Bjarne
This message is from: Susan Giargiari So sorry to hear of the loss of your Sweet Old Man, Bjarne, Jean. He certainly is at the end of the Rainbow Bridge with a lot of good company..Sunday, Saskia, Rosita, Dena, Kezar, and many more of our loved Fjordsthere's a whole herd of them to great himwho knows...maybe he will be the Boss Man of the Rainbow Bridge!! You are in my thoughts and prayers...Sue g. > Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2011 10:37:10 -0800 (AKDT) > From: jern...@mosquitonet.com > Subject: R.I.P old Bjarne, C23 > > This message is from: jern...@mosquitonet.com > My old Bjarne, 36, passed away peacefully last night, laid down in the field on a > soft cushion of grass and passed away. He had been declining for the last 3 weeks > or so, eating less and less, I think he was in Kidney failure. We put him down in > the little one acre pasture yesterday so he could get out of the muddy coral and > lie down, and planned to Euthanize him today, but found him peacefully lying there > this morning, gone. He will be buried right where he lies, he picked the perfect > spot. Thanks, old man. I'm glad he went this way rather than having to put him > down. > > I had him for 24 years, and he was a good old boy! Grumpy at the end, but was boss > of the herd until the last three weeks. I'll miss him! > > Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, a sunny day and 70 degrees > > Important FjordHorse List Links: > Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e > FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw > Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Tying while hitching...
This message is from: Susan Giargiari Hi Everyone! Sue g. here! We had a special lead rope that had a ring in it that you could slide to where it needed to be and then there was a hook on each end. I think it is called a "neck rope"! You fit it around the neck behind the ears so it won't be large enough of a opening for the horse to be able to back up and slide out of it! Then you used the hook down the other end to hitch to what ever. You can then put on the bridle and the horse isn't hitched with the bridle. This was great as a safety no matter whether we were at home hitching or at a show. ADS I don't know about but it certainly works to make it safe for everyone! On another note! Hilmar , who is now a gelding of 10 months, is going to live with Sam Stanley at Barefoot Farm! She has my Stella who is now 25. I got her at 4 years old! Wow! Hilmar is now 24he is at the farm I sold in Northfield, but the lady doesn't have time for him so Sam is going to see if he will fit into her program. I am going to meet her at her farm and then we will go get HilmarI can't wait to see him and Stella reunited!! I can't wait to see Stella! She has been with Sam for going on to 3 years now...when I got custody of my grandson, Jordan, and had to go back to work...couldn't go out and chance getting hurt! Life has certainly changed for me but doors get opened and I believe we have the choice to walk thru them! I live with my Mom, Dad passed away two years ago, and my handicapped sister. They help me with Jordan and I just got a job bathing dogs! I start in September ,.so am excited about that! Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
RE: fjord mare in the kill pen
This message is from: Susan Giargiari Hello Listers! I just thought I would pipe up here..look at the pictures of this mare on the website for the rescue? and the mare's muzzle looks dark enough, although there is alot of 'froth' coming down on her lower lips.a frothy mouth is a happy mouth! and if you look at the pictures of the still photos...there is plenty of white in the maneit just isn't groomed properly! you can see it in her forlock also. you certainly can't see it in the pictures of her trotting and cantering! She just needs a good clean up and trimming of the mane..ahhh..it has been many a year since have properly trimmed a fjord mane! Wellmaybe just a year or twololhope you all are faring well in this heat! I miss my ponies!! Will be going to Sam's in Amesbury, MA where my Stella is being used as a therapy horse.although Sam says she is just doing the lite weights now! She is 25 now and I got her at 4 years old from Skoal Farm! Wow...it seems like a life time ago! Sam and I had hoped to get out to the New York show just to watch but her hubby just got called back to United Airlines in NH after a few years of layoffso it's great that he got his job back but sad that we couldn't make it! Maybe next year! Would be great to see everyone! Take care! Sue g. in Westborough, MA Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
RE: fjordhorse-digest V2011 #55
This message is from: Susan Giargiari Hey Steve! This is a virus...link.to kjmartin...@msn.com with the subject NONE just thought I'd let you know!!! Sue g. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
RE: Virus and message that says... None
This message is from: Susan Giargiari Hi Steve, I did have the virus sent by me and heard about it from some of my friendsmy contact list was being hijacked and different websites sent out to everyone. They were mostly a drug company from Canadaall with different urls...most ending with the php. I contacted my hotmail server. I also changed my password and did a virus check on my laptop but that came up clean. Changing my password did the trick. I have never gone to any unknown links and am still not sure how it happened but I have been clean of the hijacking now for a few weeksI did post a letter to the list when I saw the "none" coming up in the subject line but didn't see it on the digestlist. I hope this helps others and I was told to change my password more , which is a painbut it has stopped the hijacking! Take care, Sue g Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
RE: Virus
This message is from: Susan Giargiari Hey Steve! One other thing...some of the folks who are infected might not even know itI only became aware of it after two of my friends called me! As I am not on the computer every day I didn't know what was happening. And the user doesn't know this is happening until someone personally lets them know! Maybe a personal email to the ones infected? but then that might infect the ones who email them. I received phone calls and took care of it from there! Take care! Sue g Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
RE: fjordhorse-digest V2011 #39
This message is from: Susan Giargiari So sad to hear about Peg. Met her at a few of the shows out west and what a hoot she was! A wonderful lady and it was awesome to see her with Erland! She will be greatly missed by many. Another meaning of 'amish broke' is that when the amish plow or spread manure or do any field work, sometimes they have eight to twelve horses in a hitch. I have seen this in Pennsylvania when we used to spend alot of time there. If you bought a horse that was always in the 'middle' of the pack, they sometimes didn't know to much as they were 'along' for the ride! It really could be quite amazing to see a large hitch of horses just standing in the middle of a field waiting for the driver to come back as he had gone to the house for lunch! Snow is melting big time and in the 50's this weekend! Clocks set ahead tomorrow nite and I do believe Spring is on it's way! Sue g Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
RE: Contact List Hijacked
This message is from: Susan Giargiari Hello Fellow Fjorders! Sorry for the repeated entry from my email with no message. Canadian website started sending all my contacts messages. I haven't been online for over a week and got a call from a friend in AZ that it was going on. Taking care of it nowto keep this Fjord related.we finally had some warm weather and it melted quite a bit of snow so now the horses are able to move about in the fields!! Take care! Sue Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
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This message is from: Susan Giargiari http://aestheticsurgery-london-pau.co.uk/hotmail.php Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
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This message is from: Susan Giargiari http://winplace.com.br/hotmail.php Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Stella
This message is from: Susan Giargiari Hi Listers! Sue g. here.SamI will definetly be over for a visit! Carol, Susie F., Kay and the rest who have written me privately...I will get back to all of you tomorrow! Anthony is coming for a visit for a few days on his way to move to Florida with a friend and Gramma (Me!) will have some time to myself! Awesome to hear from you all!!! I feel as if I have lived another whole lifetime since being in touch with any of you! Mary O. .my Stella is Stella I from Norway ( STELLA I N-14942 ) , imported as a yearling and owned by Skoal Farm and Meg & Joe Hempell. We bought her as a 4 year old with a week old foal, SF Sunday, standing at her side.how could one resist that??? Sam...Stella did have a 'B' foal who is owned by Kay Konove. He is listed in the Pedigree Site of the NFHR but no Reg. #, his name is Bojangles! ( changed from Brady) CarolI can't believe Patrick is 16! He is a Konggard son by that cute little foal (SF Sunday) we fell in love with at Skoal Farm! Wow!! I love the term.Goggle Fjords!! I did see yours ..Karen! Cool! and yes..Hilmar has his head downis there any other pose that a Fjord knows how to do??? lol I spent the last 4 years working part time as a seamstress at a place called Eddie's Wheels for Petsthey make wheel chairs for dogs!! What an awesome contribution to disabled pets...yes ...pets...dogs, cats, mini pony, llamas, pigs, lambs/sheep and even ferrets! Check them out on line! Although I am no longer a member of the 'team' :( there is some great stories and videos that will bring a tear to any animal lovers eyes!! Till next time.happy ridingor I guess I should say...skijoring!! Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Hello!! Stella & Equitana...
