Re: Response's to my question
This message is from: "Shelley LeSurf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Thanks for the responses to my email regarding Poko's behavior. Being in the learning stages of horsemanship I am trying to learn all I can before I purchase my first horse and make less mistakes. I felt pretty strongly that Poko's behavior was in fact because she is not handled enough. Her owners love her very much, but I know they don't realize the injustice to the horse by not working her in the winter months. I will talk to them about this and hopefully they will take the advise of a rookie. She is a sweetie and I was able to calm her down right away and she nuzzled her head into my arms for a hug. I have just finished reading Carol Rivoire book and really appreciated all that I got out of it. I have now purchased several other books and am reading up a frenzie. I really like "Horses for Dummies" (yep that feels like me). I also count myself blessed to have this list to bounce questions off of. Thanks again. Shelley in Sunny Alberta - with about 6 inches of snow yesterday.
Question!
This message is from: "Shelley LeSurf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello list, I have a question that isn't Fjord related but could be. Anyway I am hosting 3 Japanese exchange students in my home, 1 for a year and 2 for 2 weeks. I wanted to give them a Alberta prairie experience so I took him to a friends home to have a ride on there horses. These are not Fjords. These horses haven't been riden all winter because my friend feeds them alfalfa cubes and says they are just to "hot" to ride. One of her horses has been used for pack and mountain trails (by a previous owner) and is or was very well trained. When I was taking the reins off "Poko" she tossed her head back and really started to freak out. I started talking to her and calmed her down and she let me take the rest of her gear off. About 3 minutes later she through her head back and broke her line then just stood there. I guess this behavior has recently started and my friend said it was because of the cubes and that they are just not aggressive enough with the horse. There other horse spooks very easily and can be very hard to handle as well. My exchange students had a fun ride and a safe one thankfully. Now my question to all of you is, why would this horse be acting up all of a sudden? As I am in the learning stages I am very interested in this change in behavior. Poko is normally very calm and you can do just about anything with her, when she had her hoofs trimmed she acted up as well. So I would be interested to hear any comments about the behavior Poko has shown. Her owners just write it off to the cubes but I wonder! Thanks Shelley Le Surf in Sunny Alberta
Re: Weanlings
This message is from: "Shelley LeSurf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> This is only my second time posting, I hope I get this right. I must say I have really enjoyed reading all the information there is on this digest. I am learning so much and I realize I have so much to learn. I have looked at a 13 year old gelding for my son Kyle (I was worried about my sons wieght vs the horses size) and I am delighted to say I think we may have found a horse for him. I have to drive back out to the breeders so Kyle can ride and see if it all works out. It was love at first sight for my son, he felt this horse was for him. We will see and hopefully we will purchase our first horse. (Better yet a fjord). I must admit I am somewhat intrigued at the thought of possible trying my hand at a weanling as well. I really appreciate both sides of this issue. I would never consider trying this without very strict guidelines and help. But I have been wondering what I will do in a few years when my kids leave home. I am 45 and a widow. I really am not looking forward to the empty nest syndrome and now that I have purchased 8 acres I have the room to have my animals. I have always had cats, dogs, fish etc, but my deepest desire has always been a horse. So who knows maybe with the proper training (for me) I may consider a baby fjord. (Makes my heart beat faster just thinking about it). My house should be moved by April (moving an old farm house to the acreage) and then I can start with fences, then fjords. My family is off to visit family in Niargara Falls, Ontario for christmas then back home to Alberta. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and I dream of the day I can hitch up my fjord for a Christmas day sleigh ride. Shelley Le Surf, Sylvan Lake, Alberta [EMAIL PROTECTED] This message is from: Cynthia Madden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> With the loss of my Morgan, Keyah, in October, I decided to check into getting a weanling as company for Tank and a baby I can bring along now that I have my own property and no longer have to board my horses. I do caution about buying a weanling unless you are an experienced horseperson already or as smart as Julie to put her weanling with an experienced horseperson to help her and her weanling get the right start. It is a great success story. I believe that a cute little baby in the hands of inexperienced or unprepared people is a horror story in the making. I believe Carol and Janne, and most Fjord breeders, are careful enough of who buys their horses not to let this happen but many people would do better to put the money out for a trained horse and work with a trainer to have a good experience and happy safe future with their Fjords or any horse.
Fast response
This message is from: "Shelley LeSurf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I just wanted to send out thanks to all the replies to my email. This is better than surfing the net or all the books I have been reading. Thanks for the response to the wieght of a rider. I have a better idea of what is better for the horse. Thanks also to the people who emailed me privately, I now have some numbers to call for horse's and information. I believe I will enjoy this group very much. Thanks again, Shelley Le Surf
Hello
This message is from: "Shelley LeSurf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi I wanted to introduce myself to the group. My name is Shelley and I have recently purchased 8 acres of land and will soon be moving. My mini ranch (tee hee) is 7 minutes outside of Sylvan Lake, Alberta. I have 2 children 17 and 19, a boy and girl. We are wanting to purchase horses for our acerage and the breed of horse we are leaning towards is a fjord. We are rookie horse people, my kids go to a horse ranch every summer (for the last 12 years) so they have some experience and I had cousins who were very active in gymkhana's, I got to groom the horses. So we have alot to learn. We will be trying to purchase older more experienced horses so they can teach us. I love everything I have learned about these wonderful fjords and I really think this is a horse that will fit my family. My daughter had a bad spill last summer at camp, so she is horse shy right now, but I think the right horse will help her over her fears. Can anyone tell me if a fjord will be comfortable carrying a 260lb teenage boy (my son). Kyle is a solid football player, he is only 5' 6" but I am worried about the wieght. Is this okay for the horse? Are they able to carry that weight easily? Also I have emailed and wrote to two breeders here in Alberta and neither has replied to me. Is there anyone on this list who is in my area who might have some horses available that meet our requirements, and that don't mind answering our questions. I look forward to hearing from all you experienced fjord people. Thanks Shelley Le Surf [EMAIL PROTECTED]
