Fjord featured in news article from Oregon
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080918/LIFE/809180301/-1 /OREGONOUTDOORS01 Meredith Sessoms Tooksend Farm Moulton AL Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Found a lovely photo or Ulend and Solvar I think =D
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockandracehorses/3321937612/ Meredith Sessoms Tooksend Farm Moulton AL Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Another link - a lovely painting
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net http://www.karenbrenner.com/beautiful_horses_of_OHIO_gallery_page_2.html Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
RE: FUGLY takes aim
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net Well, this is my last bit on Parelli for a while, sorry if I come across harsh in my earlier post but sometimes I feel I must defend my friends. This is one of the friends I speak of: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYxUslXd7YQ The following paragraph is what I wrote to Debby [miss.am...@earthlink.net] in private email, by the way we had a nice debate discussion off the list. =) This is my take on the video of LP and the half blind horse, and I was so shocked when I first saw that bit on a Parelli dvd that I watched it over and over until I thought I understood what the heck LP thought she was doing ... ~~~ I don't think LParelli handled that half blind horse well either. I do not agree with everything they do. I am not one of their blind followers. In her defense though, the horse's owner had come out to join the group with his horse. The horse put its head up and started looking out into the distance just looking for something to spook at. The horse was behaving downright dangerously, too dangerously to even lead it back to the barn. When LP took the lead she was attempting (very badly I might add) to get the horse away from her and for it to stand still until it decided it would rather be calm with its people than frightened out by itself. Kinda like slapping someone who has gotten into a complete screaming panic and won't stop! Only when it relaxed would she let it stand with them. And I have never been a fan of those big metal clasps hanging from the halters. I thought she had several chances to stop and see if the horse would relax but she just kept whamming it ... maybe she saw something in its behavior that I couldn't see though. I doubt the horse was harmed mentally or physically from what I saw in the video. But I can't help but think there had to have been a better way. The horses owner said that he is horrified that so much negative has been made from that video, he said that Linda and the Parelli course helped him and his horse a lot. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: Parelli again
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net Debby miss.am...@earthlink.net wrote: Why do you have horses? It doesn't sound as if you like your horses. I'm sad for you, if this is how you feel about your horses. But mostly I'm sad for your horses. I hope that you can get with some of your friends and do something positive with your horses to make them happy horses and to make you feel better about having them. Please do put the whip down. I don't believe the whip was meant as a means to threaten, but an extension of ones leg and an extension of ones arm. I'm afraid the term whip is missunderstood. I never carry a bucket of grain, nor hand treats, but I have lots of hugs and rubs to give and that can do wonders for the ponys and for yourself. Take time for them, with them. ~ Hi Debby, Don't feel sad for me or my horses! I understand perfectly the two uses for a whip: 1) to use as an aid to cue a horse, 2) to deliver a quick 'bite' much like a lead mare would do when a horse misbehaves but without the damage she could inflict. If I go out to carry an armful of hay to the barn with my little herd of horses following me, I would be stupid to not carry a whip. They would be very rudely snatching mouthfuls! While I turned to yell at one horse another would be grabbing the hay and most likely pulling a full flake of it to the ground! With a whip, all I have to do is wave it, or at most smack a chest with it no harder than I would my own denim clad leg, and they respect me as I carry hay to the barn ... shrug, what's the big deal? Most of the time I find myself in a pickle and wishing I had remembered to bring my whip out! Now, my point was, my Parelli friends horses simply wouldn't treat my friends so rudely to begin with! I carry buckets of feed to Solly and Dorina twice a day, and they do love being fed! I do not need to bribe them with food. I can call them to me or walk up to catch any of them at any time with very few exceptions. Oh, and my ponies pester me endlessly when I go out into their pasture with or without food, the same as yours, but it isn't because I am their leader and they just want to be with me, it is, I feel, because I amuse them! How does that make them unhappy? And no, I do not spend enough time with them as I should, but ask them if that makes them unhappy! The time I do spend with them is full and happy, and they are very well behaved (usually) and I love them and they do enjoy my company ... like I said, I amuse them. And I do get myself and my ponies out with friends to goof off in arenas and to trail rides in Bankhead fairly regularly in good weather. I just don't spend a fraction of the time with them as my more accomplished horsey friends spend with theirs. What did I say to make you think for a minute that my horses are unhappy? You must be reading things between the lines that I did not write nor even hint at. Please, reread my post, I took great pains to make myself understood ... Meredith Sessoms Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Feeding a colt under training
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net I have finally found a trainer who is endorsed by two friends and is near enough I can just hop in the car and visit my pony on a whim. The trainer feeds alfalfa and works them fairly heavily once he has them understanding that their job is to do some work for us. So ... if I switch Arlo over from Bermuda to alfalfa and have him on Safe Choice for a pellet feed, is that good enough or should I add or change to another feed for balanced nutrition? Thanks for any input. Meredith Sessoms Tooksend Norwegian Fjordhorses Moulton AL USA Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Fingers Crossed
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net Steve McIlree st...@carriagehorse.com wrote: Now that I know it will get through, I'd like to wish everyone a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you, Steve, for giving us our Fjord-L. Thank you for fixing it for us and putting up with us when there are problems. A belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours! Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL Dorina, NFR Aagot, TK Anjanette, TK Arlo and Sollyskur Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: Treeless saddle
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net I have a Barefoot treeless saddle and I love mine. I use a Grandeur pad with it, with or without a Mayatex saddle blanket, and I won't go out on the trail without a breastplate. I started using the Mayatex under the Grandeur when I became concerned about keeping some wool between my horse and the foam cell in the Grandeur on long hot rides. I think the breastplate is the key to keeping it from slipping. Since I started using a breastplate I have had no slippage problems. Before I got one, saddle slipping was a problem on my round-backed Anjee. I think you also have to be especially vigilant not to mount up without a mounting block with a treeless. If you do have to mount without a block, be sure to lift with your weight as close to the horse as possible until you can put your balance in the middle so as not to shift the saddle. Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL ~ Dorina, Sollyskur, NFR Aagot, TK Anjanette, and baby boy TK Arlo ~ Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: Doing the Right Thing for the Wrong Reasons
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net Ooooh, Kate! Congratulations on getting one of the prettiest little Fjord mares on the planet! If you haven't seen her yet, when you do, you will see where dear Joe gets his darling teddy bear looks. If I am not mistaken ... she got top honors in conformation at the evaluation under Dr. von Bon several years ago. Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Fjord at clinic photos
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net Who is the lovely Fjordie in the Carol Walker photos from the Piaffe and Passage with Manuel Trigo in Franktown CO in 2008? Is it Obie? Hope the link works. http://www.livingimagescjw.com/CLIENTS/08PiaffePassage/08PiaffePassage-1.htm Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
RE: Chickens and horses
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net From: REENA GIOLA Subject: Fwd: Chickens and horses I miss having chickensbut can you tell me what the DE is? thanks! Reena Hi Reena, I will post this to the whole list. I would miss having chickens too if I had to go without them. I think they are beautiful in a sweet, nursery rhyme way. And if you think of them as lovely little dinosaurs, it makes them even more interesting! Sorry, I forget some folks don't know about this stuff ... it is diatomaceous earth' which is the fossilized remains of plankton. I have never fed to anything yet, but I am going to the next batch I get. Some people eat it themselves to be sure their digestive system has no unwanted guests, and to dogs and all kinds of farm animals also. It sure would be cheaper than tapeworm meds for the barn cats! I can't imagine it would work against bots and other parasites with their way of travelling through muscles, so I would never feed only DE to rid my horses of worms. And you can dust yourself or your animals with it, or dust their bedding to check against fleas. You can spread it in certain places in your house to guard against incoming pests. I dust the floors of my closets since I have a terrible fear of certain fiddleback spiders. I have heard it isn't very affective against bird mites, so it isn't the 'be all, end all'; maybe they are too smooth bodied to catch the DE in their body parts. It also is something not to be abused or used excessively. Like any other dust, you don't want to breathe it, even when it says it is safe to do so. And it kills good bugs as well as bad bugs, so you should use it very sparingly outside. Here is a web page that tells all about it. I believe this is the company I bought mine from: http://www.safesolutionsinc.com/Diatomaceous_Earth.htm Meredith Sessoms Tooksend Art and Fjordhorses Moulton AL Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Chickens and horses
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net I adore my chickens and do not sorry about them carrying disease to me or the horses. Feed them food grade DE and put it in their dusting spots. That will take care of any mites or worms. There are also drugs to feed them or dust on them to take care of worms and mites. Keep them healthy and bright eyed and they will delight you with their sweet songs, cheerful nature and delicious, healthy eggs. DE might also work in itchy horse tails and in their feed to take care of worms. Hens also will break up horse poo piles around the barn to help keep flies down, and they eat spilt and dribbled feed to help keep rats and mice away. The only time having hens bothers me is when other creatures get to the eggs laid in the hay bales before I do. When that happens I have to break open the bales to get the flakes out that were ruined from broken eggs. Otherwise, I don't mind it when my hens make their nests in the hay. The bales only get ruined when I forget to check nests to collect the eggs. Meredith Sessoms Tooksend Art and Fjordhorses Moulton AL Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Please, trim your posts ...
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net I have gotten about three digests that were loads of stuff I had already read with very little new content ... having to sift through the old posts is just awful. Please, be more considerate. Thank you. ~ Meredith ~ Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Cute, cute web page
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net http://www.huehorse.com/huehorse.php?horseid=7793affid=1222 Meredith Sessoms Tooksend Fjordhorses Moulton AL Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Conformation - breeding quality or not?