This message is from: Susan Giargiari Hello Fellow Fjorders! Marcy and Pat! Oh my heavensI cannot believe how long it has been since I have been online and read the Fjord Digest!! And to see my Stella mentioned! Alaslol...it was not Stella who was at Equitana with Richard and I! It was Saskia and her foal, Tobyn. Saskia was 25 years old when she foaled with Tobyn and traveled from NH to KY on the big 'travel trailer'. Tobyn was the first raffle foal for the NFHA that our wonderful friend Marcia Carose won! Do you remember Marcy, when we all got back to the motel rooms at about 11:30 at night after packing up all the 'stuff'! and we made Richard call her?!! Yesit was very late but we all agreed that if it was one of us that wonwe sure would want to be called as soon as possible!! She couldn't believe it and her and Kurt's continuing contributions to the Fjord world in America have been a wonderful journey to follow! The following year at Equitana we brought Ceacy Henderson's sweet mare Freya and Konggard foal, Uvelsa, known as Velsy?sp.. Equitana is where we met Pat for the first time! When Ceacy and I ventured out to the Libby , MT show by ourselves...we stayed at Green Valley Farm and meet up with Pat again! Of course, Richard and I being the great travelers...did meet up with Pat at the Blue Earth, MN show in between, if my memory isn't failing mehaha~ To answer Pat on Konggard's gelding...he was gelded somewhere around 2004 I believe. Richard and I have been separated and divorced since spring of 2006 and I remember Kong being gelded before that. I retained ownership of Stella and Hilmar in the divorce and gave Richard the New Holland Tractor! Our son, Anthony, became a father to Jordan at the very young age of 18, Dec '06 and I have had custody of him since he was 10 weeks old! I can't believe he just turned 4 years old and if any of you saw himyou can't tell him apart from Anthony at that age! Hilmar was gelded in October of 2010 and the young woman who bought my farm in Northfield, MA now owns him! I was so happy that he was able to stay there and be the 'King' of his pastures! If you google '570 Millers Falls , Northfield, MA you can see him grazing in the pasture at the side of the road! Way too cool! You have to go to the 'satelite' version of google maps.. He is now 24 years old! Stella is now 25 years old and I she has a forever home with Sam Stanley in Amesbury, MA. Sam does a Theraputic Riding program with her and she is such a steady eddy-done it all horse! I now live in Westboro, MA with my Mom and younger handicapped sister, Judy! My dad passed away almost two years ago and with my health issues and Mom'sit works out wonderful...we all help take care of each other! And for me.I am no longer out numbered by men!! Poor Jordan thoughlol One of these days I will take care of registering the last couple of foals that Stella had! She has had a total of 12 foals. She had a colt that died of colic at 11 months old named Yuri and another colt named Conan that Ricard placed when we were separated and I was hospitalized for a month with blocked kidneys! He got a load of hay for me in exchange. Then Stella had two fillies, one named Dena, after Hilmar's dam. She had her last foal and filly at her forever home with Sam! I miss my horses terribly but the doors that I have walked thru during my life have blessed my life in many different ways and as alwaysI will keep walking thru them!! Take care all of you and I will be lurking on the list now that I am online again! > Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 09:21:18 -0500 (GMT-05:00) > From: bryhyl > Subject: Stella & for sale > > This message is from: bryhyl > Then no one can forget > >Giargiari's good old mare Stella - she was born in 86' and gave us 9 > great > >babies, at the ages of 18, 19 & 20 - bred back to back with healthy > normal > >foals. If someone can correct me I believe she was the mare Sue brought > to > >Equitana, with foal alongside and in foal, and did a demo with a stone > boat > >the size of Delaware.. > > > >Pat Holland in northwestern IL that looks like the South Pole. > > Yes Pat, you remember well. Stella was one of the best. Born in Norway, 9 > foals. An old fashioned Fjord mare, sturdy and willing. > > She not only did the demo, but was in the night show. I think Sue's arms > got a little longer every night ground driving Stella with the crowd > roaring.Stella doing her job & keeping track of her baby. > > Also, Briar Hill has some terrific Fjords for sale in Vermont. Check 'em > out at www.briarhillfarm.com > > Marcy Baer Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Safety Issues and Halter / Bridle
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello Listers! Sue-g in PA just visiting our son's sister! I am not connected at home right now but will be when I get back! Talk about FJord withdrawal symptoms..the NFHA Show sure helped to cure some of that ! Just some thoughts on the issues raised for saftey at BE.we always, always, always hitch our horses to a trailer or hitchrail with a neck rope. There are different variations of it but it is the only way to safely be out in public or even at home with those 'shake of the bridle' fjords! They can slip their halters and bridles very easily...when taking off a bridle to put on a halter or taking off a halter to put on a bridle..the neck rope keeps the horse there..I even use it when hitching Hilmar to the rail for grooming .for all of themyou can drop off the halter and they are not going anywhere.a lead rope and two rings are all you need to make on...you adjust for each horse very easily and it does not act like a choke...it stays at the same length around the neckright up behind the ears.or actually it slides down the neck a little...but in 15 years of using a neck rope we have never had a horse ! slip onvery simple solution to a very dangerous situation. As far as a driver not being in a hitched carriage...the is inexcuseable (sp?)...as far as I am concerned it is grounds for being told to leave the grounds. At GMHA where the VT NFHA show was held for 21 years...if you took a bridle off of a hitched horse..you were off of the grounds..maybe if some serious consideration were put into even the NFHR FJjrd Show Rule book...which I know isn't mandatory but may be read by more.a rule of Expulsion from the show for dismounting a carraige such as was done at BE or taking off of a bridle from a hitched horse would make folks be more aware of it. If it saves just one life, human or horse, then it is worth it. Simple. Black and White. As the 'person' in charge of hitching and unhitching a horse to a carriage.the driver should always be aware of thisand getting another driver to climb up in the carriage and take over the reins before you dismount the carraige is a must!! The only time the! re should be no driver in the carriage is when you are hitching or unhitching..and then the reins should be over your shoulder or within reach on the same side that you are working on. A horse facing a rail being hitched is much safer than one in the open. We have cement-filled lally columns cemented into the ground and then pipe of the same diameter as the rail welded to the lally columns...when a horse is hitched to this it isn't going anywhere..I can safely hitch a horse to carriage with a neck rope on the horse and then with reins in hand...undo the neck rope and mount the carraige...the horse is still facing the rail and really can't go anywhere except backwards. On the Halter / BridleI have used a few different kinds and am not sure why the bit would have to be taken out sideways...the bit usually is hitched to the reins and that is what is removed...leave the reins over the poll.then stand in front of the horse..undo both sides of the bit...usually a quick clip and holding one side of the bit clip in each hand, let the horse release the bit as you would with a bridle, being held above by the top. Yes, you would be standing on the side for that but for the bit to be released easily and safely and not 'clank' against the horses teethlet him release it. The same with putting the bit back on.stand in front of the horse and have the reins already up over the poll behind the ears..get the horse to accept the bitand then you should be able to clip one side with one hand and one side with the other.never having to get the bit into the horses mouth by s! liding it sideways..Eventually you may even be able to get the horse to accept the bit from hooking one side up and then laying it across in front of those big 'elephant' lips...fjords are so accommadating! The nice thing about the halter / bridle is that you can leave a leadrope attached to the ring where it would normally be on the halter and then tie the rope to itself and you have an instant neckrope for riding..balance for 'balanced' challenged individuals that some of us may be! lol... Happy Fjording and just as a heads up..there is already talk of an NFHR Evaluation and NFHA Show at Camp Marshall , Spencer, MA next year!! Sue-g from Northfield, MAowned by Stella, Hilmar, Bradj, and Bacchus !
