From bridles to bits...Need a slightly bigger one
This message is from: divingduoandcor...@comcast.net I ride english and western and am having issues with finding a western low port curb bit for my fjord.  She barely fits the standard 5 inch width and we tried to spread the top part (where it attaches to the bridle) with limited success.  I know myler will custom make them.  Any other suggestions for sources?  I tried to search sites online with limited success... 5 inch is too small and draft sizes way too big. Have been enjoying the discussion on fjord disposition, etc.  Reminded me of looking for the one I know own (and adore).  Two years ago, I rode one that was described as a sporty type fjord that  I later discovered had a reputation for being  "spooky".  The owner couldnt show him to me because she fell off and broke her arm...     My mare will spook when she is insecure, a little high (loves cooler weather) pushed a little out of her comfort zone...but after experiencing my ex-racehorse spooking, hers usually make me smile .  Kinda slow motion and ending in a "freeze and stare".   I enjoy her so much, not just because she is a somewhat "typical" fjord, but after following these posts I think we are a good match of temperament and experience ...and we become better adapted to each other everyday.  Beth M, Bob, the Corgis and the Fjord 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: Runaway Fjords
This message is from: Robin Churchill I totally agree with your comments. I think some horses and handlers/riders just find the right connection and others don't. It doesn't mean the horse or the person is bad necessarily, they just didn't work out. The fjord that would take off with me was not a bad horse and it wasn't that he didn't like me and I certainly adored him. I think I was too inexperienced and not confident enough for a horse of his age and temperament at the time. I sold him to someone who to be honest, is a more skilled and confident rider and I think he has worked out fine for her. I have a horse now that didn't work out for someone else but after a little bit of adjustment here is working out great for me. I couldn't be more thrilled with the two geldings I have now. They are both different in a lot of ways but they both suit me. I am totally comfortable working with them and riding them which is actually something I was not sure I would ever achieve since I learned to ride as an adult and therefore was fairly timid for a number of years. Especially Magnus really restored my confidence because he is just so brave and steady but after he settled in here, Levi became very steady as well. I have learned a tremendous amount from working with the fjords and I think it has made me a much better horseperson. Two things I have taken away from the experience is that not every horse is going to work for every person and it doesn't mean it is a bad horse or you are a failure if it doesn't and the old saying that "this too shall pass". In other words, most likely if the horse is not doing what you want in some way, if you are just patient and don't get too worried or upset, eventually you will work through it and the horse will either stop doing the thing you don't want or start doing the thing you do want. And then some other thing will crop up that you will work through. It just seems to be the nature of working with horses. Of course, there are some people that seem to have the magic touch and every horse instantly loves them and is totally obedient but I think that is not the case for most of us. Robin Some of them I get along famously with, and there are others that I/we can't get a connection no matter what I do. And I'm sure we've all heard about someone selling an animal they didn't click with, only to have the next owner find the horse of a lifetime. It's happened to me. 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: bridles
This message is from: Cindy B Giovanetti Ro asked: <> (custom made headgear) Here: http://www.halfcircleranch.com/store/pc/home.asp If you call, the nice lady who makes the stuff (Jessica) will talk you through everything. Tell her I recommended her. We've laughed about the strange proportions of Oden's head! I had already ordered a regular horse-sized halter with a draft-sized throatlatch from her. The draft-sized throatlatch fit fine, but the rest of the halter is too big! But her prices are cheap, so I don't mind another try. I just ordered the Indian hackamore halter ( http://www.halfcircleranch.com/store/pc/Indian-Hackamore-Halter-71p157.htm ). We took very careful measurements to get everything right, and I know it's still a bit iffy. I can tell you the rope she uses is soft and nice. Cindy Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Belligerent rider