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net While dreaming of breeding my wonderful new Solar daughter this spring lots of things are going through my mind. Daily I try to weigh 'should I?' or 'shouldn't I?'. The way things are going with the economy and the distressing condition of the horse market it seems that a discussion on how to determine if a horse is breeding quality or not is called for. With our Fjordies being a breed low in numbers, I feel it is important to keep the bloodlines going, at the same time we need to do our best to insure there are homes for our charges, and well conformed, trained, athletic horses will always be more in demand than nasty b*ggers who have big or numerous faults. It is a cr*p shoot even when the best are bred to the best, so the more we know about what we are doing the better chances we have of making Fjordhorses who will always be in demand as trail buddies, carriage ponies, draft horses, and Western or English mounts. What are some of your favorite web sites that teach about conformation and gaits? Everyone knows about the infamous FHotD how it is her mission to humiliate people into not breeding trash, there is a section in her forums where people post photos of horses and discuss their conformation. There are also discussions on conformation at CotH forums. Here are some of other web pages I have found: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equine_conformation http://equisearch.com/horses_care/health/anatomy/ http://www.thehorse.com/ (you have to get a free login to read their articles) http://www.extension.org/pages/Understanding_How_Conformation_Affects_Performanc e_Ability http://drgarfinkel.com/index.php?option=com_contenttask=viewid=18Itemid=142 Also, with the Fjordhorse being a Jack-of-all-Trades, I would love to hear a discussion on what you look for to determine if a mare is breeding quality or not. Myself, I look for a sweet nature. A pleasant face showing breed character, good overall body structure, well shaped legs and hooves, and distinctive breed type are all very important. I don't dismiss thick and crested necks (that is one reason I love the cobby breeds for goodness sakes, pencil necks give me the heebie-jeebies) but I do look to see if the neck is well shaped and well used. Free and balanced movement is important, as is a nice comfortable still stance with her hooves all in the right place under her body. Good bone is a must for me, thin bone means a gross lack of breed type to my mind, it's as important to our breed as it would be to keep good bone in the Highland Pony or the Welsh Cob. A good riding trot is a big plus for me since trail riding is my thing and it isn't pleasant trying to keep up with a group of Arabs and Walkers on a pile-driver. Stumblers should not be bred imo. I understand that all horses stub a toe now and then, but if your friends are happily trotting down a hill in front of you and your heart goes into your throat because there might be a little pock in the path you better think twice about breeding the horse you are riding. Last but not least ... soundness. With few exceptions a broodmare should be sound and free from pain. I hope this helps a little bit and doesn't cause any hurt feelings. I don't know anyone here well enough for anything in this post to be a personal attack. This is such an important issue always, but these days it is critical that we fall back and think twice about any breedings we plan for the spring. At the same time we don't want to cripple the breed and cause good horses to be gelded and precious mare lines to be lost, so it's a Catch 22. I hope lots of folks add their 2 cents, it is a very important subject and a perfect forum for education. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Sessom's blogspot
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net http://tooksend.blogspot.com/ Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL ~ Solly - Dorina - Shaggy - Anjee - Arlo - and Pepper ~ Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Daughter of Rimfaske, maybe?
This message is from: Steve Sessoms ssess...@charter.net http://www.heggestad.com/photos/Norway%20-%20family/Hole%20family/P050816-1%2B26 .jpg.php I wonder if this was a daughter of Rimfaske. Meredith Sessoms Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Southern trainers
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Can anyone recommend a riding/driving trainer in the region around north Alabama, north eastern Mississippi, middle and east Tennessee, north western Georgia, or the Florida panhandle? My Arlo is old enough to be started this year. Thanks, Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Wonderful photography by Tim Flach
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.timflach.com/ There is a Fjordhorse in his Equus pages. Be sure to check out both Equus and Portfolio ... wonderful, wonderful!!! Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Classic link - Singing horses
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://svt.se/hogafflahage/hogafflaHage_site/Kor/hestekor.swf Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Marcis Vidzem
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] More wonderful art of Fjordings! http://www.marcis.se/ Meredith Sessoms The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Debbie Hughbanks art
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.debbiehughbankshorseart.blogspot.com/ She has several wonderful new works available since I last looked at her pages. ~ Meredith Sessoms ~ The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
How do you become an alpha rider?
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I am doing ok on the ground now, but I am still having quite a bit of trouble in the saddle. I do alright with my Shaggy and I did well with Dorina. And my Anjee is usually a very good, fun horse to ride; but she is something else when she decides being ridden is a game or when I ask her to do something she doesn't want to do. We are still working on that. Head tossing, insecurity with me as leader, baby bucks and jigging are all already on her list of bad things she has done so far ... This is her 5th year and 2nd under saddle, and I would love to hear from others on training young horses to ride. She will be going to a trainer for another round as soon as I find one near me. Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL USA The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
On-lead training
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Something that hasn't been discussed much on this list is proper handling when your horse is on lead. I am a big believer in the training halters with the big snap for 'bite' when needed, although I am not nearly strong enough to match a right-brained horses energy with one. They help immensely in most situations when I am savvy enough to nip a problem in the bud. If their leader isn't worried, a horse shouldn't be worried either. I think that when they act up in strange places it is a clue as to who they think is boss atm. If they aren't matching your calmness, they are thinking they are boss and the herd needs to head back home. Something I used to do whenever my horses went right-brained was to hang onto their halter or the lead under their chin or put a chain across their nose - all wrong. Now when they get insecure or crazy I get them AWAY from me, not closer. When I lead them out of the trailer and I see them looking away from me, eyes wide, head up, ears up, I yo-yo them away from me and only let them back close to me, their herd, when their head lowers and I have their attention. Sometimes I have them play a few games until they calm down. If they aren't too dangerous, get them busy, get their mind on you. Or if they are really crazy, just make them stand still, at a good distance from you, until they calm down. Then reward them by letting them come back into the herd. Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL USA The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: Rusty old t-post
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Update: Anjee is still doing well. Steve gave her 3 Big antibiotic shots, she fidgeted, but took them better than I would have in the doctor's office! She seems to be mending right on track. I am going to call Dr. Mark tomorrow and ask him if I can let her go out with the others when her bandage comes off tomorrow. We wrapped the chain around the remains of the rusty old t-post and pulled it out of the pond with the tractor. It is in the trash now, where it belongs. She has been so bored and so loving (thinking of me as a big toy!). She has been following me around like a puppy when I go visit her. ~ Meredith Sessoms ~ The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Rusty old t-post
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] My Anjee got a bad cut on the outside of her pastern, but it could have been a lot worse. Monday morning all was well. When they were all done with their hay I went out to goof off with the ponies and when they gathered around me I looked down and it looked like someone had taken a house painting brush full of red paint and splashed Anjee with it from the outside pastern down the ground! I ran water on it and found a clean inch long deep and gaping wound. Then called Dr. Mark to come out. He cleaned it, knocked her out, and rummaged around determining what damage was done. He found her joint sheath and tendons untouched and then stitched her up, inside and out. 3 days of antibiotic shots and a week of bandaging and no wetness is all he prescribed, no pond and running with her buds in the big pasture. Stitches out in 3-4 weeks. So I assume she can't go riding for a minimum of 4 weeks. She is so good. She is taking her incarceration well. No fretting or anything, just pestering the devil out of me every time I go down to sit with her. I quickly found what did it - an old t-post in the pond. I had tried to get it out of the ground many times. I didn't know it but the horses had broken it off near the ground which allowed Anjee to step over and beside it and its rusted edge sliced her like a knife. Before the drought it was deep in water and I just couldn't get it out. I still can't get it out of the wet ground, suction or something going on, but I piled logs around it to keep the horses away from it until Steve can deal with it. He can get the implement off the tractor and pull it out I hope. Lesson learned the hard way and at dear Anjee's expense - pull those old t-posts out no matter how difficult! ~ Meredith Sessoms ~ Solly ~ Dorina ~ Shaggy ~ Anjee ~ Arlo ~ Pepper, the black one The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
New horses
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Usually, when I introduce new horses to my herd, I leave them in the foaling paddock for a few days. My herd can see the new horse from a distance and vise versa. Then I open the gate to the barn paddock during the day, it doubles the space for the new horse and lets it meet the herd over a gate. At the gate, Dorina would have held the new mare in contempt and kept the curious younger ones away from the gate unless everyone was calm - she would have ruled no matter what. That way they get to figure out who's who and what position they will hold without much fuss and under my watchful eye. After a couple days of letting them touch noses I let the new horse out into the herd. I have never had any problems with this method, no big fence fights or anything. Dorina, my old Holunder daughter, always kept everyone safe and is too smart to engage in a big fence fight. Well, I listened to someone else's method of introducing new horses this time and, as a result, Dorina has been knocked off her pedestal and Solly, our new mare, has taken over. My friend suggested I let Solly out alone to get the know the pasture then let my horses out to make friends one by one. I made the big mistake of letting Dorina out first. Dorina freaked! She had the double task of protecting her herd in the next pasture from the newcomer and protecting herself from a younger, taller mare who was stronger in mind and body. Hence, Dorina ran back and forth all upset and didn't dominate anywhere. When I saw how badly it was going I let Shaggy, my laid back mommy-mare, and her son, Arlo, out. Dorina still had a hard time because she couldn't keep up with all the running horses. Then I let the other two out. Solly was clearly the strongest minded mare in the herd and the next day she was boss and I have never seen poor Dorina look so dejected. The good thing is, it looks like Solly will be a good lead mare. I think she will take much of the load off Dorina's shoulders and the herd will still gather around Dorina's skirts like they always have. So I am hoping the change will not be a bad thing for dear old Dorina. Anyways, I would love to hear how other folks manage to introduce a new horse to their herd. Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL ~ Dorina ~ NFR Aagot ~ TK Anjanette ~ TK Arlo ~ Sollyskur ~ Pepper ~ The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: Fjords and rain
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] kngould [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I have opted to put the fjords in the field with the run in ... Should I be concerned? As long as the shed has at least two solid walls, so they can get out of the wind, no matter what the weather, they should be fine. They can get terribly chilled, even if it isn't very cold out, if the conditions are just right. A three day windy rain that soaks them to the bone and leaches the warmth out of them will get them shivering even if it is well above freezing. They must have shelter from the wind and lots of hay to keep them warm from the outside and the inside of their bodies. Mine also almost rarely use their shelter/barn. I toss them plenty of hay in the barn to encourage them to stay inside it and dry off when the weather is wet and windy for a long spell. Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL USA ~ Dorina . NFR Aagot . TK Anjanette . TK Arlo . and Morgan/QH Pepper ~ The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Fjords in Art