Re: Pony World website?
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello List! Hi Karen K..in looking again at the pictures on this site ...if you look at the fjord..yes the wheels are upbut he is going up a hill.and if you have been in a cart or 4 wheel wagon in a CDE and the marathonthe pony might have just dug in his hind quarters to make the hike up the hill and it most likely would raise up the front wheels...If you look also at the picture of the white pony Knut..he is going up the same exact hill and his front wheels are up also...these ponies are hauling some serious 'butt' !! up those hills! The drivers probably just put them into the 'yee haa' mode.Lots of fun.the white pony Knut also has a different type of shafts than the fjord ..but his carraige is doing the same thing! Sometimes the carraige even goes up on it's side !! That's when it helps to have a 'seasoned' navigator! In looking at the 'point of draft' on all of the different hook ups with the single ponies...for the! ones that are 'on the flat' ..they all look correct..I will say that the type of shaft on the fjord is one that I haven't seen before..it does look weird but it may be just the photography and the angleHope this helps! For hot weather traileringif it is really too hot.you really should be leaving during the dark of nite..it is much easier on the horses.and yepGail ! it most likely was me who gave the tip of putting Coke or Pepsi in the water tanks a month before traveling a long distance..some horses will not drink strange watersoaking the hay is an awesome thing also.we also don't wrap legs...never have.never will except for an existing injury. Dick had the experience of working for a big cross country horse hauler and they wet the horses down in Arizonawrapped the legs...this was the owner..and when they got to VT with these horses.there was no hair on the legs at all..not a pretty site! We also will wet down the woodchips or sawdust if used for bedding. With rubber mats we will put bedding behind the mares or half way up the gelding/stallions. Wetted down will cool the trailer and still absorb the urine and also help with getting the bedding blown around and into the eyes. We also have a bucket 3/4 full of water at all times beside each horsewe do travel with one barrell of our own waterthe ones that love to dunk the hay at homewill appreciate the chance to do so on the road ! Make sure that the ties are long enough to let the horse hang it's head as it needs to let the nostrils drain.tied too shortthey can't do this.but don't make the lead to long so that they could get a leg over..for those whose horses really sweat during the trailering...give electrolytes! the paste is best so that you know it has been swallowed! Some like to travel with fly masks on and they are great for keeping the blowing bedding or hay chaff fr! om getting into their eyes Kay Konove and I drove her truck to the Fjord Fun Fest in NC and we traveled during two cloudy days..which was great! Watch the weather and travel accordingly We are having some nice cool weather for a few daysa little less humidity...and man has it been raining..raining..and raining.unbelievabley torrential storms! Ruining the sides of roads and driveways! Floods all over! But the ponies are happy out in the pasture..every time I look their heads are down! The price of fuel and not having a truck anymore will keep us from the Blue Earth show but the best of time to all going!! Sue-g in Northfield, MA
Re: Stallion Behavior
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello All.This is not said in any kind of anger!! :-) I am replying to Catherine about the stallion that she gelded because he 'raped' the mares. In all fairness, he was a Hilmar son. This is his 'story'. As a 4 month old he was shown in hand in VT and a week later in MT. The two senior evaluators judging the Annual fjord shows there placed him firstin VT against a mixed class with 18 + weanlings. In MT against 4 or 5 other colts. We had him until he was a year old, he was just started ground driving when we delivered him and well handled. He also lived in a herd situation his whole first year. We showed him at Blue Earth and we showed him at NY as a yearling. We handle all of our youngsters from day one. Being a colt that was going to be a kept a colt, for now...we made sure he respected us and knew what was expected of him. Once he left us, we have no control. I was called and told how he would race up and down the fence like a crazy man...mares in! the other fieldhe should have been with someone for company. I don't beleive he was bred 'in hand' for the first experienceit was with an older mareany stallion should be bred in hand by humans the first few times.then if safe with the mares he can maybe 'pasture breed'. This should be done with any stallion. I am curious about others thoughts on this. The next call I got was that he had bitten the trainer he was withhe was a 2 1/2 year old colt at that time and he was already driving, trail riding, and pulling a stone boat.he should not have been doing all of that as a two year old..again..fried brain syndromeI advised her to bring him home and let him be in the pasture and be a colt!! a horse! And this was done. I do know that he had bred a few mares after thiswould be curious to know how the offspring of them are ..behavior wiseand I do know that once this colt was gelded...he became one of Catherine's hubby's favorite riding horse! This is a colt that had the presence...we knew it.and taking him to shows and having different judges agree with our thoughts about him...lead us to keep him intact and sell him as a breeding prospect. If we had kept him...we would have had him evaluated. He was evaluated out in the West and got a Red, I believe. I really haven't c! hecked in the book in a long time so I don't remember! I know it wasn't a blue.. We have not had a colt born since with that same presenceand when you see ityou will know..the same dam bred to hilmar had three other colts by hilmar and not one of them had the presence of this first colt. As a breeder, I believe that every colt should be gelded.unless it is exceptional..in conformation, tempermant, movement and have that stallion 'presence'. That presence doesn't mean that he is 'out of control'. Another story is that Hilmar throws a 'crooked fetlock' on one front foot of 'his offspring'. We have had enough now and seen them thru the years..I would welcome any feed back on this from any of his offspring owners. This colt did not leave our place with a crooked fetlockthat would have been present at birth. Hilmar does have a fetlock in front that turns very slightly. We have not seen it in any of his offspring yet. It was noticed and is noted in his evaluation. I think that anyone wanting to breed a mare.that has their stock evaluated should compare the mare and stallions evaluationsI have no problem giving a copy to anyone who wants to breed to him. And I would expect the same from a stallion that I might breed to or be interested in breeding to. The evals are a tool for everyone to learn and learn and learn.and make the best possible decision when breeding two horses. I took a weanling colt, out of Hilmar and Selma(a Grabbson daughter) when he was 2 months old to our farm here. He came with his mom, to rebred her, and he was very obnoxiousSelma let him climb all over him and never disciplined him,, he was halter broke and led out to the pasture or paddock at his home.with mom...and boy was he a handful. I put him in the pasture with Hilmar, Stella/her suckling colt, Dena/ her suckling filly, and Rosita and her suckling filly. We patted him and said hi to him when we went out to the pasture to interact with all..after three weeks ..I put a halter on him and we had leading lessons.he did exactly as I asked with only a little coaxinghe learned his lessons of behavior very well from the herd, the other mares, the other offspring and Hilmar. He became the most polite youngster! Loved to load, cross tie, be groomed and went on to a wonde
Re: Stallions & Behavior (long!)