This message is from: Tonja Acker-Richards So lets see: one writer says animals have no personality but humans do. Are we not in fact animals? Isn't personality regardless of species simply the labels/attributions we apply to behaviors and emotional process? Tekla stands up alone on the hill. Is she depressed? Is she happy to be away from that pesky Ike? Is she sulking because Baby got to go to the clinic? If Telka often stands alone on the hill do we label her standoffish? stubborn? free spirited? belligerent? Seems we make a best guess using observed data and try to work with that personality. My Morgan could hear when the fencer was off and would strum the wire with her lip. We could attribute that pretty fairly to intelligence. She was an alpha mare. She was smart and playful. No she could not plot revenge on me when I sold her son. But she could connect no clicking with wire and beyond that to heaven (grass). No doubt in my mind at first Nickie tried every trick in the book to try (short term plan) to unsettle us (run down hill, wipe your through pine boughs, dump in puddle, over jump tiny stick, fake trip, fake drunk (weave out driveway), lay down (sooo embarrassing in halter class) etc. Most fascinating is each trick was played only once! He is coming along great and later we bought his Mom who is clearly the tree from which he fell! Must say we got Nick from nice people who treated him like a spoiled puppy which leads me to the blame the trainer thread: First of all of course good training matters. But we do not (I hope) blame the parent of autistic child for the kid's bad social skills. Why wouldn't horses or lines of horses have these same genetic differences and deficits? I wonder how animals perceive the personality of humans? Somehow they might differentiate the nice one from the mean one. The pushover from the assertive leader. What do they make of Tekla's behavior? I find personality very interesting concept. I must be inquisitive:) Tonja Acker-Richards Pond House Farm 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: mules & more............
This message is from: Julia Webb Especially when the unwanted behavior leaves you in the dirt 300 yards away from the horse who is now grazing contentedly near her buddy. ;-) - Julia & Isabella (Formerly owned by pony mules.) SC Kansas Sent from my iPhone On Jun 21, 2013, at 4:42 PM, "Rovena Kessinger" wrote: > This message is from: Rovena Kessinger > > > It's very hard not to reward the behavior you don't want sometimes. 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: mules & more............
This message is from: Rovena Kessinger It's very hard not to reward the behavior you don't want sometimes. --- On Fri, 6/21/13, Teressa wrote: From: Teressa Subject: RE: mules & more To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Date: Friday, June 21, 2013, 2:52 PM This message is from: "Teressa" Along the lines of Robin's comments, I have a gelding who used to be a bolter. He was a big boy and if he wanted to take control, he would. I am a relative novice horse owner so I don't have years of experience with lots of different horses. But I noticed when a friend was riding him and he would bolt, that he was brought back to the trot and then the walk. Fjords are smart and most like to work but they also like to mess with us humans. I suggested that when she felt the bolt, to turn him, still in the canter, into a 10 meter circle which like a one rein stop slows his pace and then continue with whatever cantering exercise was being done. Once he figured out that the bolt wouldn't get him out of work, he quit doing it. I also think it was his method of getting attention - if he's cantering with someone on his back, he doesn't get petted. That's my gelding - none of my fjords are exactly the same in their disposition - just like none of my schnauzers are. Generally, though, the fjords are affectionate, smart and can figure us out quicker than we figure them out. Often, my reaction to misbehaviors must have seemed like a reward to them. Still happens now. Teressa 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: mules & more............
This message is from: "Teressa" Along the lines of Robin's comments, I have a gelding who used to be a bolter. He was a big boy and if he wanted to take control, he would. I am a relative novice horse owner so I don't have years of experience with lots of different horses. But I noticed when a friend was riding him and he would bolt, that he was brought back to the trot and then the walk. Fjords are smart and most like to work but they also like to mess with us humans. I suggested that when she felt the bolt, to turn him, still in the canter, into a 10 meter circle which like a one rein stop slows his pace and then continue with whatever cantering exercise was being done. Once he figured out that the bolt wouldn't get him out of work, he quit doing it. I also think it was his method of getting attention - if he's cantering with someone on his back, he doesn't get petted. That's my gelding - none of my fjords are exactly the same in their disposition - just like none of my schnauzers are. Generally, though, the fjords are affectionate, smart and can figure us out quicker than we figure them out. Often, my reaction to misbehaviors must have seemed like a reward to them. Still happens now. Teressa Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Runaway Fjords
This message is from: "Mary Ofjord" What you said is very true. And don't get me wrong, I've had some bad actors with a couple of my Fjords, but I believe they had my number and had people figured out. Some of them I get along famously with, and there are others that I/we can't get a connection no matter what I do. And I'm sure we've all heard about someone selling an animal they didn't click with, only to have the next owner find the horse of a lifetime. It's happened to me. And yes, I've ridden a spooky Fjord, and I still have her, but as my confidence and skill level increased the spooks mostly have disappeared. She still might try and look though! :-) Mary Ofjord North Coast Services, LLC 218-387-1879 Mary, I guess you have been lucky..but I think sometimes they require more finesse to train than other breeds because in my opinion, they tend to be pretty smart and more invested in their relationship with the handler. Robin in Florida 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: mules & more............