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.natureartists.com/artists/artist_artwork.asp?ArtistID=971ArtworkID=1 5434 http://www.debbiehughbankshorseart.blogspot.com/ http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_8451_profile_portfolio.htm http://www.carolynhundslev.com/Gallery.htm http://ejkstudios.net/realist-gallery.php# Meredith Sessoms The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Fjord art - i forgot one =)
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.equi-art.com/ A friend of mine found this lady's note cards with the Fjord and got them for me. Excellent quality card with lovely artwork! Meredith Sessoms The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Stumbling
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Was RE: poor quality horses One suggestion for stumbling is to have a natural hoof trimmer out to look at his hooves. Heels and bars trimmed to proper height, proper angles, flares pared down, and a good mustang roll might do wonders. Meredith Sessoms The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
ASK 113-A
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi everyone. Ask (Grabb X Mette by Vitol) is a stallion you see in many pedigrees but I don't know anything about him. From the pedigree database I gathered that he was bred in Norway and owned by Gene Bauer (Hestdalen). His thirty-five get are mostly bred by Mr. Bauer and a fellow from Montana named Dave Parker. Can anyone enlighten us about his personality, uses, or conformation? I am also curious about a mare named Sally 2022-A AFS (King Harald X mare from Broadmore Hotel STK). Apparently she was owned by Dave Parker from MT. She was the dam of Alex Winds, Techla, of the poem I sent; and of Molde, Gayle Ware's beloved brood mare; and of the stallion Hei of Willow Ranch, another Fjordie I see in pedigrees a lot but know nothing about; and the mare, Sala who is also in lots of pedigrees. All four of Sally's foals were sired by Ask and they were all productive individuals! I would greatly appreciate any photos of these horses. Thanks, Meredith Sessoms The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Poem by Alex Wind
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] While surfing the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/fjordhorse%40angus.mystery.com/index.html#47540 for Sollyskur, the beautiful Solar mare Steve and I are buying from Ryland Moore, I found this precious poem by Alex Wind about Sollys' dam, Techla. I remember being so moved by this poem and enjoying Alex's other posts from years ago. I believe she died of cancer when my mare-to-be was still a filly. I wish I could have met her, she must have been a sweet and talented character: ~ ~ Meredith Sessoms ~ Moulton AL A Toast to Techla Arches and buttresses - spans and arcs Pure architecture founded on four piers Dressed formally, accented by a royal crest Of black and white. Four thousand years Your ancestors have been a useful eyeful. Viking fierceness and persistence, Mountains and crashing sea boundaries Kept your blood cold and pure. And inside you, you hold another new one Ready to spring forward and extend That ancient line. Black from forelock To tip of tail. Back from misty predawn To as long as long as humans value your strength And good humor and patience and keep Putting stallion to mare. . . Another Fjordhorse to make. ~ Alex Wind 5/24/93 The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Parelli Assessment
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I passed Parelli Level 1 Assessment with Anjee (just barely) the weekend before last. We did great for most of the ground work. Our weak point was the riding part. She is still fidgeting on the mounting (she was doing so good, I thought we were past that problem) and her saddle slipped twice - she nearly had me in tears - and she is a bit snotty when I ask her to speed up, she squeals and gives me a baby buck almost every time I ask her to trot in the ring. We have lots of good solid trail experience, but we have done very little ring work, and she clearly doesn't see the point in running around a boring ring with a human on her back! My on line send was a bit weak too, she kept stopping to play with the barrels instead of leaping over them. =( I don't think the lady would have passed me if she hadn't seen me working very nicely, almost flawlessly, with her for an hour and a half before the assessment started. And we did, eventually, do all we were asked to do properly. If anyone has any pointers on our weak spots, please, enlighten me! She is very bold and left brained; I, on the other hand, am pretty soft natured. I do try hard to stand/walk/act/ride boldly when I handle her, but she sees right through me at all the wrong moments! Oh, and my wonderful, fancy little boy, Arlo, just got home from his first months training! The trainer says he is both lighter than my other Fjordies and has more left brained boldness all at the same time! And I thought Anjee was a challenge! But he did wonderful. He loads with a point of the finger from the ground, he carries a cinched up bareback pad, he does all 7 games with style, he ground ties (until his baby brain tells him he might find some pellets in that bucket over there), he lifts all fours with no fuss, he walks on lead in the correct position at handlers speed, he turns to the handler at all the right moments, he is so polite! =) I am so proud of Arlo! When Anjee and Arlo were loaded the horse trailer at the trainer's place, I realized his butt is as tall as hers already - she is just under 13.3hh at four and a half years and he is a year and a half old now. It was already dark when I got them home. We turned them loose and I ran out to hear the sounds of their hooves pounding the ground all the way up to the back pasture. Then I stood there in the dark listening to the sounds of their mother, Shaggy, telling them, Welcome home. I love you both. You two behave. I'm still your mother and don't you forget it for a second! Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL ~ Dorina (Holunder x Uvonia by Oostman) ~ ~ NFR Aagot (Leik x F.V. Anitra by Solar) ~ ~ TK Anjanette (MVF Karival x NFR Aagot by Leik) ~ ~ TK Arlo (Kastanjegardens Fernando x NFR Aagot by Leik) ~ The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Interesting driving team blog!
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://hest.no/blogg/?bid=12554blid=44585 ~ Meredith Sessoms ~ Moulton AL USA ~ Dorina . NFR Aagot . TK Anjanette . TK Arlo . and Pepper the black one ~ The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Interesting photos!
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://fjordhest.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=377sid=2297d570d9ed6f7ebc7cc52f142c1 811 She tells about the photos on this page: http://fjordhest.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=377postdays=0postorder=ascstart=15 The ones on top I think are Doles or Dole/Fjord crosses. None of them look purebred to me, but still interesting. Meredith Sessoms The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: Another Fjord link and Norwegian jewelry
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ok . for the link to the New York Times, put the words 'delano horse norway in the search, then put Archive 1851 - 1980 in the pull down thingy, then . click on the first article Like the horses of the Ancient Greeks . a wonderful little article written in 1906! I got all but one of my other links to work simply by using copy/paste, hope they work as well for you. I thought it interesting that Kittelsen used a kvit instead of a ulsblakken for his illustrations. ~ Meredith ~ The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Another Fjord link and Norwegian jewelry
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1res=9D01E1DC1E3EE733A25754C1A 9609C946797D6CForef=slogin http://www.bunadrosen.no/ http://www.sylvsmidja.no/ The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Links to Norwegian horses in art
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://users.skynet.be/fa023784/trollmoon/TrollArtistsBlog/files/page20_blog_ent ry27_2.jpg http://kittelsen.efenstor.net/displayimage.php?pid=271fullsize=1 http://kittelsen.efenstor.net/displayimage.php?pid=548fullsize=1 http://kittelsen.efenstor.net/displayimage.php?pid=562fullsize=1 The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Classic - singing horses link
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://svt.se/hogafflahage/hogafflaHage_site/Kor/hestekor.swf The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Bone and substance
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I would like to start a discussion about bone and substance in our breed. I have seen a worrisome number of Fjordies who lacked the bone that is typical for our breed. Most were lovely animals who excelled in the current trend for movement, but they lacked breed type. When we speak of breeding the lighter, sportier, riding type Fjord, it does not necessarily mean we should breed for smaller bone. It should mean we are breeding for less big, bulky muscles and extremely big bones needed for a very strong draft horse. There is naturally some variation in bone size, but, a Fjordhorse should never ever be bred for lightness of bone. If you have a light boned mare you should seek a stallion who excels in bone in the hopes that the foal will inherit the stoutness typical for the breed, and vice-versa. Breed type must be held high in our thoughts when we make breeding decisions, because without it, we loose the very thing we love - our Fjordies! ~ Quoted from our standard, underlining is mine: Body structure within the breed ranges the entire spectrum, from flatter, lighter muscling to a more round, heavier muscling. Historically, Fjords have appeared in different shapes, models or body types, according to the different needs of the times. From this wide genetic pool comes the versatile Fjord of today, which is not a specialized breed, but a breed with horses of different types and sizes which can be used for a wide variety of activities. Horses that meet the set conditions and demands of quality are equally acceptable, although they can be of different sizes and body types. Conformation should be harmoniously balanced and must always be complemented by substance of body and ample bone. ~ I would love to see cannon bone size considered and printed in the evaluation results. I wouldn't necessarily like to see a hard disqualification rule, but if it were published breeders could make better decisions about which stallions to consider. I felt it had to be said, and I am not the only one terribly concerned about this. That's my thoughts. Sorry if I stepped on anyone's toes. =( ~ Meredith Sessoms ~ The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: large rider issues
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Brigid Wasson wrote: I cringe every time I hear of weight limits, certain saddles, etc. for large riders. `` I think the main reason for the weight limit on the really soft treeless saddles is because the saddle will literally roll onto the horses belly if you are too heavy and try to mount with the stirrup, or if you get badly unbalanced while riding. They really are just fancy bareback pads with stirrups and a little support for mounting in the cantle. They will teach you balance quicker than a saddle with a tree. I fluctuate between 145-160 and I have to tighten the girth more than I would for a western saddle. I would have to tighten it until poor Dorina's eyes bulged out for my portly husband. If you are 200+ and use a mounting block and a really secure seat, I too say, Go for it!. And I love my blue Barefoot Treeless! The Startrekk looks like it would act the same way as a saddle with a tree since the pads sit along the backbone the same way as a regular saddletree does. I would love to ride in one! Meredith Sessoms Moulton Alabama USA [EMAIL PROTECTED] ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot, TK Anjanette, TK Arlo and Pepper the black one ~ I will not change my horse with any that treads but on four pasterns When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk; he trots the air. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: Treeless Saddle Sydney Saddleworks
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] dfle [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Does anyone have experience with a Sydney Saddleworks treeless saddle. I have a chance to get a new one at a really good cost and just want to make sure it's worth it. I know the Hillason ones are not the greatest according to what I've heard, and know probably the Barefoot, Torsion and Bob Marshall are much better, but the price tags on those three so far are a bit high. My friend has the Bob Marshall and swears by it, but he went all out and paid over $1,500 for his. I'd rather not spend that much. Let me know your thoughts. ` I bought a Barefoot Ocean's Blue last summer. Dorina and I love it! It was under $1000 brand new from Lori's Tack on the web and she was great to work with. I just wish my husband was lightweight enough to use one too. Meredith Sessoms ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot, Anjee, Arlo and Pepper, the black one ~ Moulton Alabama USA The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: fjord pony or horse