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi All! This is Sue-g in snowy Northfield, MAI would like to share some of our history with our stallion, LLA Hilmar and his behaviors 'in public'! When we first got Hilmar, and his dam, Dena, they were in a starvation situation. The owner was very sick and couldn't take care of them. But Hilmar was imprinted and always handled and treated with kindness...we had attempted to get them the year before but his daughter, who lived in HI and hadn't seen the horses in a few years, sent out a 'sales list' with inflated prices because a few folks had shown some interest in themothers were also trying to get them out of this situation... After we got the 'price list' we didn't bother calling for a while..about 9 months later we got a call from the son who helped his dadhe asked us if we could come and get them and have them for a year's free lease.which is what we wanted... Hilmar had almost died of worms and some type of Rhinothe vet was surprised that he was still alive when I called for his history. Dena, had been hit by a pick up on her hind leg and was left with the small bones in the hock brokenshe couldn't be ridden, couldn't drive and couldn't carry a foal. For 4 years the two horses stayed in stalls across from each other with little turn out area. A mare coming into heat every 17 days and a young stallion...who definetly shows his 'presence'. We picked up the horses and brought them right to the vet for examsDena was xrayed and all the small bones had 'calcified' together, I guess this sometimes happens in older horses anyways. A flexion test was done on the tar road and she passed better than most horses!! So her prognosis was...ride her, drive her, breed her.she will let you know if her hock bothers her..she was 12 at the time. Hilmar just needed groceries...the same as Dena. When we first brought them home they wouldn't even eat a cup of grain.Hilmar's and Dena's crests were both broken over.their manes had been clipped short but the crests were broken over. Hilmar didn't lift his head any higher than his whithers..looked like one of those 'peanut' pushin' Qtr. horses ! Sorry! I do love all horses!! Hilmar moved right into the pasture with our mare , Sunday. She was breed to Kong and due in about 3 months.she had Patrick (Yes, Carol H..your Patrick!) and stayed right with Hilmar all thru this.he was finally in with a mare and allowed to be in a herd situation after years of being alone. This was very important to me..Dena was psycho woman.she wanted to be with any mare for company and would latch on to who ever she was with and if you took her away..she was fit to be tied.so both horses lived in a herd situation at our farm..as long as Dena was bredshe could be! with Hilmar...he has had mares and foals living with him ever since we got himhe is with two yearlings this winter! We can even keep him with the gelded colts...he plays with them and loves it! Dena has grown to be much better...at our farm or Ceacy's, where she would be at summer camp for ridding lessonsshe learned to have her foals go to the 'babysitting' stall and she would go out for a lesson.she is now in foal with her last foal! The last Konggard foal ! She is at a wonderful farm with two other fjord maresand I am going riding over there tomorrow morning! Fun! She is now 22! An awesome girl! Still young at heart.and yes, her hock started to bother her last year..she gets bute when ridden .and is loving it where she is...(thanks! Susie!) I had never had a stallion but I felt that I had enough 'feeling' for what was right. I had to be the boss at all times when I was with him or in the pasture with the herd. Sometimes I had to use 'mind tricks'such as if I wanted to do something with a mare in the field with him there. he comes over posturing and talking to the mare...all I have to do is step right up and tell him to Whoa..and 'knock it off".he gets the message with my 'body language'. He has never made a bad or threatening move towards mebut Lisa is so rightthey are stallions and horses and a horse is a horse is a horse is a horse, and a stallion is a stallion is a stallion is a stallion..you can't ever let your guard down. If I wanted to take the mare out of the field, I take Hilmar out first, tie him to the rail, and then go get the mare. Tie her to the rail with him. Then I take him back to the field and put him back. He runs up and down some but then
Re: Neon Pink & video
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello Lisa! Wow! :You are too funny!! On the subject of Evaluations and Keurs with the NFHR and the Dutch.in all honestythe evaluators/judges sometimes never see the male horses penis! I can attest to having participated in or at 4 or 5 evals/keurs and a Norwegain eval in Norway and never saw the judges try to see what color it was! If they don't pee during the eval...it doesn't get seen and I have never been asked 'what color is it' ! lol.really!! To those of you who have sent me an email about wanting a copy of the NFHR eval in VT and Dutch Keur in VT.and Wez the dressage wonderI will gladly send them to you..I have started a list and will get addresses from the NFHR Pedigree site! I love that site! anything you want to know...you can find it there..except of course..who has a neon pink one!!! Maybe Mike May could mark Lisa's horses pedigree with the letters 'NP" after where it saysstallion! lol!!Sue-g in Northfield, MA where it is raining and going to turn to snow by am..
