Re: Training the One-rein stop?
This message is from: Kim Manzoni kim.manz...@yahoo.com I have been teaching my horses the one rein stop for a few years now because I have a QH that was labelled as Dangerous by former owners and trainers. My best advice is flex, flex, flex. You want your horse to be soft and supple so that when you pick up on the reins, even in an emergency, you are able to get that head around to your leg. A horse should not be able to continue to run away... at least not forward... if his head is bent to your leg. While I have not trained a Fjord yet, I am sure that if you get your horse soft and supple and bending that head around, it should work just the same. -Kim ... Fjordless until March From: Julia Webb jemw...@hotmail.com To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 11:35 PM Subject: 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 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 a Fjord?
This message is from: bryhyl bry...@together.net I recived this note from the owners of Bryhyl Gabryel, an 11 year old Fjord gelding (Ring x Burlwood Zoe (Solar)). Gabryel was born on our farm, one of the last Ring's, and started his training there. I think this answers the question why a Fjord and shows the wide range of ability in one package. Other breeds have different lines for different abilities and disciplines, with a Fjord, versatility can come in one wonderful pony. As always Bryhyl Gabryel is our, and the barn's, Norwegian angel. He truly is the pony who has created a million smiles and lots of laughter. He still loves to work and enjoys everything from therapeutic riding to eventing with the exception still being driving. In 2011 he continued his Special Olympics work with the young man who never spoke until the day he said Good Boy Gabe and several others, he taught Western riding to several University of Maine students, continued to shock and amaze many with his incredible jumping abilities, was the life of the party at game shows during which he thrives on the spectator attention and laughter when he exudes his comedic personality and somehow became the leader of the gelding pasture (quite funny actually...the little guy rules). The highlight of his year though was the day he was chosen to give a lady in her 60s her miracle wish. Bobbi was always a very vibrant, active lady who lived life to its fullest and enjoyed riding until she developed sepsis after surgery. She has lost both legs below the knees, one arm below the elbow and most use in the other. Her prognosis is not positive and her wish was to once again ride. An entire entourage of people gathered to make this happen which as it turned out was not really necessary. Gabe met her, knew instantly what her needs were, planted his feet squarely beside the mounting ramp at the point where he knew would be best for her to get on and the rest is history. In a matter of seconds she was helped on, and he never moved a muscle until he knew she was comfortable and then they were off. Needless to say, there was not a dry eye in the arena. It was definitely one of those events you did not want to end. Marcy Baer Briar Hill Farm Over 20 years of Breeding, Training Loving Fjords www.briarhillfarm.com 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: Training the One-rein stop?
This message is from: S K windyacre...@yahoo.com Kim, Very good advice! My trainer, Chris Lombard teaches that very method...but some people are afraid I suppose, the Fjord's neck is So powerful the one rein stop won't workIt does on my AndyI'm sure with a diligent amount of training any Fjord will hopefully, turn that awesome neck around! From: Kim Manzoni kim.manz...@yahoo.com To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 5:41 AM Subject: Re: Training the One-rein stop? This message is from: Kim Manzoni kim.manz...@yahoo.com I have been teaching my horses the one rein stop for a few years now because I have a QH that was labelled as Dangerous by former owners and trainers. My best advice is flex, flex, flex. You want your horse to be soft and supple so that when you pick up on the reins, even in an emergency, you are able to get that head around to your leg. A horse should not be able to continue to run away... at least not forward... if his head is bent to your leg. While I have not trained a Fjord yet, I am sure that if you get your horse soft and supple and bending that head around, it should work just the same. -Kim ... Fjordless until March From: Julia Webb jemw...@hotmail.com To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 11:35 PM Subject: 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 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 Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: why a Fjord?