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I certainly consider the Fjordhorse a true pony breed. In describing the pony, the author described our Fjords to a tee. They are a large pony, much like the Scottish Highland Pony. A typey Fjord has all the pony features, the short thick ear set rather low, the short thick head wide between the eyes and wide at the muzzle, the cobby bone and rotund body, the dense hair-coat. All ponies are horses, but not all horses are ponies. And there are two definitions of the word pony: a horse less than 14.2 hands high, and a type of small horse native to the northern European countries that match the description above. Most Fjords fit both definitions. Meredith Sessoms Moulton, Alabama The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Immature 2 year old
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] kate charboneau [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: was RE: fjordhorse-digest V2006 #174 Â… have a 2 year old Fjord gelding. Â… This summer we began very, very light driving with him, but he seemed so very immature to me that he's out to pasture with just daily ground-manners/around the barn handling currently. Â… Is it typical of Fjords or of this bloodline to mature slowly? Hi Kate, I sent my Anjee to my trainer, Shari, for basic handling and Parelli games and such, then home for a spell, then back to Shari's for first backing. She had just turned three. Well, Shari promptly sent Anjee back to me for a couple months of maturing. She told me flat out she wasn't going to ride her, she was too immature. So, Anjee came home. I made her work at home though, I didn't leave her in the pasture. Because Fjord and Friends was coming up, we worked on games and I round penned her with commands to help keep her mind and body fit after Shari had worked her. Then we took her back to Shari's a couple weeks before Fjord and Friends. She did so well after maturing a bit and some more training, that she acted like an old been-there-done-that gal on many nice trail rides at Fjord and Friends. The only thing she did wrong was to scoot out from under her rider, Shari's husband Avery, when she got spooked. When he landed on his butt ouch behind her, she didn't run off, she turned and looked at him like she was asking, Whatcha doin' down there? I thought you were supposed to stay on my back! Anjee and I have been on a few trail rides since and she is a wonderful trail horse already. She will tackle almost anything I ask of her. The only thing she didn't want to do with me was to go down some large steps with a jumble of broken concrete at the bottom. When I got off her, she walked down them with me and stayed cool about it. She is so little at only 13.1, but strong! And she enjoys herself so much on trail rides. I am more confident on her than I am on her dam, Aagot. Something about her attitude. Her dam is so spoiled, she never really caught on that we are a team when we go out, she would rather stay home. I didn't have her started until she was seven. But little Anjee, started training at late two/early three and backed at 3 and a half, has been a blast! Now I am putting her up for the rest of the summer to grow a little bit! =) And I am sure they are all different. Anjee has always loved people and this attitude has carried on to her training. Once she caught on, she was like the little straight A student. Before that she was like in the terrible twos or something. So, my experience says if they are immature step back a little bit and give them time before the serious training starts. Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL USA ~ Dorina . NFR Aagot . TK Anjanette . TK Arlo . Pepper ~
Frances Guthrie's Bareback Pad using Fjordie model
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://thehorseshoof.com/FrancesPad.html Cute little feller too =) Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL USA ~ Dorina . NFR Aagot . TK Anjanette . TK Arlo . Pepper ~
Driving question
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Steve is wanting to learn to drive now! The idea of driving downright scares me, all those straps that all have to be just right, and a cart that the horse could decide was going to eat them at the most unexpected moments ... Question of the day: Does the one-rein stop work with horses being driven? If the one-rein stop works I can relax a little. Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL USA ~ Dorina . NFR Aagot . TK Anjanette . TK Arlo . Pepper, the black one ~
Arlo and Aagot won 3rd place photo!
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://marestare.com/Contest%20Results.htm And, Arlo, my gorgeous red dun colt (Kastanjegarten's Fernando X NFR Aagot by Leik) snuck some black hairs in his mane and tail. When I separated his hairs and looked down near the skin his new mane and tail hair is b-l-a-c-k . so, he is turning into a brown dun! He didn't have a hint of a black hair anywhere until almost 3 months of age, there was not even a single stray black hair in his mane! There is no way he is a grey dun because he has no smudginess around his eyes or on his muzzle and no dark eyebrows. And I don't think he is a white dun because his face is as brown as his red dun dam's with contrasting white pangare. I was so sure he was a red dun I would have bet the house on it. I am so excited about Arlo, he is such a joy. But it is a real challenge raising a stud colt! At 3 months he is growing so bold, mostly with the other horses. I was afraid to lead a mare in the pasture with him for a few days. But I think I have a handle on him now, I don't do anything without eyes in the back of my head and it is much easier to put a stop to bad behavior before it starts. He is so cute running to see me all snort and blow, but when he gets a few steps away he slows to a very polite walk - such a good boy. He tries to behave like a gentleman at all times near me. I borrowed some of my friends Parelli DVDs and we have been practicing lots of little baby exercises in getting him to 'give' to the feel of rope and hand pressure, and pick up his little feet with hand and with rope. He does it so well I think he snuck in and watched the DVDs when I was asleep. =) And big sister Anjee (MVF Karival X NFR Aagot by Leik) was so cute yesterday. We unhitched the trailer in the foal paddock and left it wide open for Arlo to investigate. Then I took all the horses there to rest in the paddock's shade out of the sun. Well, Anjee, home from a fun exciting trip to Fjords and Friends in NC, wanted to show baby brother how cool it was to get into a horse trailer. She would walk into it, stomp around a little bit, turn around, and then I would see her head come out the back and crane around looking for Arlo as if to say, Arlo, are you watching? This is how we do it. You have to watch! She did that several times. I swear, these horses are so smart! Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL USA ~ Dorina . NFR Aagot . TK Anjanette . TK Arlo . Pepper, the black one ~
Re: Crossbreeding: Total Heresy?
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I would think the Highland Pony would be a better bet. They sure look a lot like Fjords with long manes! Dun colors, temperment, etc. Yes, you read my mind, Jean! The Highland Pony is the only horse breed I know of that would not add any hugely different characteristics to our breed. The Haffie and the Fell and the Black Forest and the Welsh Cob are all similar size but are just too different in some really, really important ways. We better keep our bloodlines in good shape, we don't want another Rimfaske War! Thank heavens for our stringent rule against close linebreeding and inbreeding . this practice alone should save our breed from the problems other small breeds have. If a problem should crop up, we will have lots of pockets of untroubled lines in different regions and in other countries. Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL ~ Dorina . NFR Aagot . TK Anjanette . TK Arlo . and Pepper, the black one ~
Swimming with Fjordies
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] The funniest thing happened with Dorina after a trail ride. It has been awfully hot here in Alabama lately. But despite the weather, my friend Shari and I have been busily trying to shape ourselves and our horses up for trail rides at Fjords and Friends. We have been trying to get together once a week to go to Bankhead National Forest, just south of me, to ride the horse trails on Saturday mornings although it is a long drive over here for her. Her daughter, Kimberly, 11 and a wonderful little horsewoman, has been going with us riding her darling Crabbet Arabian gelding, General. After one of our rides, Shari, Kimberly and her friend all took their horses to the pond for a swim. Me, being too shy, walked Dorina to the pond but we didn't go in. After a while, Kimberly asked me if I would like her to take Dorina for a swim. Knowing Dorina would feel much better if she got all wet and cooled off I said, Sure! So we switched horses and she took Dorina and hopped on her back. Dorina is not one who enjoys water, but after a little coaxing and in Kimberly's gentle hands, Dorina went out deeper and deeper. The deeper she got and the cooler she got the more she began to relax. She was clearly beginning to enjoy herself. Kimberly nudged her on out towards the other horses and all of a sudden Dorina was in over her head but floating, and her head immediately went completely under the water! Well, she bobbed like a cork for a few seconds, her feet searching for purchase on the bottom, her head still underwater and Kimberly still on top of her back. Dorina's head finally came up and she swam straight for the nearest bank completely ignoring Kimberly's cues to stop or turn. That bank was short, steep and tree-lined and when she started up it full steam ahead I yelled for Kimberly to get off her fearing she would get hurt or brushed off in the trees. So Kimberly slid off Dorina's butt and splashed into the water and all of us were laughing so hard!!! I caught poor Dorina who didn't think it was very funny at all; she went into quite a pout! (Tricksey little peopleses!) I can only imagine that since Dorina is one to lower her head and carefully study rough ground, she must have automatically lower her head to see where her feet were going when she lost the bottom of the pond which caused her head to go completely underwater! Meredith Sessoms Moulton, Alabama, USA ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot, TK Anjanette, TK Arlo and Pepper the black one ~
Baby Arlo and big sister
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] My new colt, TK Arlo (Kastanjegardens Fernando X NFR Aagot by Leik), is a fun subject for photos with his silly antics and bluster. He often shows off for big sister, Anjee, to try to get her to play with him. I caught this photo of him darting off to join his sister after he and his mom had been penned up all night and most of the day. I sent the photo to AnnMarie Fisher, who owns Rosita, Aagot's granddam, and she sent it to be entered in the Equinesite photo contest where he got Honorable Mention! http://www.equinesite.com/Photocontest.htm And I am even more proud of big sister Anjee, TK Anjanette (MVF Karival X NFR Aagot by Leik). We sent her to Shari White's for her first saddle training and she is doing so well! She is trotting on the road, around in the round pen, and has even been coaxed into a canter a couple of times! I got to sit on her and ride her a bit for the very first time today!!! insert big grin! Meredith Sessoms Moulton, Alabama, USA ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot, TK Anjanette, TK Arlo and Pepper the black one ~
Re: just my two cents
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I think we are seeing a cross-over from the FjordIssues-L where folks can only send sales pitches on Mondays. For some reason, for the first time it seems like, we are seeing them show up on both lists at the same time, so it may seem like a flood of sales posts to those who don't know about the rules on the other list. About sales pitches on our list . I love them! It is my way of learning how people describe horses from different lineages. I wish folks were more diligent about putting names and (_X_by_) in front of every horses picture, sales ad, and written description. Please, don't single anyone out for this, lots of us enjoy all the sales posts. None of us are interested in every topic that frequently comes up. And if we made a separate list for FjordSales-L, then lets see, we would need a FjordSaddlefitting-L, a FjordToShoeOrNotToShoe-L, a FjordBragsToTellAbout-L, a FjordHowToFeedChubbyPony-L, a FjordGroomingAndManeCutting-L, a FjordOMGoshMyPonyMightBeSick-L, a FjordWhatBitDoYouGuysUse-L . you get the point! :o) Meredith Sessoms Moulton, Alabama, USA ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot, TK Anjanette, TK Arlo and Pepper the black one ~
Re: bits allowed for evaluation
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wait . a broken bit and a snaffle bit are describing two different things. A snaffle is a bit that works off a ring or 'D' with no to extremely little leverage. It can have a broken mouthpiece or a mullen mouthpeice, etc. A broken mouth Western bit with leverage from shanks is not a snaffle. So, a snaffle can have a broken mouthpeice, but a bit with shanks cannot be a snaffle even if it has a broken mouthpeice. ~ Meredith Sessoms ~
Foal announcement!