Re: WHITE STARS
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello Listers~! This is Sue-g in sunny Northfield, MAbeautiful day today and for the weekend I wanted to comment about the white stars on some fjordsCarol R.or someone who has access to Fjord HIstory in NorwayCatherine L ?...I was told that years ago the fjords were almost breed away in Norway.they were being mixed with another pony breed, not sure which, and this breed had white markings.when it was realized that the fjords were in danger of being extinct..all of the pure bred ones were accounted for and the Norwegian evaluation is as it is today..some of the white markings are throw backs to this out breeding..as we all know ..alot of the 'fjord crosses' still look like a fjord! with the color anyways! I have had some experience with white stars..when we moved to Northfield, MA in 2001.our mare Rosita, a Norwegian import, had her first foal by our stallion LLA Hilmar, who is a very dark brown dun. His color is most unusual and at the Dutch Keur it was mentioned that he was unique and that his color hopefully would be passed on. Both of his parents were Brown Duns. Dena, who was imported by Carol Rivoire, and Toddy, who is still breeding mares in Holland! Anyways..got up one morning and there was Rosita standing on the hillside of the pasture. All the other horses, Hilmar and mares, were lined up watching her. Curled up sleeping on the ground in front of her was her foal! As I got closer and the foal stretched and arched it's neck and headthere staring at me was my first look at a filly with a beautiful star!Yelana.she is now three and owned by some wonderful friends of ours. When I bought Rosita from Ceacy Henderson of Penfrydd Farm in Colrain, MA.she was pregnant with a foal by Konggard..Valentina was born on our farm in the fall. Nice brown dun filly. Rosita then had her second foal by Hilmar...I was there for the birth and didn't notice anything unusual about him..Zenen..when I stopped over to see him again at about three weeks of age.I could then see on this now dried off boya very small star.not really a star.but about 10 white hairs..definitely was there.We had since placed Rosita with a wonderful old friend and they also ended up buying Zenen! If I still owned Rosita...I would not have bred her again to Hilmar. Now comes Valentina.she was up at Carol R.s and turned out to be bred by Hilmar..which was okay as far as the lines.but when the foal was born.Scotia Surprise.Carol emailed me in a panic..was there any chance that Valentina was bred by another stallion???Scotia had a white star and some white on a hoof..well...there was a neighboring Lippett Morgan stallion who was visiting the girls when I got up one morning..he was in the pasture that Hilmar wasn't in..Hilmar had his harrem and Genisis was standing there looking at Rosita who was inbetween him and the young filly ladies! Gen has a white blaze and one white sock and hoof...my neighbor was mortified that he was in with my maresand when I told her about Scotiashe was fit to be tied! I told her I was glad it wasn't my stallion in her paddock!! So the DNA test was done and Hilmar is the confirmed daddy.! .the one common link with all of these white markings is Rosita, a brown dunwho I know has had two white duns when bred to Modellan and also has had a red dun. Hilmar has a brown dun daughter Kristian, who was bred to Kila Grani, another very dark brown dun fjord Stallion, and they produced a beautiful grey dun filly. SoI wouldn't breed Hilmar to Rosita or Valentina again and would check out the lines of a mare for similar names in the pedigree as well as the three generations back! Ceacy had two different mares come in to be breed to Konggard and both of them , from different owners, had blazes and white stockings! The owners had no idea that the white markingsespecially these...were not desireable at all in the fjord horse. They were not told this by the breeder who sold these mares to them. As a breeder, my feeling is that any colt that is born here would have to be extrodinary in conformation as well as have that 'presence' that should be there in a stallion, in order to be kept whole. Then I would show him and see how he does as well as get him evaluatedotherwiseevery colt born here is gelded...usually at 4 months right before they are weaned.every colt is not meant to be a stallionthere are too many backyard stallions
Re: From driving to riding............
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello Listers! This is Sue Giargiari in Brimfield, MA...farm sitting for about 40 head of beef cattle, four horses(two fjords!), 4 dogs, two bunnies...and one barn cat! I haven't read the list for at least a year..one heck of a year...but hopefully this year will be a Good One!! I decided that I will never catch up reading last years list.maybe somedaylol..so I am starting with Digest #1 and going to keep up! I was interested in Sher's story about the 17 years of driving her fjord has had and how now, in riding.he spokes like crazyMy first fjord , Stella 1, had just a month or so of driving training..course I didn't ask specificsas I grew up learning to drive from an old Yankee teamster. Didn't know it all..never will...but don't have a fear of being behind the lines of any horse.being safe though, is the first thing. Well, I took Stella for 4 great days on the VT Bicentennial Wagon Train in 1991I drove her with a rubber snaffle and an easy entry cart. We camped and did 20 miles a day...met up with the Yankee Teamsters daughter...who had stayed friends with my parents...and now her and her hubby have a couple of fjords! Back to Stella and driving.She was a rock on the VT wagon train, thru everything and anything. I fell in love with her then and knew that she would never leave my pasture. Only for visits! S! he was 4 when we bought her and she will turn 19 in July. Wow...I can't believe it! AnywayseventuallyI started to go on trail rides with her and my girlfriends...and what a shockshe was not herself at all..spooked... jumped.and a variety of unusual reactions to things that she had been exposed to for at least two years of driving. She is also used in team, 4 in Hand, 3 or 4 Abreast. It took me awhile to figure it out..but it was the blinders.used in driving and not in riding.once I realized what was causing the behavoir and whyremember horses can see all the way to their butt, except when they have blinders on. Even though she was used to the noisesit was the sight of these flying trucks or cars down theroadcomingcoming.coming.. there and then going ...going .goinggone. She was only used to seeing the "there at her side..goinggoingand gone"! Once I could reassure her as a vehicle was way back.she eventually got used to it. I wonder if just seeing the world with you on his back and no blinders is a part of what is going on. If so.maybe ponying him for a bit would help his confidence. Has anyone else ever had this experience? We also trained a pony that we got at the Wichita, KS auction years ago. She was a 4 mth 1/2 Belgian, 1/2 Percheron. Laura was black with whitish under coloring and grew into the most beautiful dapple grey-looking Percheron! She was only ever driven in harness, worked with draft harness, very dependable, and even was ridden hauling logs but again with the harness and blinders on One day years later a friend was going to use her to ride with us. When the western saddle was placed on her back and cinched up.she was very 'jumpy'.could care less about pushing her head thru a collar...or having a big tangle of work harness plopped on her back to be straightened out! But the saddle was a different story...and when the rider got on...wh! at a bucking bronco!! It took a while for her to get used to the saddle and bridle and riding...and she still never really liked it. We decided she was just fine as a driving horse! WellI promise I won't rattle on quite so much but am excited about touching base in the 'land of the fjordlist' again! Happy New Year to all! Sue g from Northfield, MA.with no snow.hhh! I want to hear sleigh bells~
Moving and Reduced Sale prices!
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED] List! This is Sue g writing from Ceacy Henderson's Penfrydd Farm. Ceacy is moving to NC for a yearshe has left already and Nancie and I will take care of leasing and selling off all the young stock here in Colrain, MA. Her Mom has had brain surgery for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, and will be under going a year of Chemo, with a very successful rate of remission. Her Mom is a strong lady, and has the will to want to live! Some of the Fjords will be going to NC with them. This move will be happening in the next couple of weeks. If anyone down south is interested .I am sure we can make you a great deal with the trucking! I will be helping to move farm equipment, household stuff and horses. Here is the list of sales horses: Three Two Year Old GeldingsYarden is by Konggard /out of Freya(Brusvein)Yurick is by Konggard / out of Tess(Marnix).Yared is by Konggard / out of Meika(Rossar-a Grabb son). The price for one of these well bred boys is $1500 each. Then there is Yakera by Konggard/ out of Elda(Brusvein) $3000. Widaren is a 3 yr old gelding, by Misha(Anne Appleby's boy!) and out of Eivy ( Prestatie/Star mare-Myrstein). His price is $2000. Tess is a coming 5 year old who is by Marnix out of Eivy(Brusvien). She is well started in riding and driving. Has been used two years trail riding in Summer Horsemanship program and also as a lessons horse doing ring work. She was shown at the NY fjord show and also at VT Fjord Show, very successful! She needs an experienced rider. She does have an allergy to the small biting flys and does best if inside at nite! This mare will be a bonus to anyone's breeding program! Selling for $3900. I will be here at Penfrydd Farm until Feb 9any interested folks can contact me by phone here at : 413-624-8969 or by email : [EMAIL PROTECTED] After the 9th you can reach me at 413-498-5193 or by email at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks! Sue Giargiariwho is hoping for only snow this next week and not freezing rain!
