord Horse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: fjords vs others
This message is from: jadeb...@aol.com I agree that any horse seriously benefits from good training and consistant handling and (IMO) the smarter the individual, the more they profit. I think Fjords, as a group, are less inclined toward hysteria than some other breeds but NOBODY is born golden. Witness the Shetland pony that gets a bad rap as a kid's mount all the time. Again IMO, size and brains qualify them as the perfect child's mount if they are raised and trained like full-sized horses. However many are treated like stuffed animals...very little, if anything, is taught to them or required of them. And then folks are surprised when they have no manners and a very iffy work ethic. It often seems to be assumed that because they're little and adorable they are also automatically compliant, reliable mounts and companions. Children need to be guided toward a useful and responsible adulthood and so do horses...even the innately loveable ones like ours. Good training and time spent can put strong-minded (a concept with which I have no problem) on your side and, when that happens, you can ride or drive your pony through fire. I've been lucky. I've got great ponies and have had wonderful teachers for both them and me. As a result, I'm having fun and I'm not afraid. It's been suggested to me that lack of imagination may explain a certain amount of my lack of fear but - what the heck. So far, so good. Kay Van Natta and Braveheart, who says, Charge! and Bogie, who says, Fire?! What fire?! Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: Fjords vs others
This message is from: S K windyacre...@yahoo.com This is such a lovely letter for those of us who love this breed so much...and so very true...The other day when I put Andy and J.J. out after their oats, there was a large patch of ice right where they had to walk to get out to the arena and to their hay...I had salted it but was so afraid they'd rush and stumble...Andy stopped before going over the ice and sniffed it goodthen very gingerly walked over it..I see him think many times...He looks as though he is assessing the situation before acting on it.. From: kngould kngo...@earthlink.net To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 3:08 PM Subject: Re: Fjords vs others This message is from: kngould kngo...@earthlink.net While Fjords are indeed stronger than most other breeds of horse, I've never had an occasion where I could not control, stop, or turn any of the Fjords I've owned. (Five total, all large geldings, and not all of them well trained at first when I got them) It seems to me that they as a rule don't lose their minds the way most of the other breeds can when frightened, spooked, or just plain pissed off. I've heard it said that Fjords don't have as strong of a flight instinct as other breeds because the breed developed in a region where the had few natural predators, but many physical dangers (cracking ice?). Supposedly this caused them as a breed to become more thoughtful and better able to assess a situation for danger? I donât' know if this is true or not, anyone else hear this? My last real experience of danger on the trail was a tree that fell almost on top of us from the hillside above. My ride (a Friesian) and my trainer's ride (a Friesian) freaked, both bolting and then mine pitched me off when I tried to stop him after we cleared the danger zone. The third rider, my son on his Fjord (whom he almost never rode) took off at a fast trot (not at my son's request), and stopped, (again not at my son's request) turning to look at the fallen tree about ten yards past. My son immediately dismounted in distress, dropping his reins. My Fjord calmly walked over to where I was struggling to my feet and checked me out thoroughly for damage. My son was 17 at the time, obviously not a rider. Ten years earlier, my son was on the same horse, second in line on a trail ride when the lead horse got his leg and tail caught in a small fallen tree. The lead horse freaked, and it took his rider some time to calm him down and extricate him from the tree. My son's horse quickly trotted up the hillside off the trail about ten yards (his idea, not my son's), turned around, saw what was actually happening and calmly rejoined the lead horse. Since that day I've told my son, if anything happens, just listen to Woody. At age 17 after not having ridden in over two years, when danger threatened, this novice rider stayed calm knowing Woody would know what to do. Btw, Woody is now a therapeutic riding horse at Hearts with Hands in Georgia. He is the star of their program, but I made them promise to send him home when he stopped having fun. He seemed to be getting really bored and depressed after my son stopped riding him regularly (after all he was 16 when I got him), and told me he wanted a job. He is now 27 years young and having a ball. We get a copy of their newsletter every month and there are always more pictures of him then any of the other horses in the program. I love this breed! Kim Kim Nord Castle Ladyhawke www.castleladyhawkeweddings.com 828 894-0466 -Original Message- From: bbd...@aol.com Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 10:54 AM To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Subject: Fjords vs others This message is from: bbd...@aol.com Hello list and potential Fjord owners,  I think we were all reflecting on the power of our Fjords to make people realize that Fjords are real horses, not overstuffed ponies. Horses with the strength of a cold blood, the grace of a warmblood and the beauty of a hotblood with the brains of, well...an extremely intelligent equine. Our Fjords are capable of so much and IMO only limited in their capabilities by what the owner/trainer is willing to do with them. Good training is paramount for any horse or pony.. I certainly keep learning that over and over again.  Most of us have put a lot of thought into choosing our breed of horse and we have certainly had many other breeds to choose from. Dare to be different and own a Fjord! Bonnie Important Fjord Horse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important Fjord Horse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L
Training the One-rein stop?