This message is from: Robin Churchill Mary, I guess you have been lucky. It is true that some of these things may be caused by poor handling or training or perhaps just the interaction between certain people and certain horses, but I've had horses for 20 years and fjords for 10 and have owned 8 horses, 5 of them fjords. Only one of those horses ever bolted and it was a fjord and he did it several times with me and also with one of my friends. Other than that you couldn't have asked for a nicer, better, friendlier, more talented horse so it wasn't that he was just a bad, crazy horse. He had a lot of training and none of it was rough or abusive. He was trailered extensively to clinics and successfully shown locally and regionally. It is likely he required a more confident leader than I was, but he was a fjord and he would bolt, not often but on occasion. And when he would do it, he never got to quit work or got me off, so he was not rewarded for it. I personally believe any horse will bolt given the right set of circumstances, but some are more likely to do it than others and fjords are not exempt from it. I think it is discouraging, particularly to people who are new to fjords to be told everything the horse does is their fault. It is probably true that the majority of the time it is the trainer/handler and not the horse that causes problems either through inexperience or lack of skill and I have been there many times, but fjords are horses and they do all the same things other horses do and require the same if not more effort, and skill to train. People tend to think they are easier and maybe some of them are, but I think sometimes they require more finesse to train than other breeds because in my opinion, they tend to be pretty smart and more invested in their relationship with the handler. Robin in Florida I have never seen any of these qualities in any of the Fjords I have been around. 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: mules & more............
This message is from: Rovena Kessinger I'm pretty sure it's handling too. Bam-Bam was so head-shy and nervous and ready to run when when I first got him, but now he acts like a puppy when it's just me and him. I just need to get him better with everything else. It's not things he is scared of, but people. Today I had an umbrella, and they were both scared at first, but it only took a few minutes before Bam-Bam was ignoring me opening over his head and all around. Odi the mule wouldn't get close to it when I was opening it up. I think mules are mistreated a lot because they are so stoic. --- On Fri, 6/21/13, Mary Ofjord wrote: From: Mary Ofjord Subject: mules & more To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Date: Friday, June 21, 2013, 11:48 AM This message is from: "Mary Ofjord" I have not heard of Fjords with the issues that have come up with this current thread, but apparently they are out there. Such as; not liking to have their feet handled; kicking when cornered (any horse would do that); unfriendly Fjords, bolting and spooking... I have never seen any of these qualities in any of the Fjords I have been around. If I didn't know better and had just read these past few posts, I surely would not want a Fjord. These are not horse issues; they are more than likely caused by people's improper handling of the horses. And in praise of mules; nowadays, the mule people are breeding some outstanding mules - beautiful animals, and when treated and started with kindness and respect, they turn out just fine. I'm not saying you have to be wishy-washy around them, but some of the comments about bad mules also come from improper handling of the animals - the 'Old Mule Skinner' ways. The comment below from Rovena's trimmer about the mules aiming to kill just exacerbates the reputation of these fine animals. So sad. Mary Ofjord North Coast Services, LLC 218-387-1879 You mean about how mules kick? This message is from: Theresa Christiansen Wow! I own both mules and fjords and have for years. I couldn't disagree more with your farrier. > This message is from: Rovena Kessinger > > > Yea it seems like a lot of horse people are scared of mules. My > trimmer was very, very cautious. She siad mules kick to kill, and > they can aim. They think the fjord is so cute and cuddly, but he is > actually a lot more likely to hurt somebody than the mule. The mule > always knows where his feet are, never tries to kick anybody, and he > is very friendly to people, and loves for people to pet him and talk > to him nicely. The fjord is not very friendly and is scared by people > he doesn't know, plus he's clumsy, so is much more likely to squash > somebody. 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
mules & more............