Season's Greetings!
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Happy Holidays to all! From Sue, Dick and Anthony at Felicity Farm in Northfield, MA where we still have snow covered fields.but maybe rain on the way tomorrow!
Re: Safe Arrival!
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Welcome to the list Michael! Congratulations on your newest two Fjords! I bet the Transport folks were totally surprised!! Thank goodness it was a Fjord! What hardy animals they are!! Sue in sunny Northfield, MA.
Re: Viljar Brim offspring
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Curt When I was in Norway, a few years back, I tried to get a yearling fillyulsdun,,good evaluation...just a very beautiful girl!! She was a Viljar Brim daughter ! An older man showed her but when I had Erhart do the translating for methe filly belonged to a 12 year old girl!! I guess I realized that there was no way I was going to try to part a young girl with her horse!! Was a good try though!! Sue in Northfield.where it is almost 80 today..and someone said that we are supposed to be getting Rain/Snow in a couple of day?? No Way!!
Re: Collars and Manes
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Eileen! We use draft harness and collars quite a bit and just make sure when the collar is put on that the mane isn't pulled back or stuck ..we run our hand up inside to have the mane be upright.not that it isn't "squished" for a bit but it comes right back to being normal and you usually can't tell there was a collar on it!. It does help if the mane is kept trimmed,I know some thin manes can stay standing straight up and be about six or seven inches tall! This then will show some "messy hairs" after having a collar on... When I use my driving harness which has the strap for the breast collar...it doesn't leave a "mark" where it was even after a "four day travel " with a wagon train from southern to norther VT. I wouldn't cut anything out for either of these.collar or breast collar strap..just make sure your mane is cut and keep it trimmed..no marks should show!! Hope this helps! Sue in Northfield, MA where the sun has been out fo! r three days and the temps have been in the 60's !
Re: Sadie's foal
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Peg and Doug..you are in our thoughts and prayers..and Sadie too.we know how hard it is to loose a foal..thank god you were able to save Sadie.we were not so lucky with our mare SF Sunday..it has been a few years now and time does lessen the pain.for Dick...it took the wind right out of his sails.he is just starting to have the desire to want to be with the horses and having funSunday was his girl..Sadie will come home safe and life on the farm will go on..and yes as someone said previously..every birth is a miracle!! And we are very thankful for all the other births we have witnessed that have truly been miracles! Take care! Sue and Dick
Re: fjordhorse-digest V2003 #81
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello List!! So wonderful and heartfelt to see that the fjords at Waverly all got great homes! What a nice start to spring!! Pat! I wondered if that was your "boys" Haakon and Donder when I saw their names on the list for Waverly!! I hope to see you in NY this year in June at the Fingerlakes Fjord Show!! If you bring Haakon & DonderI will bring Hilmar and we can do a rematch at the log pull!! Do you remember when I found out I won..I saidNow I can switch breeds of Horses!! My only dream with the fjords was to beat Joe Hemple in a driving class..which I did in Dover, NH and to beat Pat Wolfe!! Just kidding about switching breeds...as you can all see...anyways...so happy that you got your boys back safe and sound! When is the Canada Fjord Show this year? One or two day? We would love to come and support it!! Think Spring!! Sue g. in Northfield, MA where the mud is deep!!
Re: NFHA Raffle
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi List! Just wanted to add some important info to the Raffle for the $2003 for the NFHA to use for promoting the fjords at Equine Affaire and reduced stalls for all at the VT Fjord Show!!! There will only be 200 Chances at 3 Tickets for $25...that is a one in 200 chance Where are you going to find odds like that??? And it helps our group to promote the fjords!! The drawing will be held on Sunday at our VT Fjord Show.the foal will be there if the $2003 Cash isn't wanted!! If we sell the 200 Chances way before the showwe will offer this Raffle for another $2003 to be drawn at the Equine Affaire at the BIG E in Nov...Springfield, MA!! If you want to mail me a check or MO made out to NFHA, Susan Giargiari, 570 Millers Falls Rd, Northfield, MA..01360-9616...you will receive your tickets stubs and a Raffle Certificate good to trade for one foal!! For those of you who have already sent in a Raffle entrythe Certificates are in the ma! il this week!! Our prayers and thoughts are with all in the FJord Community who have loved ones in the service Take care...Sue g. and Dick...
Re:Toyota Dakota & Trailers!
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello List! Just wanted to share some info on the stabilizer barsdefinitely go with that. It will help to keep the trailer from swaying...Ceacy has a Toyota Tacoma.supposed to be a one ton.but I talked at great length to a dealer when we were looking for a truck and he let me know that it is not a "one ton" .it is really a beefed up Half ton.Ceacy has a 16' aluminum stock trailer and even with the sway bars...her truck will sway if you go over 55 or 60and this is with only 2 or 3 fjords. I have driven it and you really do have to be careful! On the other hand.I drove a ford ranger with a steel 16' stock trailer and it drove just fine! No sway barsI had 2 ewes that had lambed right before our "big " move backand I also had a yearling percheron filly and a quarter horse paint filly. The back of the truck had a cap and in that was 4 Great Pyrenees..and a cat! We had lots of hill and dale to travel overcoming! up to NH and the ranger was great!! If you are only going to have two horsesthe Tacoma will most likely be great! To the one who said their transmission had to be replaced just after the warranty ran out...we lost the tranny in our 1997 Chev Crewcab diesel dooly upon arriving in KY for the first year we did Equitana USA. Had to get it fixed! We were carrying all the gear for 15 horses and folks in our 28 ft gooseneck aluminum.which this truck was rated to carry! We were only 4000 miles over the warranty..still had to pay $1000 to get it fixed...we used the truck all the time in the hills of new englandone year later.doing the same trip..we lost the new tranny half way home!!! Still had to pay to have it fixed.$1000... but this time we were told to just be a real pain in the butt to the chevrolet folkswe called them every day for almost 6 mth..by the way...we could not even see a GM rep as they "don't see the consumers", not enough people available...will only see the dealer reps..I did forget to add tha! t we drove the truck a month later...empty...no trailerto TN and could feel thru the stick shift...the gears breaking up again..they wanted $600 to tear it apart to tell us it was broken..againthat is when we went on the warpath!! The end result? Chevrolet paid us for the second fix and fixed it for free this time..it has not broken since. Three strikes and your not always out! Dick isn't really happy with me though..I won't let him trade or sell the truck.it is all paid for ...and GM owns the tranny!We have since used this truck to travel from MT to NY and VT and all over showing.usually carrying 6 or so horses and the gear!! So,,,be a pain in the butt and keep on calling about the trannyyou may be pleasantly surprised.especially if the repair man will back you up...it should not happen to any vehicle just over the warranty!! Sue g. in Northfield, MA hoping that the snow will stay until tomorrow so ! we can go the Sap Gathering Contest with our Three Abreast!! ! Might even get to do it in shirtsleeves!!