This message is from: S K windyacre...@yahoo.com If this doesn't bring tears to your eyes, I don't know what will!!! From: bryhyl bry...@together.net To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 8:46 AM Subject: why a Fjord? This message is from: bryhyl bry...@together.net I recived this note from the owners of Bryhyl Gabryel, an 11 year old Fjord gelding (Ring x Burlwood Zoe (Solar)). Gabryel was born on our farm, one of the last Ring's, and started his training there. I think this answers the question why a Fjord and shows the wide range of ability in one package. Other breeds have different lines for different abilities and disciplines, with a Fjord, versatility can come in one wonderful pony. As always Bryhyl Gabryel is our, and the barn's, Norwegian angel. He truly is the pony who has created a million smiles and lots of laughter. He still loves to work and enjoys everything from therapeutic riding to eventing with the exception still being driving. In 2011 he continued his Special Olympics work with the young man who never spoke until the day he said Good Boy Gabe and several others, he taught Western riding to several University of Maine students, continued to shock and amaze many with his incredible jumping abilities, was the life of the party at game shows during which he thrives on the spectator attention and laughter when he exudes his comedic personality and somehow became the leader of the gelding pasture (quite funny actually...the little guy rules). The highlight of his year though was the day he was chosen to give a lady in her 60s her miracle wish. Bobbi was always a very vibrant, active lady who lived life to its fullest and enjoyed riding until she developed sepsis after surgery. She has lost both legs below the knees, one arm below the elbow and most use in the other. Her prognosis is not positive and her wish was to once again ride. An entire entourage of people gathered to make this happen which as it turned out was not really necessary. Gabe met her, knew instantly what her needs were, planted his feet squarely beside the mounting ramp at the point where he knew would be best for her to get on and the rest is history. In a matter of seconds she was helped on, and he never moved a muscle until he knew she was comfortable and then they were off. Needless to say, there was not a dry eye in the arena. It was definitely one of those events you did not want to end. Marcy Baer Briar Hill Farm Over 20 years of Breeding, Training Loving Fjords www.briarhillfarm.com 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
fjords
This message is from: Debby miss.am...@earthlink.net Iâve only had 4 fjords in my life, still have two although âmomâ is older, 24yrs., has cushings and some other health issues going on, and itâs a worry. I do think that cushings is more common amongst the âponyâ breeds but thatâs my opinion. Her mom had it. Which of course worries me about Ynde, mine and Ambers 9yr. old. I look back and although Iâd have taken Amber, as she was given to me needing a good home, the lady was older and ill, on dialysis, and needed to place all of her ponies. Amber and her mom were the only two fjords she had. The mom âDagneyâ died within a few months. Amber came to me with a stifle issue after being with a trainer for a few months, had taken a fall on a hard ground in a terrible round pen. I took her to breed her one time, which is what I did. I then got Lang, whom I loved and lost and was THE best of the fjords and one of the best of any breed as Iâve had several breeds. A lot came from just his nature, not all fjords are the same, and a lot from the trainer that put a lot of time on him and also knew him to be a special one. He did have some conformation issues. Iâd gotten another fjord, gray, mainly for the color, but he turned out to be too strong and scarey for me. He was very studdy even though gelded and was one that could and would explode and it was a big explosion. He kicked a hole through my dutch door, all the way through, and this is a very well put together barn. He was mad I was putting others out and he wanted to be the first one. I just could not trust him. If I had it to do all over again, Iâd still have taken Amber, to make sure she was safe but I donât know Iâd have gotten any more fjords. I love them dearly, but the issue of their weight, keeping them off of grass/pastures, having to wear the nose masks if they are out so they canât each much grass. I think if I lived in an area where it was very similar to where fjords originally lived, like ponies living on rocky grounds and little to eat and having to walk for miles to graze, it would be different. I also love dressage and though there are many doing dressage with their fjords, it is a challenge to find one that can canter and canter for any length of time, though I know in the lower levels and in training, one does not have to canter all over the place. But the canter is challenging for fjords, I think. And with the heavier muscling, it is hard for them to work without many breaks. I think different breeds are meant for different things. Doesnât mean someone canât do dressage or driving or jumping or eventing or even endurance with a fjord. Its just understanding how far can you go with them and the required work/training to get there. Some can go pretty far, just finding the right one and the right trainer, the right breeder. When we first started riding, I had an Arab and my husband had a Quarterhorse. Had very little health issues with either. The Arab died at 28yrs. of age, little health issues before then. Seemed one day he was young and the next he was old. Never had to worry about him being out on pasture and though not a typical dressage horse, he saw my daughter through 3yrs. of pony club, me doing trails and playing with dressage and a floaty horse he was. My husbands QH is with a young girl still today, doing lower level evening. He is in his late 20âs, almost 30yrs. old. Never had to worry about him being out on pasture 24/7 and very little health worries. Iâve heard people refer to fjords as âair fernsâ, they smell hay and gain weight. I just donât like that kind of worry anymore and wish Iâd known about it a bit more but one doesnât know really unless they are around them before they ever have one of their own. Maybe thatâs a good lesson, to be around them, work around them, get lessons on them, really learn them. That could be said about any breed for any type of riding or driving one would have plans to do. My daughter has the perfect setup right now, she hasnât her own horse, she is working parttime at a barn, giving some lessons to beginners, dressage, and riding warmbloods that need some schooling. She hasnât the worry of feeding nor vet or farrier or health issues for one of her own. She wants her own horse again someday, but right now, this is working for her and it seems a good thing to me. Well, just my thoughts. And that neck on these fjords, once they know they have that, itâs a hard thing to take control of. I was fortunate in that Lang never used his neck nor grabbed the bit. Amber, when she was younger and her stifle mended, she knew she had that strong neck, and she used it against you. She is the sweetest on the ground and loves to give and get love, but on her back, she gets spooked or scared, or even just decides she is going back to the barn, itâs a struggle. Ynde, she could be that way, but I learned to watch her
Re: Training the One-rein stop?