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] My dear, red dun mare, NFR Aagot, has given birth to a big, handsome, red dun Fernando colt! We plan to register him as TK Arlo. I am so proud of him I can't hardly contain myself. Shaggy knows I love him as much as she does and she acts as though she is wanting to share him with me. She is such a good mom! The red dun mare and foal are so lovely together, such a beautiful color! He has a very interesting pedigree: Fernando, Grabb and Solar. I don't think he has Grabb's laid back attitude like his mom and sister do, I think he is going to be more like my Dorina, a little on the feisty side. I hope he gets his moms bone and smooth trot; and his sires rounder butt, upheadedness and nice gaits. If anyone would like to see some photos of him, send me a tell [EMAIL PROTECTED], I have lots of nice photos of him to show off. Howard and Sophie and Ann-Marie Fisher and my friends and relatives have had their email boxes inundated with foal pics for over a week now! He is so full of beans and weenies he was a handful to handle before he was steady on his feet. We did the Dr. Miller stuff with him the first day. He forgets himself sometimes and tries to play with me, but I remind him to back off with a grump and an air push and he respects that. He is already doing the porcupine game very nicely. But he is so strong, I will have to get him haltered and leading soon cause it is a major ordeal just to give him his probiotics and other stuff that needs doing. He is my first colt and I know there is not as much room for mistakes with the boys as there is with the sweet little fillies. I am so smitten with him, I have been enjoying him so much! Meredith Sessoms Moulton, Alabama, USA ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot, TK Anjanette, TK Arlo and Pepper the black one ~
Parelli group in North Alabama
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NoAL-PNH/ I would like to tell folks about a little fun Parelli group in the South. We have members from Tennessee and east Alabama. We try to have a playday about once a month, get togethers where we can enjoy our horses and learn from each other. I would love for other Fjord folks to join! ~ Meredith Sessoms ~ Moulton AL USA
RE: Trainer in Tennessee?
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Prichard's Fine Rum http://www.prichardsdistillery.com/ Meredith Sessoms Moulton Alabama USA [EMAIL PROTECTED] ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot, Anjee and Pepper the black one ~
Before the ride
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Was Snow riding: Vanessa N Weber [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Also, do you find the need to lunge your horses before you ride them, or are they pretty good about starting off again without it? I too have been following Parelli and find him extremely helpful for basic handling. I take it day by day, whether or not I feel it necessary to work them a bit before I climb into the saddle. Some days, as I groom them for a ride, I can tell they are a bit flighty and spooky (Fjordies are horses too). Some days they have been fussing amongst each other and think they will try to include me in their antics by crowding or rubbing or something and I have to put them in their place. I certainly don't want to ride a horse who is looking at me as someone to try to boss, crowd or play with so we go through a round of Parelli games before we go out on the trail. Parelli teaches how to put them in a proper frame of mind on the ground before the work begins. But then, some days as I catch them and groom them, they are looking at me politely with no spook in them and no fussiness. On those days I feel good about just saddling up and heading out. (I also find Parelli to be helpful but too commercial.) Meredith Sessoms Moulton Alabama USA
Spanish Riding School's 2005 USA Tour
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://special.equisearch.com/blog/
Yet another saddle question =)
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Has anyone ever owned or known someone with or ridden in a Barefoot or Trekker treeless saddle with a proper pad? I love the way they look, almost medieval, which suits big ponies/little cobs like ours to a tee. Hate to buy one without getting the skinny on them first though. Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot, Anjee and Pepper the QH/Morg X ~
Re: Linebreeding and inbreeding
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] To simplify matters . Inbreeding is doubling up on the sire, dam or grands anywhere close up on the pedigree (both within the 2 block or the 4 block). Linebreeding is doubling up on any ancestor with a little bit more distance. An old successful close linebreeding formula in Labradors is to breed a bitch back to her dam's grandsire on the tail line (2 male block and lowest male 8 block the same). Having a grand be also a great grand is a more common linebreeding formula (4 block and 8 block). Having a name appear twice in the 8 block is also common linebreeding. Loose Linebreeding is doubling up on any ancestor a bit further back than that (say 8 block and 16 block). Out-crossing is breeding two animals of different breeds together. Meredith Sessoms Moulton Alabama USA ~ Dorina ~ ~ NFR Aagot ~ ~ little Anjee, who isn't so little any more and is at the trainer for the first time ~
Artist, at your service
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hello everyone, I would like to offer my services as an equine and canine artist to everyone on the list. I have won awards with my graphite drawings, but I also work in oils, acrylics and watercolors. If you would like a very nice portrait, scenic or action work depicting your animals, please consider me. I can work from any non-professional photo (or a pro shot with the photographer's permission), or if you live within 200 miles from my place in Moulton, Alabama I can come out to make photographs to work from. You can view one of my favorite drawings on the Hennings Mill Labrador web page http://www.henningsmill.com/ , click on Contact info to see the portrait I did of Czar and his daughter Cloney. Drawings will run from $200-500, paintings and watercolors $300-600. Thank you, Meredith Sessoms 5415 County Road 87 Moulton Alabama 35650 Ph: 256-974-0852 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Interesting page
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I found this to be an interesting page with a few bits of pony feeding advise: http://www.singletreedartmoors.com/hints.html Cheers ~ Meredith Sessoms ~ Dorina : NFR Aagot : little Anjee
Kvit
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] It is my understanding that the kvit Fjordhorse is the same as a cremello or a perlino, the same color they are going crazy to produce in Quarter Horses and Morgans, because they will in turn produce lots of buckskins and palominos. There is nothing really bad about the color, unless you are like me and just don't fancy it. And the fact that it has not been considered typey in our breed although it is a natural color in our breed. I always thought they had pink skin! It is the color that has historically been called albino in horses, since I don't think true albinos with pink eyes exist in horses . I am no expert so don't quote any of this as fact! Meredith Sessoms Moulton Alabama USA * Dorina ** NFR Aagot ** little Anjee *
Re: Grey Dun/White Dun
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I want to thank Joe Glick and Dan Watanabe for helping me decide that my filly is in fact a light grey dun Fjordie! (and thanks to anyone else who might have replied and I haven't gotten it in the digest yet =) What really threw me was the fact that her body color is in fact more the color of a very dark white dun or a very light brown dun than any grey dun I have ever seen. And when her black face markings disappeared after her late summer coat grew back, it really threw me off. Just a note about the recent flaming on the list . it makes me very sad to see this happen. I truly think that all parties really agree with everything each other said but was taken the wrong way. I have been on this list, gosh, I can't even remember how long. I think I joined it 6 months after it started. The folks who are arguing have been great contributors and are wonderful Fjord folks, and I can't believe you guys are falling apart like this. I hope you can all agree to disagree and shake hands . please. peace out, Meredith Sessoms
Norwegian plates on web site
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I found this site with lovely plates and things on the web! http://www.nordicimage.com/specialty.html Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL USA
A very informative web site
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.safergrass.org/ However, has anyone on the list found a place to actually buy grass seed that has less carbs and sugars? If so, was it priced like gold? Meredith Sessoms ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot and little Anjee ~
[no subject]
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] oh nos!!! Two references to a rough Fjord trot in one digest, but it was my understanding that the Fjord trot is not supposed to be rough at all! Can any folks who know a lot more than me elaborate on this? I thought the Fjordhorse is supposed to have a very smooth trot, much smoother than the average trotting horse, especially as it sped up - comparatively. Thank you, Meredith Sessoms Moulton Alabama ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot and little Anjee ~
Re: Prejudice against Fjords??