Re: Round Bales and Alfalfa Hay!
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello List! Welcome back Lisa P.nice to hear from you and I hope you find the neglegent fjord owner who let their fjord drink too much and pass out in the water tub and drown..very disturbing! Lauren! You said it wonderfully when you explained the feeding of round bales. It really does depend on the age, teeth, and each individual on whether or not they can free feed round bales or just hay in general. I also am the weekly condition feeler! In the winter with their wooly coats..you can be deceived into thinking that they are fat.you really do need to feel the ribs, the back bones, hip bones and check that big ol crest for fat deposits!! We finally have pasture to last all year!! No more feeding hay all year!! Yeah!!! But I will disagree with the comment of feeding alfalfa! We buy alfalfa hay in the 1000 pound square bales...they flake wonderfully for handling..it is all we feed. Last summer,,having their first full summer on pasture,the herd of Hilmar, Stella/foal, Dena/foal, Rosita/foal, Valley 2 yr. and at times a few different mares and foals.. were all in such good condition that I didn't grain them. Usually I start graining! bred mares the last three months of pregnancy and while they are nursing and the foals get grained until 3 yr. We raised 3 foals and showed the horses all thru the summer...they stayed in awesome shape.and condition!! To say that Richard is pleased that we don't have the monthly grain bill and yearly hay bill is only the tip of the whip!! LOL! They get mineral blocks and water at all times. .they get wormed every two to three monthsalternating wormers...and the pastures are rotated also. We mow the ones that get ahead so they don't get too weedy.The 5 foals(born between April and October 2002) that are here on the farm and the coming three year old(Sept) have never had grain! They are growing very nicely, not too fast ,,,not too slow.did great at the shows..which they wouldn't do if they were not in good condition. We now truck this hay to two other farms! One is a Lippett Morgan breeder and the other is a fellow fjord owner who also ! boards other breeds..she does a four time a day feeding o! f the alfalfa and all the horses are doing great. She doesn't have the turn out and still does grain some of her horses. We do grain if the horses are worked. Not much though. And also do electolytes...after working. I guess for us..the first year we went to the Libby, Mt fjord show and when we started to get low on haytried to buy timothy or grass hay! Ha! Not to be found...all we could get was alfalfa. So we mixed it in and they were on straight alfalfa by the time we headed home! We then would by an alfalfa mix from our guy in NY. But a few years back,.the straight alfalfa hay was the only good hay he made so that was all we bought.once in a while we might buy some mixed.but usually it is the plain alfalfa. We don't handle the bales. They are stacked single or two high on a flat bed gooseneck. ...it backs under a hoop house we have for hay storage and we dole it out on a large tobaggon! Our fire insurance for the barns is low as we don't store hay in the barns! Snow or no snow! Couldn't live without my toboggans!!! I fill them up for the next feeding and feeding is a snap! More time to hang out and visit with the equines! Almost 70 degrees here today!! We are sup! posed to do a Sap Contest on Saturday at an eduacational farm in NH! Hope the snow stays until then!! We will be doing a three abreast of Selma & Stella with their favorite man,,,Hilmar in the middle! Have been practicing with a snow roller out in the pasture! Lots of fun! Dick will do the three and then I am doing Stella & Hilmar as a team! We may be in mud instead of snow!! Oh well..it's the fun that counts!!Sue g.
Re: missing digests?
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Jean! I too thought maybe the digest hadn't been coming but my Lion letter was sent in reply to the last digest I got.and it is in the next digest that I received! That letter was received on 2/28 and the # digest was 55.so now my questions is..what happened to # 56-#58? This replay is to # 59!! I checked the archives but mispelled the request so I will do it again and see if those digests really exist!! Sue in 0 degree Northfield, MA.no way I am sticking my nose out the door!!
Re: Lions & Tigers and Bears!!!! Oh my!
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello Listers! We have had quite a few experiences with our Fjords Stella and Dena being around all kinds of animals. A very close friend of ours owns and operates the Greenville Wildlife Park.They have all kinds of animals such as lions, tigers, bears, camels, exotic sheep, a hyena, monkeys, birds...just about anything you can imagine! They have been slowly getting the park set up so that all the animals are in a natural habitat setting. The tigers have a few acres...with a shelter,, rocks,,,woods area,,and a small pond..which they love to spend time in during the hot summers. You will only see their heads sticking out of the water,,,behind the reeds! Thunder weighs about 900 lbs. and the owner can take him out on a leash! He has shown up in our yard with Thunder in the truck with him! He has shown up at our door with `with a covered basket...only to set it down on the kitchen floor and have baby lions or tigers pop thier heads out from under the towel! W! hen the Park opened and for the first couple of years.we would take Dena & Stella over to give "pony rides"! The kids loved them and for the ones that were a little scared..Mom or Dad could sit right up in the saddle with them! When ever we came thru the Park with the fjords in the trailer ...right along side the tiger enclosurethey would immediately come down to the fence and stalk back and forth.even though they have never had a live animal to eatthe instinct is there! Usually the rides are down in the back away from any animal enclosures..but during an open house pig roast we were giving rides right beside the tiger enclosure.everytime we walked the horses up and down the lane.the tigers would come running out and follow...pacing back and forth.Stella and Dena just did their job..didn't spokewere ok with all the smells..we were relaxed and ok and the horses got their cues from us,,,trusting that the! y weren't going to be the first "live dinner" for Thunder and! Tika!! Of course, the first time we were at their first farm, Anthony was about 3, the owner wasn't there so we were checking out Garth and Eileen,, the yearling lionsthe grownups were standing at the chain link fence and I watched Eileen jump down off the big hollowed-out dead tree in their pen and she came right down to the fence , in her "stalking " mode! Anthony was running back and forth behind us, oblivious to the lions and Eileen was stalking this little thing that she figured she would have a chance at catching! Made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck! Garth just lay there, stretched out on the tree while his "woman" was huntingin lion packsthe females are the hunters. Once again, even though the lions have never had a "live" animal to kill and eat...the hunting instinct is so inbred in them. Quite amazing!