This message is from: "Mary Ofjord" I have not heard of Fjords with the issues that have come up with this current thread, but apparently they are out there. Such as; not liking to have their feet handled; kicking when cornered (any horse would do that); unfriendly Fjords, bolting and spooking... I have never seen any of these qualities in any of the Fjords I have been around. If I didn't know better and had just read these past few posts, I surely would not want a Fjord. These are not horse issues; they are more than likely caused by people's improper handling of the horses. And in praise of mules; nowadays, the mule people are breeding some outstanding mules - beautiful animals, and when treated and started with kindness and respect, they turn out just fine. I'm not saying you have to be wishy-washy around them, but some of the comments about bad mules also come from improper handling of the animals - the 'Old Mule Skinner' ways. The comment below from Rovena's trimmer about the mules aiming to kill just exacerbates the reputation of these fine animals. So sad. Mary Ofjord North Coast Services, LLC 218-387-1879 You mean about how mules kick? This message is from: Theresa Christiansen Wow! I own both mules and fjords and have for years. I couldn't disagree more with your farrier. > This message is from: Rovena Kessinger > > > Yea it seems like a lot of horse people are scared of mules. My > trimmer was very, very cautious. She siad mules kick to kill, and > they can aim. They think the fjord is so cute and cuddly, but he is > actually a lot more likely to hurt somebody than the mule. The mule > always knows where his feet are, never tries to kick anybody, and he > is very friendly to people, and loves for people to pet him and talk > to him nicely. The fjord is not very friendly and is scared by people > he doesn't know, plus he's clumsy, so is much more likely to squash > somebody. 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: bridles
This message is from: Rovena Kessinger thanks! --- On Fri, 6/21/13, Lori Albrough wrote: From: Lori Albrough Subject: Re: bridles To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Date: Friday, June 21, 2013, 6:57 AM This message is from: Lori Albrough On 6/20/13 9:59 PM, Rovena Kessinger wrote: > This message is from: Rovena Kessinger > > > Where are you getting yours? You can order made-to-measure bridles from Brubacher's Harness http://brubachersharness.ca/ They have a form you fill out with all the measurements, colours, options, etc. I have had them make both snaffle and double bridles for riding, and they also specialize in driving equipment. Prices are very reasonable and quality is great. I recommend calling and speaking to Henry Junior or Noah, I don't think they have a way to do this on the website. Toll-Free: 1-866-669-2064 Local: 519-669-2064 Lori -- Lori Albrough Bluebird Lane Fjords R.R.#3 Moorefield Ont Canada N0G 2K0 phone: 519-638-5598 email: l...@bluebirdlane.com http://www.bluebirdlane.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: bridles
This message is from: Lori Albrough On 6/20/13 9:59 PM, Rovena Kessinger wrote: This message is from: Rovena Kessinger Where are you getting yours? You can order made-to-measure bridles from Brubacher's Harness http://brubachersharness.ca/ They have a form you fill out with all the measurements, colours, options, etc. I have had them make both snaffle and double bridles for riding, and they also specialize in driving equipment. Prices are very reasonable and quality is great. I recommend calling and speaking to Henry Junior or Noah, I don't think they have a way to do this on the website. Toll-Free: 1-866-669-2064 Local: 519-669-2064 Lori -- Lori Albrough Bluebird Lane Fjords R.R.#3 Moorefield Ont Canada N0G 2K0 phone: 519-638-5598 email: l...@bluebirdlane.com http://www.bluebirdlane.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