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I fell in love with Fjords after seeing a magazine with a painting Gene Bauer's 4-in-hand and lovely carriage on the front and photos of Modellen and a couple of his daughters inside. So the breeds particular look caught my interest before I ever met one. I fell in love with their dear personalities at Brian Jacobsen's place while shopping for horses. If I had known then how much attention they would draw I probubly would have passed them by, but now I am certainly glad I didn't. I adore my Fjordies! Now I have breed prejudice! When I look at other breeds I wonder how they can balance on those little sticks for legs, they seem so tall they look to me like they could just topple over! And when I get on one of 'those other breeds' I quickly find myself thinking, This is not a Fjord! This is too strange! And I wonder how people mount such big creatures. And I liked what someone else said on the list long ago ... those people who say bad things about our breed, how many of them own or even know one well? Meredith Sessoms Moulton, Alabama USA ~Dorina, NFR Aagot and little Anjee ~
This is just too funny, had to share
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] How many forum members does it take to change a lightbulb? So, how many does it take? 1 to change the light bulb 1 to post that the light bulb has been changed 14 to share their similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently 7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs 27 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs 53 to get snarky with the spell checkers 41 to correct those that got snarky over spelling/grammar 6 to argue over whether it's lightbulb or light bulb ... another 6 to condemn those 6 as anal-retentive 2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is lamp 15 know-it-alls who claim they were in the industry, and that light bulb is perfectly correct 156 to email the hosts and moderators complaining that those participating are in violation of the forum rules 109 to post that this forum is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a lightbulb forum 203 to demand that X-posting to the hardware forum, electricity forum, and lightbulb forum about changing light bulbs be stopped 111 to defend the posting to this forum saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts are relevant to this forum 306 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique and what brands are faulty 27 to post URL's where one can see examples of different light bulbs 14 to post that the URL's were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL's 3 to post about links they found from the URL's which make light bulbs relevant to this group 33 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add Me too 12 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy 19 to quote the Me too's to say Me three 4 to suggest that posters request the light bulb FAQ 44 to ask what is a FAQ 4 to say didn't we JUST go through all this a few weeks ago? 143 to say Google on 'light bulbs' before posting questions about light bulbs 1 new forum member to respond to the original post 6 months from now and start it all over again
Re: Another Fjord horse Buying question
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sheryl O [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I had the chance to ride a Fjord on a dude trailride and really liked her, but I am curious what type of horsey owner is well matched to a Fjord versus other breeds What I mean is, what would be a good job description or attributes of a typical Fjord? I currently ride an Appy, very pretty, athletic and thoroughbred typey. I love her smooth gaits, beautiful way of moving, her energy and willingness, but I wish she wasn't quite so hot. I would also like shorter to make mounting easier on the trail. I have thought about the possibility of a little quieter horse for pleasure and trail riding. I have an secondary interest in driving, but couldn't ever imagine hooking my mare up to a cart! The one Fjord I rode was sturdy and calm, but seemed a little stubborn perhaps. I talked to the wranglers and they both preferred their quarter horses but did say that the Fjords were much calmer and easier to train - more people oriented as babies. Can't judge a breed by one horse ridden on a dude string though! thanks, Sheryl I haven't known many Fjordies well, but my two mares are as different as night and day. The things they do have in common are their incredible cuteness and their absolute good naturedness. Aagot, from Grabb/Solar lines, is very low-key, steady and easy going. Shari, my horse trainer, calls her my pokey little pony! After two weeks with Aagot I could tell she was anxious to get back to her Arabians. However, when Aagot is on the trail, she kicks it up a gear because she can't wait to see what is around the bend. My Dorina on the other hand, is the one I kiddingly tell anyone who gets on her that she forgot to read the book about how Fjords should behave before she was born! She is Dutch bred, by Holunder. She is a couple notches hotter than Aagot, but nothing a good determined beginner can't handle most of the time. If she was younger I can just imagine her in the hands of someone like Vivian Creigh because she has a big engine and a special look and way of going. Shari really enjoys working with Dorina, she is more the type horse she likes. I enjoy riding both horses. So, I would say, there is enough variance in the breed to get what you prefer with a little study and shopping. Good luck finding a Fjordie to suit you because they are great little horses. Meredith Sessoms Moulton Alabama USA ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot and little Anjee ~
Re: Underweight fjord
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Aside from the personal anger for this person I also have a husband who thinks I am a fool. Seems I can't win in this situation. Oh well, please offer any suggestions on getting her back in shape and happy. Thanks to all. All I can say is ~ I would love to make a mistake like that! I am sure the owners of the sire and dam are thrilled their little one has found a caring home. I know Konggard is a stunning horse. I have seen him being a great representative of the breed at Woodstock and at Equitana wowing folks with his handsome good looks in halter classes, in get-of-sire classes, under saddle and in clicker training demos. And this mares dam is by Gromar who sired Misha, one of the foremost dressage horses in the breed. I don't know your new mare personally, but I would be surprised if you don't have a very special lady in your barn. Give her a little love and care and if she is typical of the breed and true to her heritage you will wish you were such a lucky fool more often!!! Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot and little Anjee ~
Re: stallion prevalence
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] This message is from: Ruth Bushnell [EMAIL PROTECTED] This predisposition (eg, stallion characteristics) will become increasingly apparent as the gene pool lessens, and lessen it will if a school of thought that supports only the creme d' la creme being bred continues unchecked. (endorsed by Evaluations). Repetitive use of prime stallion specimens is incrementally shrinking the circumference of our Fjord gene pool. I have posted this site below before, but in case there's someone who hasn't checked it out, I hope you do. It uses a scenario, of only choice dogs bred, to make for a crystal clear illustration of how a gene pool recedes, and recedes, and recedes. One of my biggest concerns with our breed is the limited gene pool. We don't allow close line-breeding or in-breeding, but it seems to me that the faddish use of only a handful of stallions, no matter how great they may be, could be very detrimental. And lately, I have noticed, several nice stallions have been gelded! I don't know what the reason is, if it is a trend or just coincidence, but it is scary to me. I am not promoting the use of stallions who are mediocre or ones faulty in typiness, mind or body. Meredith Sessoms Moulton Alabama ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot and Little Anjee ~
Re: stallion prevalence
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] ... and sadly, a few others stallions in-use have passed on. Meredith Sessoms Moulton Alabama ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot and Little Anjee ~
Peragut piccys
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] At the website: http://www.fjordhest.no/bilder.asp I found some nice photos of the stallion Peragut clicking on Bidearkivet, then Hingsteutstilling Nordfjordeid 2002 pages 1 and 2. Another photo at: http://home.no/skinfaxe/bildesider/eid02.htm Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL USA ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot and Anjee ~
Norsk Wedding Buttons
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.neallawson.com/nff/catalog/butclasp.html These are cute! Meredith Sessoms ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot and little Anjee ~ Moulton Alabama USA
Re: The Fjord mane
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I tried the Dutch cut on my yearling, Anjee, and discovered that her mane isn't thick enough to support it. That was quite a suprise! My Dorina has one of those manes that seems like two inches across and a bit floppy on the edges unless I Dutch cut it and train it up a bit. Both have beautiful manes though. Something I bought, that I like a lot, to trim manes with is a pair of old fashioned type scissors in the sewing shop with a little serration on the thick edge that grabs the hairs and does't let them slip back out or shift around as I close the blades. Hope everyone is enjoying as lovely an Autumn as we are. Meredith Sessoms ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot little Anjee ~ Moulton, Alabama USA
The Fjord mane
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I discovered an interesting thing whilst looking at the Norsk Folkemuseum web site. In photographs from 1880, 1885 1901, 1904, 1920 and 1954 (and those are just a sampling of photos I looked at and liked enough to print) I found Fjordies with the what we call the Dutch cut or a similar but crude, rounded cut that showed off the black from the side. I think I used the search word 'hest'. hester . transport . sleder . saler . dekken are all words that on the searches of horse pics, dunno what they all mean. Meredith Sessoms ~ Dorina, NFR Aagot little Anjee ~
RE: Fjords for sale at Libby?
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Something they did at the local Arabian Horse shows in Massachusetts that was much fun for the spectators and dreamers and good for the sellers was ... during the judges lunch break all the sale horses were presented in the ring with a number. They just milled about much like a normal break during a horse show. Some were in-hand some under saddle. The rowdy stallions were taken to the ring so everyone could see them, but not taken in with the mares and youngsters. A print out telling who each sale horse was along with info and a phone number were made and given out to whoever was interested. That was my favorite class at their shows! I still remember one lovely, dappled, rose grey lady that stole my heart there one rainy afternoon. Meredith Sessoms Dorina, NFR Aagot and little Anjee
Address change
This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi all ... please note that I am changing my address tomorrow. The new address will be: [EMAIL PROTECTED] .:.; Meredith Sessoms ;.:. .:...:.:; Tooksend Art ;:.:...:. Moulton . Alabama . USA .:..:.;.:..:.
Re: Mane trimming?