This message is from: Mary Ofjord ma...@boreal.org 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? Ah yes, the one-rein-stop. When I first got back into horses for the second time in my life, about eighteen years ago, I realized I didn't have the speed or coordination and fearlessness I had in my youth. This was about the time the natural horsemanship movement hit the media - thank goodness. I read about one rein stops and got my mare to do a lovely disengagement and stop at the walk, trot and lope - in the arena. If she would get anxious out on the trail, I could use it to my advantage in that situation too. One fine day, my husband and I were going out our old driveway for a ride. Rune, the horse he was riding suddenly spotted a SIGN that hadn't been there the last time he went down that driveway. He spun around so fast that my husband swears he could see his huge blond butt and black tail disappearing down the driveway back towards the barn before he hit the ground! My mare decided there must be some reason to run for her life and decided to take off after Rune. I can use my one rein stop, I thought. Ha! I grabbed one rein and it felt like I was pulling on a freight train. At that point I decided I might as well just go along for the ride. It was fast but short. My husband's gelding was peacefully grazing on the lawn when my mare and I pulled up beside him. He looked at us like hi, ya want some grass? So, moral to this story, you can teach the one rein stop to any horse, but when they are really in a panic, with their strong, heavy muscular necks Fjords might not be as easy to stop as one of those skinny necked critters. Mary O North Coast Fjords __ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 6844 (20120131) __ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com 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: Training the One-rein stop?
This message is from: Starfire Farm starfiref...@usa.net On 1/30/2012 9:35 PM, Julia Webb wrote: 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. This was Buck Brannaman's advice, many years ago during a colt starting clinic I was in, about teaching the one-rein halt...Make it [the halt] a soothing place to be,...so the horse gets security from it rather than being just a means of control. So, I don't think it is just about flex, flex, flex. Sometimes if you try to teach a Fjord to flex roboticly (like some clinicians) you can teach the horse to fear and brace against the one-rein halt. Often, with a Fjord, one needs to break down a movement or request into smaller steps to help it understand what you want. Teach it to yield laterally to the bit (or, preferably to the halter) slightly first, then graduate to adding neck flexion, then add the disengagement. The rider's seat position and balance are also crucial in a one-rein halt. The rider's balance should be somewhat over the outside hip, but deep and grounded in the seat of the saddle, rather than what the body wants to do naturally, which is lean over the inside shoulder, weight out of the seat and over the rider's legs. Unfortunately, when the weight of the rider is over the shoulders, it makes the horse's weight fall onto the forehand and the horse could lose its balance, falling over its own front feet. A scary situation for both horse and rider. Fjords can have very strong necks, but setting that neck always starts with /mental/ strength or bracing. Under normal circumstances (meaning the horse is comfortable with the situation, etc.) their necks are extremely supple. In fact, I have found them to be extremely supple throughout their entire bodies! I have taught, and continue to teach, many Fjords (and other horses) to do a one rein halt /without/ reins, essentially teaching them to disengage when I touch the hindquarter button (my students will understand this! ;-) When you have that...you really have a connection that can be very reliable. Having said that, a horse that is truly afraid and is a true runaway cannot be bent with any amount of force, Fjord or otherwise. One had to chose whether to ride it out or jump off. If you ride it out, you have to wait until the horse peaks to try to make any effect with a one rein halt. Make that one-rein halt your horse's little happy place and you should have a tool that is reliable for both you and your horse. Beth -- Beth Beymer and Sandy North Starfire Farm, LLC www.starfirefarm.com 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: Fjord Horse Digest
This message is from: Mary Nelson maryn...@hotmail.com My name is Mary, and I just bought a mare from Bob and Sally Kjorsvig. I live in northeast Nebraska, and I was hoping to find some other Fjord people. I have 3 Quarter Horses as well and 5 dogs. I'm trying to get the mare driving again. It has probably been a year since she was driven. I need some help getting her going again. She has been ground-driven, but I need a bigger bridle, some parts missing from my harness needed for driving single safely, and a single horse cart/wagon to get her started. Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:19:10 -0500 To: maryn...@hotmail.com From: majord...@angus.mystery.com Subject: Majordomo results -- subscribe fjordhorse-digest Succeeded. You are now subscribed to Digest version of fjordhorse This mailing list has no confirmation requirement. If you did not request that you be subscribed to the above mailing list and suspect that this is an invalid subscription request, please contact invalidsub+fjordhorse-dig...@mystery.com as soon as possible. We will remove your address from this mailing list and, if you request it, supply you with a copy of the subscription request. 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 gelding for sale