Re: Broken Axis
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello List! Thanks for all the feed back on my thoughts and experience with Broken AxisI wondered if it was just me and am so glad it ain't!! LOL! Curt..I promise I won't shave my fjords legs..but for those of you who do.I think it is acceptable as when you do certain disciplines it is better for the horse?? Gayle help!! Don't I remember you talking about how you sometimes do Dusty's legs because of some of the stuff you do! And Dusty's legs are really a wonder!! When you see all the slids and spins and everything Gayle does with him.his legs are clean!! Ceacy and I enjoyed meeting Gayle and Dusty last time we went to Libby, MT!
Re: Broken Axis
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello List! Sure wish I was going to the sale!! I do want to share an experience that I had with one of the evaluators judging a fjord show and after the show was done for the day..the judge(see.no he or she) so you'll never know!!was walking around the stalls..I asked the judges opinion of my horse...it was a young one...and he said it was great ..except for it had broken axis on it's front feet.I didn't reply as the judge went on to some other points..and then I started asking opinions and just looking myself, after I understood what a Broken Axis is...When you looked at this horses feet, the coronary band had quite a puff of hair sticking out all around the coronary band and had good hairy fetlocks.which of course,,,we leave our fjords hairy!! LOL! .and yes it did look like a broken axis...but it isn't.. I felt the hair,i shaved off the hair when I got homeno broken axis...So, my question is.was thi! s stallion evaluated by the judge that said my horse has a broken axis? just curiousoh,,,other fjord breeders and ownersother horse breed owners and two vets have said , no, there is no broken axis. Now, this will narrow it down a bit when the dutch came to evaluate fjords in 2000this horse received an A premium.no broken axis..on the conformation sheetI have not been to an American Evaluation since the first one back East, years back!! But am planning and saving nowto bring horses to the Ohio Eval this September! I won't have a problem bringing this horse to an evaluation. Now that I am comfortable with what a Broken Axis is and looks like...if need be.if the same judge is there..I will shave the lower legs!! LOL!!This is not meant to put down any of the Evaluators..but seeing the talk go to Norway and that they don't look for thatand how the NFHR Evals.. will change the fjords..I don't think ! that will happen! If you were to be technical..alot of t! he horses and maybe Tim's too, are from Norway, Holland, Sweeden, Germany.and are bred here in the states to stallions that are also imported.so technicallyall of the offspring are really first hand out of imports!! Even Hilmar is "an import" from Holland as he came Inutero!! Out of a Dutch Mare/ by a Dutch Stallion.The other mares I have come from Holland! I wonder what the ratio is now or if you can tell from the Pedigree Site...how many fjords are totally american or canadian bred? be interesting to see!
Re: Grabbson
This message is from: SUSAN GIARGIARI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello List! Sue g. here. I have been following the conversations about the Waverly Auction and Tim's horses all going.just to let folks know..Dick and I met Tim and his wife the first year we went to the Libby, MT show...he is a very well meaning man! Friendly, loved his horses. Then I was reaquanted(sp?) with him about 3 years when I went to Norway. His wife had died, not sure when, and he was like a lost soul. He really had a hard time with most things...a few of us kept tabs on him to make sure he was ok. He really has a good heart and I know that if his comment was.I just want them gone...I would almost bet that he is in a depression... I have been there. When you are at the bottom, you just need things done and can't think about it in sane terms. I had a flock of 40 sheep, knew each and every one, had lambs every year from them, and the year that Dick had his first back surgery, we adopted Anthony, all the sheep were ready to lamb.and two litters of Great Pyrene! es were due a week apart..and we had two belgiums, a percheron and her filly, two paint fillysand I had to take care of all of it.needless to say, there came a time when I had to let something go,, I couldn't do it anymore...I sold the whole flock and when they were goneI knew that something was not right in my mind. They were a part of me, each and every one. But I couldn't care for them any more in the way that they needed so I let them go. To hear that Tim has said, He just wants them gonethat is what I said to. It doesn't make it right, it was what I had to do to survive mentally at the time.I just wanted to speak up in Tim's corner and if I had the money!! I would be at Waverly trying to get what I could to help make sure they got into good hands! A little while back , Sam, from Barefoot Farms had asked some questions on this fjord list about a foal that she had that she thought might be a grey. It is a colt, and it is out of Selma, who is a Grabbson daughter. Selma is a grey mare and we bred her to LLA Hilmar. She had a colt, Yngvar! We didn't get over to Sam's until about a month ago and as soon as I saw the colt right up close..I knew I was seeing my first Grey foal! I had never seen a grey that youngJulie Will had told me that when the foal is born, you will see a "Check" mark above each eye that is Blackand it will look like the foal has black eye make up on..the brown dunsof which we have seen plenty of! have a brown "check" mark.. The striping already apparent on this foal's legs is very striking..just like his dam, Selma's. Selma is an awesome mare. She belonged to Castlefjords until a few years ago and when Sam bought her... she was in foal. The stallion was a b! rown dun and Selma had a grey filly, Floyel. Then she was bred last year to a brown dun, Hilmar, and she has a grey colt. I think she also had a few other foals, greys. Dick loves this mare and we have her at the farm here in Northfield , MA as a little trade off! We have the pasture and fields for the foals to get great excercise and she gets to take my mares to use for her riding camps! On a sad note, Floyel was owned by a young girl named, Lia, who bought her from Sam. We took her to the NY Fjord show and Lia was going to enter Horse College in Morrisville, NY where the NFHR Evaluation was held last year. So Floyel stayed on to board at Julie's. Sam got a call last week from Lia and Floyel had to be put down. Please say some prayers for Daryll, Julie's husband at Old Hickory Farm as they have lost one older mare, a different young horse, and Floyel, and I am pretty sure that there was one other horse on the sick list. Floyel was thought to have died from colic...her colon was up over her back? not where it should have been. Lia is home now from college for a break and helping Sam at Barefoot.good for her to keep going and being with her friends! On a happier note, we went to our first Sleigh Rally in Granby, MA last weekend! Talk about cold,,it was only in the teenswe drove our box farm sled with Selma and Hilmar as a team. For practice we had Yngvar hitched to his mom's work harness,,, he was quite the little show off! When he was at Sam's still he would walk all over his mom and never got reprimanded by her..so he also thought it was ok to walk all over the people too! Sam and her husband, Rod, had a lot of fun bringing him in and out with mom from the paddock! When he got to our farm and was put out with his mom, Hilmar, and two other weanlings, Yasmine(Dena/Konggard) and Yuri(Stella/Hilmar).he didn't want to leave mom's side! He has learned all his manners now,amazing what a little time spent in the "herd
No Report / No
This message is from: Susan Giargiari <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cabic reported that the nomination period has officially ended. There were 3 people nominated for the 4 open positions. Alan Merrill, Catherine Lassesen and Becky Vorpagel. Roger moved that the Board to declare a No Election for the open seats, as per the NFHR Bylaws, Article XI, Section B. He further moved to approve the following nominated persons as elected to the Board of Directors for 3-year terms starting 1/2002. [demime 0.98e removed an attachment of type image/gif which had a name of CPQStart.exe]