This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have never seen a web page that described the job trimming the Fjord mane and I've been a coffeetime surfer for 4 or 5 years now. There is a ton of info on the subject in the FjordHorse-L archives for reference, many descriptions of technique, discussions about the best tools to use and troubleshooting. You need to get a feel for the asthetics of a well trimmed mane before you pick up the scissors by studying photos of well groomed Fjordinger. When finished it should accentuate the natural curve af the beautifully arched neck. The way I do it is to trim and neaten the bridlepath. (then I go to the withers, since I keep a swatch on the withers for a bareback riding handhold, I figure out where I would come to at the top of the swatch had I trimmed the mane all the way down and then I cut it for reference - but that is a little advanced; see Briggen http://www.fjordstudbook.com/h-brigge.htm for a veiw of the swatch) Then I start neatly whacking the mane off at the highest spot which is not right in the middle but a few inches above the middle and work up to meet the bridle path on a gentle cresent. I go all the way across from one side to the other from the get-go, even on Dorina's thick mane, so that if my pony gets fidgety or I find I'm just not in the mood after all, I can make a short job of it. (some folks trim the white on one side, then the black, then the white on the other side) Then I trim up from the withers, making an ever-so-slightly less-rounded cresent from the withers to where I started above the middle. I have to look at my pony from the front, making her lower her head, so I can see if I made a bad slope or any grotesque dips from that angle. If there is any wind at all, watch out and don't let the little short trimmings blow into your eyes. When that is done the mane could be left as finished. If my ponys mane is floppy before I start, I make the highest point rather short - maybe only three to four inches. If the whole mane is only slightly floppy before I started or is standing upright, I keep it quite long - around five to six inches. If it's one of those days I would be happy with a poodle instead of a Labrador, I go back and do the Dutch cut. I trim the white on both sides 1/2 inch to an inch shorter than the black on one side then the other. It helps to notch a stick so you can make a premeasured cut every 10 inches or so. And that is how I trim the mane. Here are some photos that show the Fjord mane at its best: On this Beaver Dam page, look for the pic of a girl holding Tessa http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/beaverdf/ourown.htm The second pic of Erlend http://www.equineadvertising.com/stallions/Erlend.htm These photos from Norway show the manes cut without doing the Dutch cut http://www.bluebirdlane.com/colour.html Meredith Sessoms Tooksend Art Moulton Alabama USA
Re: fjordhorse-digest V2000 #201
This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] You'll find Sue's lovely, new Paint filly, Completely Aflame at: http://www.ltddstables.com/sale.htm ... Meredith Sessoms ... Tooksend Art ... Moulton . Alabama . USA
Re: the John Lyons quote, fuller
This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I think the Lyons quote didn't go far enough. The full quote included the attack like you were trying to kill your horse for a few seconds -- and this is important -- WITHOUT HITTING THEM IN THE HEAD EVER. Although I am not a guru follower, I prefer the Linda Tellington-Jones ground methods for teaching leading, etc., because it is almost instant and nontraumatic. It did teach my over-friendly fjords to stay off of me and not to be laphorses. I teach my horses not to nip by keeping my attention on them and my parts out of way of their teeth. After awhile they lose interest. Neither has ever offered to kick. Most young horses will try to nip. I agree, you'll only get a head-shy horse should you connect with a swat to the face; although the first reaction upon being bitten hard is to smack him in the face, they are so quick you only miss which just adds to the game in their minds. So smacking at them simply doesn't work. I also said that the good trainer simply nips such problems in the bud, which means (as you described) that you can stop unwanted behavior through proper handling, body language and a well timed hiss or scold. Ideally, you never let a foal learn that they can bite a human. I wish I was was a good trainer, Aagot still surprises me with an occasional nip ... and I swear she smirks afterwards! The bull finally ambled off and I got to go down to the barn to pester my pony! ... Meredith Sessoms ... Tooksend Art ... Moulton . Alabama . USA
Re: fjordhorse-digest V2000 #198
This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I am refining my 3 year old fillies ground training because without knowing any better I let her walk a bit more forward than she should with her shoulder next to my hip instead of her head next to my hip where I want her to be. She also walks a bit faster than I do so I'm training her to walk with her head beside me and to back up a step when I say 'Whoa' and we come to a stop, and just to respect me and pay more attention to me all the way around. We are taking long walkabouts - 30-45 minutes - over the pasture every day to instill these things I want to become habit with her. I talked with a horseperson, who has a lot more experience than I do, about the discussion on the list and they told me that sometimes you can handle a horse too much. I'll probubly get this all wrong by the time I get it on paper, but here is what I got from the conversation and it makes perfect sense to me. That most horsepeople never set out to halter train a colt, it just gets done as the necessity arises. When you need to take a colt from point A to point B, you just do it - no fuss, no worry about what position you are walking in. And if he acts up you get after him and he doesn't do it again. You nip any problems in the bud, so to speak. So what I do with my Aagot, who loves to go out with me and who is a joy to goof off with, may not be the best thing for a feisty colt who is easily excited and who will find trouble with inexperienced handlers. And it might not be the best thing for silly Aagot either! A colt may be handled too much which can cause problems! Something to ponder. The red, horned, Beefmaster bull in the pasture next door has left his cows to hang around our fenceline for two days now ... and he just stands there ... watching me ... whenever I bring Aagot to or from her pasture. It's quite unsettling, leading Aagot to the little paddock next to the barn and closing the gate behind us with this megamonster staring at us! He's awfully big when he's no more than 10 feet away. Maybe I don't need to go down to the barn to pester Aagot right now anyways; maybe I have handled her enough this week! ... Meredith Sessoms ... Tooksend Art ... Moulton . Alabama . USA
Re: fjordhorse-digest V2000 #198
This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] This message is from: Sue Harrison [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hubby was out working with Storm tonight and had a chain under his chin (He refuses to budge or else wants to throw his head and go where he wants) without it. They didn't do too badly except Storm would attempt to bow his neck and take off if he could. He also tends to crowd. When standing he takes the leadline or chain ...whatever he can get hold of...into his mouth. If you take off the leadline and attempt to lead him with just the halter he will try to bite...(while refusing to move. ) I was told by a trainer that, and I believe John Lyons also goes by this rule, that if they do something hurtful and on purpose to you, you have three seconds to make them think their world has just ended without really hurting them. Biting definately comes under that rule. It's no more/no less than their own mother would do. It won't do just to swat at them or smack them, mine thinks that is just a game. With a serious biter, I'd carry a bat with a popper on it every time I handled him until he found out I was not going to stand such behavor. Look in the archives about biting, there has been a lot written on the subject, and some of the posts might help you with your bad boy. I am refining my 3 year old fillies ground training because without knowing any better I let her walk a bit more forward than she should with her shoulder next to my hip instead of her head next to my hip where I want her to be. She also walks a bit faster than I do so I'm training her to walk with her head beside me and to back up a step when I say 'Whoa' and we come to a stop, and just to respect me and pay more attention to me all the way around. We are taking long walkabouts - 30-45 minutes - over the pasture every day to instill these things I want to become habit with her. Something like this - but maybe 10-20 minutes, unlil he learns some respect for you - including lots of stopping and starting, tying him up to a tree and making him wait on you for a short spell before you start walking again, turning circles, and leading from both sides might help get the fellow in line. Something that helped me when I was training Aagot to lead properly when she was a wee yearling was to carry a dressage whip in the hand away from the filly, when ever I started off and felt her hesatate for even a millisecond I cave her a tap on the rump which packed just enough suprise to keep her with me instead of her playing 'silly filly'. This allowed me to lay off hauling around on her lead which is something you want to avoid as much as possible, because you want them to move out like somebody, not to lolly-gag around beside you. Last night ... it was so-o-o cute ... Steve and I went on our walk with me leading Aagot, two wag-tailed Labradors leading the way and two of our cats, Khyber and Splash, who came along for the entire trip. It was so funny watching those cats take turns bounding through the grass behind us, panting and crying 'little lost kitty'! ... Meredith Sessoms ... Tooksend Art ... Moulton . Alabama . USA
Re: Hans Out's Website
This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.online.no/~hebden/carriagehistor/History1.htm If you click on the page Voss, what kind of saddle is that? ... Meredith Sessoms ... Tooksend Art ... Moulton . Alabama . USA
Re: Back from WY
This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I wrote ... We went to King's Saddlery and Museum in Buffalo WY. Oops, King's Saddlery is in Sheridan WY, not Buffalo! And I forgot to mention the Cody Museum ... a wonderful place and an absolute must-see for anyone travelling through the East entrance of the Yellowstone. Meredith Sessoms Tooksend Art Moulton . Alabama . USA
Back from WY
This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have finally, almost, recouped from our great Western adventure. Steve and I, our three Labradors, my best friend, Patty, her husband, David, and two children, Mark and Samantha, and their Golden, Woody, drove in two cars to Yellowstone and back. Unfortunately, since it was a group thing, I didn't get the chance to do any Fjord visiting or shopping. Our camp in the Bighorns got drenched. Thunderstorms booming in Western mountains is a thing I'll remember for a long time, but it was fun anyways. The reservations we had made and payed for 6 months in advance at Goff Creek got completely bungled and upset our plans. The final insult was when they told us our dogs weren't allowed! Absaroka Lodge helped us find lodging, dogs and all, despite the fact that they were full. And the final upset, on the way home the radiator blew in Patty and David's van! They made it to Sheridan with the help of a can of 'leak stop' where they bought a new van on the spot! Despite all, it was a remarkably fun trip. We went to King's Saddlery and Museum in Buffalo WY. Oh my, it was wonderful. I have become very interested in the history of the Western saddle and there were more old Western saddles here than I could have imagined. I bought Dorina a Sliester hackamore, but I don't think it will fit her mug. It looks darling on Aagot but she isn't even snaffle trained yet! We ended up at Shoshone Lodge in nice cabins in Wapiti Valley between Cody WY and Yellowstone and rode horses there. Keith, the owner and his mother are great folks. There, we went on a wonderful, scenic, two-hour guided trail ride. Steve, a large fellow, got to ride a short but stocky, black gelding named Pryor. Come to find out he is a Pryor Mountain Mustang captured on the range! Pryor took good care of my husband. I rode a pretty bay, who I enjoyed riding but whom I had soon renamed Lurch for the action he put me through on the uphill. I highly reccommend Shoshone Lodge to anyone headed that way. (GC and PT lodges - yuk) We also went to the Cody Stampede Parade July the 4th. It was a wonderful parade, chock full of horses. Heart Mountain Fjords brought a few horses and A2Z brought a whole convention of Fjordies for all to see. Both farms had a baby Fjordling tagging along beside their moms. So the breed was presented in fine style by both these farms. We saw pronghorns galore; moose; bison; a black bear; 5 elk bulls at once; muleys; and to top it off, two, young grizzly bears when we left our lodge to head home. Meredith Sessoms Tooksend Art Moulton Alabama USA
Re: friendly one
This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Just an update on the friendly one, aka Gunnar, aka friendlier one, aka unfriendly one. Well you all can go on about your rides and ribbons but I got the big reward today. snip That's wonderful Jean ... I am so glad you found a fun, true, Fjord character under that crusty, old soul! Meredith Sessoms ~ Tooksend Art ~ Moulton . Alabama . USA
Sweet itch
This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I found this article on sweet itch at the EquiSearch site: http://equisearch.com/newsroom/articles/sweet-itch06-00.html Meredith Sessoms Tooksend Art Moulton Alabama USA
TTFN
This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi everybody, we are on our way to Yellowstone today. I'm unsubscribing at noon and our laptop went to sleep and won't wake back up ... so I will be Listless for two weeks. All the folks that have sent me stuff about mares for sale ... if I didn't get back to you, thanks for the help, I'll try to get back with you when I get home. ttfn Meredith Sessoms Tooksend Art Moulton . Alabama . USA
Unusual Stubben saddle
This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] There is a lovely, very pale Stubben on E-Bay right now. I have never seen anything like it. Looks like it's for the circus or a special event. Finding a bridle to match it might be impossible! Meredith Sessoms Tooksend Art Fjordhorses Moulton . Alabama . USA
Re: fjordhorse-digest V2000 #164
This message is from: Meredith Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] This message is from: Sue Harrison [EMAIL PROTECTED] Well I have done it I believe...totally spoiled my colt. Storm has now been gelded for 3 weeks and tonight we undertook to lead him to see if he was any quieter. He was so bullheaded at the vet clinic where he was gelded that they compared him to a Brahma bull! My husband could lead him tonight with no trouble...for once he did not try to bite...but with me...oh dear...he and I have had one too many tongue rubbing and nose rubbing sessions. He wants to crowd into me I am no expert ... so if anyone with real experience has any problems with this post or has anything to add, please, please jump in! This fellow is so out-of-control that I would reccommend putting a halter on him and carrying a crop or a bat every time someone handles him, and smacking him with it - three times, real good on the chest - every time he invades your space, bites, or does some other rude/dangerous infraction. Hold up on the petting stuff, make him be a respectful horse first, and make him earn the right to be a pet again. Make him do something positive - like stand stock still for a spell, or hold up each foot for cleaning without jerking or leaning, or trot in-hand and stop along side of you - before he gets any pets at all. With dogs it's called denial. A puppy might be asked to lay down perfectly still and quiet at its persons feet for 30 seconds before it is given dinner or pets and hugs. But it is a lesson they must learn. It may be a while before your pony figures out you aren't kidding and he learns to work to earn his perks. That is my take on the subject of rude youngsters. You must be dillegent; he must learn to respect you. There is a lot of good advise in the Fjordhorse-L archives on young horses being bullys, mouthy youngsters, and other stuff because this is a very smart breed that will quickly take control if their people don't! Meredith Sessoms Tooksend Art Moulton AL USA
Re: Fjords at Equitana USA
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Curtis Pierce [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote ... Curt Pierce Bristow VA Home to the only three Fjords showing at Equitana unless we get more help! Curt, I wish I could help but we will be getting ready to go to Yellowstone before Equitana and we might not show up at all. Are the Northeast Fjords not coming down this year. If not, what group is doing Equitana this year? Meredith Sessoms Moulton AL Dorina NFR Aagot
Re: SV: SV: Grey eel? + Kviten
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anneil wrote ... I think having a 'most vividly striped brown dun' Fjordhorse class at the shows would be lots of fun. That would be fun! I was at ah Borzoi (aka Russian wolfhound) show this saturday and they always have classes for best tail, best head etc. Just for fun. But why only brown duns? One of the most striped fjords I've ever seen is my red dun gelding. Perhaps we should have an on-line stripe show for fjords? I too have a red dun and the only stripes you can see are the patches high up on her front legs. I guess I assumed all red duns had hard to see striping! And I was thinking that, if it were open to all colors the vividly striped gray duns would take the blue every time! Meredith Sessoms Moulton Al (where I can't get Animal Planet, Outdoor Channel, Buffy or Felicity I'm all upset!)