This message is from: kathleen jesse kmje...@unm.edu It takes a community. Several members of the RMFHC and 4 Winds Equestrian Retreat and Wellness Center in Central New Mexico are helping to facilitating the sale of four Norwegian Fjord horses from the Sangre De Christo Youth Ranch. These horses are the offspring of Norwegian Fjord horse foundation stock imported from Norway almost thirty years ago. The Sangre De Christo Youth camp is a small scale working/teaching ranch that sponsors a free summer camp to city kids offering them the opportunity to experience riding and caring for horses, farming, milking goats, and an opportunity to experience sustainable living principals in practice. The ranch was started in the mid 80's by Dr. Bud Wilson and his wife Barbara. After teaching cardiac surgery in India, Bud and his family moved to the ABQ area where he helped establish the cardia-thoracic surgery program and UNM School of Medicine. In 1985, the Wilsons purchased 700 pristine acres in Llama, New Mexico to start their youth ranch. The Wilsons wanted a riding program to be one of the main stays of the camp, and in researching various types of horses, they learned of the hardiness, intelligence, even temperament and versatility of the Norwegian Fjord horse. They purchased and imported two stallions and six mares from Norway to begin their riding program. From 1985 until the present these horses and their offspring have been ridden, driven, played with, etc. by countless children. The residential camp is completely free. It is run on a small budget by a small staff, volunteers, and the Doctor. Due to the extreme drought conditions on the ranch and the rising cost of maintaining the riding program, SCYR needs to downsize their historic herd of Norwegian Fjords. Curly Moe (King Haakon x Vilde) is one of four horses for sale from the SCYR herd. He is a 9 y/o 14hh dun gelding. Great, fun horse! Currently in training with trainer, Patty Wilber. Nice gaits, great trot, well mannered, will go anywhere on the trail. He needs an experienced, consistent rider to complete his training . Curly Moe is $1500. To see the trainers blog of Curly's first ride: http://www.doranna.net/wordplay/index.php/2012/01/20/curly-moe-norwegian-fjo rd/ To learn more of SCYR: www.localogy.org. To find out more about Curly Moe or of the other SCYR Fjords for sale: http://www.4windsequinecenter.com/ www.4windsequinecenter.com/ 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
This message is from: jern...@mosquitonet.com About the Fjord Neck: All horses have Seven Neck vertebrae! Long necked horses just have longer vertebrae, Fjords have shorter vertebrae! actually that may make their neck easier to bend! The giraffe has 7 vertebrae, also I believe,. It is the muscling on the Fjord neck that makes them so strong...But trained right they can do it all: Oh, not EVERY Fjord can do everything as some are more athletic than others, some are more drafty, etc, etc. Look for good conformations, a middle of the line model, not too drafty not too light boned, general purpose style! Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, where the sun is shing and it IS warming up! about -20 at mid day And that neck on these fjords, once they know they have that, itâs a hard thing to take control of. I was fortunate in that Lang never used his neck nor grabbed the bit. Amber, when she was younger and her stifle mended, she knew she had that strong neck, and she used it against you. She is the sweetest on the ground and loves to give and get love, but on her back, she gets spooked or scared, or even just decides she is going back to the barn, itâs a struggle. Ynde, she could be that way, but I learned to watch her eye when lunging her on the lunge line, and to always keep her close in a certain area, always a step ahead of her thinking, as they are a thinking animal, they have to be. I think its the nature of the horse, all horses have to stay a step ahead, its called surviving. I guess thatâs where we have to hope we can earn their trust, and its not always easy. A horse is a horse. take care. Debby 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: Fjord Horse Digest
This message is from: Kim Manzoni kim.manz...@yahoo.com HI Mary Congratulations on your new Fjord! Bob and Sally Kjorsvig have some very very nice Fjords! I wish we lived closer, I am in Maryland. Sure would be nice to have some Fjord friends. Enjoy! Kim From: Mary Nelson maryn...@hotmail.com To: fjordhorse-dig...@mystery.com Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 7:44 PM Subject: RE: Fjord Horse Digest This message is from: Mary Nelson maryn...@hotmail.com My name is Mary, and I just bought a mare from Bob and Sally Kjorsvig. I live in northeast Nebraska, and I was hoping to find some other Fjord people. I have 3 Quarter Horses as well and 5 dogs. I'm trying to get the mare driving again. It has probably been a year since she was driven. I need some help getting her going again. She has been ground-driven, but I need a bigger bridle, some parts missing from my harness needed for driving single safely, and a single horse cart/wagon to get her started. Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:19:10 -0500 To: maryn...@hotmail.com From: majord...@angus.mystery.com Subject: Majordomo results -- subscribe fjordhorse-digest Succeeded. You are now subscribed to Digest version of fjordhorse This mailing list has no confirmation requirement. If you did not request that you be subscribed to the above mailing list and suspect that this is an invalid subscription request, please contact invalidsub+fjordhorse-dig...@mystery.com as soon as possible. We will remove your address from this mailing list and, if you request it, supply you with a copy of the subscription request. 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: Training the One-rein stop?