This message is from: Julia Webb jemw...@hotmail.com So, I'm curious about things we can learn from this.Practical takeaways. Fjord trainers: Any differences with installing that one-rein stop/disengagement of the hind-quarters with Fjords? I'm not the best rider in the world, but as a thinking adult beginner, I've had many teachers, all of which (to some degree or another) made sure I knew how to A) Get off a moving horse as safely as possible, and B) Train that one-rein stop. (At least with a Fjord, the distance to the ground is a lot less than the 16.3 Standardbred I learned the rolling dismount on...). I know that most horses can run right through a pulley rein or a one-rein stop if they haven't had it ingrained to the point of instinct. Any experience with making it as effective as possible? -JuliaFjordless in Kansas Thank you so much for that info Valerie! I needed the confidence boost! I want to take Andy and J.J. to Arcadia and have thought of them running away since reading some emails on here..very scary thought Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
looking for fjord in Western Montana...
This message is from: Elizabeth Maeve Ross-McKee sagegar...@hotmail.com Hello List :) I have been lurking on this list for years ;) and have followed the exploits of some fabulous, funny horses and their owners. I have been wanting a Fjord for years, I got sidetracked with (shameful I know) Haflingers... and I have an older haffie thats pulled up lame (suspensory tendons, both sides of a rear fetlock) and I have no idea when or if he will ever recover. At age 16 it's unlikley he'll ever be soud. Since he's my heart, I wont put him down or 'can' him so he's a pasture pet for now. But... I need to ride to keep my lower spine 'open' and the QH I bought is more like a racehorse now that she has enough to eat and daily care... I do spoil them. but she seems way taller than she was when i bought her on 9-11. At a body condition of 2 (ya a 2 almost dead) she seemed so short.. LOL now she's fat adn sassy and way more horse than I think I can ride although we're really bonded and she trusts me totally I think she needs a younger, thinner rider who will show that sooty buckskin to her full potential. (woudl be a grand barrel horse for a youngster! EAsy Jet/Doc Bar/Go Man Go lines). So I am in the market for well trained Fjord. NOthing fancy. Just a trail horse. Nothing over age 10. I have one geriatric horse already. One is enough. 14 hands ish.. 15 is way too tall and anything under 14 might not be strong enough to haul me around. I Have the haflinger saddle with ex flat bars so that table top drafty look is fine. I just want a nice walk trot canter that will go down the road, or up in the mountains (easy trails.. i am old and half crippled LOL so no more crosscountry stuff for me). I also will be employing the haflinger and any other horses in my care as mental health equine assistants for 'hug a horse' therapy, EGALA (when I get my certification this year) but NOT riding therapy. Just ground stuff for the clients. (insurance and all that) . For those reasons I am turning to Fjords to fill that spot in my 'herd' - riding horse for me, therapy horse for clients. And there seems to be more Fjords than halfingers, I wanted a Fjord when I FOUND haflingers . Fjords were always way out of my price range. I still am not rich by any means but I am willing to stick my toe into the Fjord price pool just to test the waters ;) Grade is ok. Registered is ok. I'd consider a cross breed too if she's the right horse. What I don't want is a horse with a sketchy past Ther was a lovely grade Fjord mare at a local rescue last year but I had noidea what age she was backed or whn the outfitter that used to own her started putting heavyloads on her. She was full of 'white' marks from breechins, saddle marks etc. so I passed on her due to the price tag and not knowing her past. I am not a 'newbie' horse owner by anymeans LOL. but i've never had a Fjord before either. so if anyone has that spare younger mare in the barn ( i do not breed horses. i love mares. it's a Girl Power thing ;) that's a nice littl riding horse that canhaul a fat granny around on daily short rides and a couple of times a week take a 6 mile ride out to my friend's ranch, not afriad of traffic or deer or cows please email me off list. sagegar...@hotmail.com thanks Liz in western Montana an ya i have excellent references from the vets, horse club members and my ferrier who tells me I fret too much ... he's right, but the ponies are my kids. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