Re: SV: SV: SV: Grey eel?+creme-colours
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anneli wrote ... My mistake in that case! 'Isabell' is the word used in Sweden for a diluted chestnut. We use palomino for the special golden shade of isabell. I know I've seen the term isabella used on American sites (not Fjord-sites) thats why I assumed that you use isabella-palomino like we do. Sorry about that! Does 'palomino' cover all shades of diluted chestnuts? If not, what do you call the ones that are not palominos? That's funny 'cause if I'm not mistaken, in America a palomino is a chestnut dilute and an isabel is an even paler shade of palomino! Just the opposite of how they call it in Sweden ... is this world confusing or what?! As a child I read that Queen Isabel of Spain rode pale palominos because they were her favorite colored horses ... hence the name. Meredith Sessoms Moulton . Alabama . USA Dorina NFR Aagot
Blakk
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I first learned that the Norwegian word 'blakk' meant 'dun'. Then, somewhere I read it means 'common-colored', in Norway, the common-colored horse would be a dun, right? I have noticed hat the 'grey dun' is called just 'gra' in Norway, not 'grablakk'. Why is that? The grey dun is obviously a dun, so does 'blakk' not mean 'dun'? Meredith Sessoms Moulton . Alabama . USA Dorina NFR Aagot
Re: Pedigrees at Fjord Shows
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] The closing date at dog shows is one month before the show, so there is time to put together a proper catalog. There would be no problem for unregistered purebreds or crosses and such ... they simply wouldn't have registration numbers beside their names. Even the stringent AKC makes allowances for purebred foundlings. If you look in the catalog at the dogs participating in obedience you will see several dogs entered whose parentage is unknown. But, they can't show in breed/conformation classes, they can only show in the performance classes. If you get the chance to see the magazine for the American Trakehner Association, they won't use a photo without the name, reg#, sire, dam and dam's sire of every animal depicted. I think it's an excellent way to do things. Meredith Sessoms Moulton . Alabama . USA Dorina NFR Aagot
Grazing
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I don't have a tractor, yet, to mow a paddock for Aagot at our new little farm. She's not real fat but she's far from skinny. The grass is up to her belly, or even taller in spots. I had her eating grass every chance I could get before we moved down here in anticipation of her having unlimited pastures. Since we've been here I have tried to take it easy with her on the spring grass. I have slowly worked her up to allowing her to graze 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the evening. The rest of the time she's in a little paddock she's already mown down to a nubbins. At night I take her off the pasture and give her a couple flakes of timothy/orchard grass hay. She is not a piggy eater like Dorina is; Aagot likes to eat slow and savor every bite. In the pasture, I often find her at her favorite spots where she has already eaten it down amidst a sea of belly high grass! How would you guys handle this situation? ~ I was thinking the first big spurt of spring growth is over and the heat is starting to settle in and that the grass, although tall, is not as rich and dangerous anymore, it is already making seed heads ... am I way off base here? ~ Do I find a way to mow by hook or by crook, or should I cut her grazing time down to, say, 6 hours a day? ~ Or, should she be alright on 4 hours twice a day - 8 hours grazing a day - the way we've been doing it as long as she doesn't get too fat? Gotta go, time to put Princess Aagot up! (She got so sleepy out there while grazing in the sun that she followed me to the cool shady barn. Nap time!) I've got to find her measuring tape - I know it's in a box around here somewhere - so I can keep track of her girth! Meredith Sessoms Moulton . Alabama . USA DorinaNFR Aagot
Re: The Libby Show
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] I agree wholeheartedly with Carol and Mary. I have been studying purebred animals ever since I had the means and wherewithal to do so. There are few things I enjoy more than going to a specialty dog breed show. I run straight to the info desk to buy a catalog so I can study the dogs as though I were a breeder. I have collected many of these catalogs over the years, they are very special to me and to all serious connoisseurs of the breed. Because I have done this for many years, I can talk pedigrees in a real way with a breeder. If a fellow asks me, Did you see the yellow Dickendall dog that showed at Chattanooga in 1997, what did you think of him? I can say, Yes, I did, the lovely, cobby fellow with a wonderful coat and expression? I dont have to say, Yes, I went to that show and there were some yellow dogs there ... If I am thinking of breeding my precious mare and I am considering a couple of stallions ... I can go to a breed show and study the animals they sired to see which stallion would best nick with my gal. Without a catalog and pen in my hand all those horses in the ring mean nothing to me. If I see one I particularly like, I can try to chase him down after the class ... big deal, it's not the same, that relegates studying the breed to 'who's the cutest boy'. Having pedigrees at hand at a breed show allows breeders to study - in person, hands on even - many animals at the same time, comparing them with one another in a way that one can do no place else but at a breed show. I also agree with the sentiment ... 'what's the point in having halter classes without catalog in hand'. I can't even see me going to a Fjordhorse show until a catalog is available because every single time I saw a mare who carried herself in a particular way, or a stallion who caught my eye, a mare that hatefully pinned her ears back in a very un-Fjordlike manner, or a young one who had a specially delightful personality ... I would ache for a catalog so I could jot a note beside the animals name and get an instant glance at sire/dam/breeder/owner. That's my take on the catalog thing! Meredith Sessoms Moulton . Alabama . USA Dorina NFR Aagot
Alabama
This message is from: Steve Sessoms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi folks, we are in Alabama now, no more Soddy-Daisy. We now live on an old beef cattle farm, 16 acres in all - 2 acres in yard, flowers, grapes, old strawberries, pecans and fruit trees and 14 acres in lush, rolling pasture. It has an old hay barn; a pond; a large, open tractor shed; a tool shed;a perfect spot for riding ring and is already fenced against dogs with woven wire. Unfortunately, there is barbed wire on top of the woven wire that we are already working at removing! But the folks who lived here have kept it very clean. It came with two paddocks off the barn and we've already made a large grass paddock with electric fencing. After my ladies woodsy dry lot on a quiet Tennessee hill side with the grassy yard only when conditions allowed, they will be in horsy heaven! Aagot is here with me and we have been busy as bees getting the paddocks and a portion of the barn safe for her to roam free on. I can see her out my kitchen window on grass up to her belly! I'm letting her graze for four hours in the morning and four hours at night. When she's in her little barn lot I give her hay but she doesn't eat any during the day. She will eat a flake or two at night. Aagot is regularly visited by a little red heifer who comes over to lick Aagot's nose over the fence ... it's so cute! And Aagot loves to watch the two horses in the paddock across the road. She can see them clearly by hanging her head over the gate in the shelter of her barn. She loves it here. Dorina is at Dr. Brian's place. I hear she's acting shameless in Leif's love nest, wasting no time trying to make a baby! She's going to have quite a nice surprise when she comes back 'home' ... she hasn't seen our new place yet, she left for Dr. Brian's from Tennessee. When I went to let Shaggy (Aagot's nickname) out the other morning, I looked over into the neighbor's pasture to see a light brown cow come out of the blackberry brambles followed by a brand-spanking new, wobbly, little, dark red calf. Aagot was fascinated! She spent the next hour scatting around her paddock, kickin' and buckin' and carrying on!! When we moved in there was a brown hen sitting on her eggs in my blueberry/iris garden next to the house under my bedroom window. She sat on those eggs until 11 chicks followed her out of the garden one day! They were so cute. She was very patient, keeping them in the garden all morning until they had gained enough strength to go somewhere. They left the nest that same day and I haven't seen them since! The hen has two buddies, a big rooster and another hen. I think they roam wild. Meredith Sessoms Moulton . Alabama . USA DorinaNFR Aagot