This message is from: Kim Manzoni kim.manz...@yahoo.com Beth Thank you for this great advice! It will definitely come in handy as I train my youngster! Very good info!! -Kim in Maryland...reading Yahoo messages instead of doing my taxes! From: Starfire Farm starfiref...@usa.net To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 1:16 PM Subject: Re: Training the One-rein stop? This message is from: Starfire Farm starfiref...@usa.net On 1/30/2012 9:35 PM, Julia Webb wrote: 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. This was Buck Brannaman's advice, many years ago during a colt starting clinic I was in, about teaching the one-rein halt...Make it [the halt] a soothing place to be,...so the horse gets security from it rather than being just a means of control. So, I don't think it is just about flex, flex, flex. Sometimes if you try to teach a Fjord to flex roboticly (like some clinicians) you can teach the horse to fear and brace against the one-rein halt. Often, with a Fjord, one needs to break down a movement or request into smaller steps to help it understand what you want. Teach it to yield laterally to the bit (or, preferably to the halter) slightly first, then graduate to adding neck flexion, then add the disengagement. The rider's seat position and balance are also crucial in a one-rein halt. The rider's balance should be somewhat over the outside hip, but deep and grounded in the seat of the saddle, rather than what the body wants to do naturally, which is lean over the inside shoulder, weight out of the seat and over the rider's legs. Unfortunately, when the weight of the rider is over the shoulders, it makes the horse's weight fall onto the forehand and the horse could lose its balance, falling over its own front feet. A scary situation for both horse and rider. Fjords can have very strong necks, but setting that neck always starts with /mental/ strength or bracing. Under normal circumstances (meaning the horse is comfortable with the situation, etc.) their necks are extremely supple. In fact, I have found them to be extremely supple throughout their entire bodies! I have taught, and continue to teach, many Fjords (and other horses) to do a one rein halt /without/ reins, essentially teaching them to disengage when I touch the hindquarter button (my students will understand this! ;-) When you have that...you really have a connection that can be very reliable. Having said that, a horse that is truly afraid and is a true runaway cannot be bent with any amount of force, Fjord or otherwise. One had to chose whether to ride it out or jump off. If you ride it out, you have to wait until the horse peaks to try to make any effect with a one rein halt. Make that one-rein halt your horse's little happy place and you should have a tool that is reliable for both you and your horse. Beth -- Beth Beymer and Sandy North Starfire Farm, LLC www.starfirefarm.com 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: fjordhorse-digest V2012 #22
This message is from: Elizabeth Maeve Ross-McKee sagegar...@hotmail.com Re: looking for Fjord in Western Montana, THANK YOU ALL for the kind words and helpful responses, information and available Fjords in my neck of the woods :) WOW! I did not expect such warm, welcoming responses and overall good wishes and energy and I am just a bit overwhelmed :) I am going to be patient. I will look at geldings,but i want a mare LOL!, I shall also be sure to ave a horse that will drive due to my advancing years.. So much GOOD practical advice from all of the community from breeders, trainers, owners (past and present) Thank you so much! I am open to learning as much as I can about this powerhouse breed before purchase. I want this horse buying experience to be 'right'. ive made plenty of mistakes in the past. IT's time to put all that 'learning from past errors' to work! Fjordless but hopeful Liz a cold wind starting to snake through the valley... temps in the high 20s after sunset... Brrr Montana Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH-L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
