My Brag
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Well, with everyone writing in about their accomplishments, I figured I would add Baldur's to the list. We weren't able to go to Woodstock, lack of funds and no trailer to get up there decided that. But the same weekend there was an open show in Oneco, CT that we went to as an experiment. Baldur has shown very little and has been off the farm only once in 2 years. We competed in the Evergreen division (2'3" fences). I think he caught a bit of stage fright during our first jumping round...we WALKED over all the jumps. The 2nd round was much better. We only walked over 1 jump, the rest we managed to muster a canter for. He was perfect in the flat class, but of course we weren't even looked at. All in all he was a good boy. He was relaxed as long as we weren't in the ring. He was not bothered by the park horses or the carriage horses, while the rest of the tall horses in our ring went bonkers at the sight of them. This past weekend we went to a fair. I figured it was as good a test as any to see how he would behave in a high stress situation. He was the STAR of the show! We were Adult Eq champion and Pony Champion. The judge loved him. The spectators were in love with him...I was so pleased that he behaved. My student was Walk/Trot reserve champ on him also. He was quiet and relaxed in everything we did. So there's my brag. I hope I can make it to Woodstock next year, but till then I plan on doing to little show circuts and exposing him to everything I can. Kate
Re: Fjord with long mane
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 8/26/99 7:39:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > I don't know if that's > possible with the coarseness of the Fjord's mane but I'd sure give it a try. In my experience the fjord neck is too thick to allow for mane training. The hair develops a part down the middle. In order to braid for show you would have to braid on both sides. Besides, it just wouldn't "be" a fjord with a long mane. These guys are recognized by their short cuts. Kate
Re: long mane
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baldur's was grown out when he came to me for training. It looked TERRIBLE! It looked like a bomb had exploded on his head...the hair went everywhere. Now the longer it gets in the crew-cut the odder he looks. I keep it short and neat. Last winter I roached it b/c I was on a 2 month maternity leave, I will probably do the same this winter. It helped keep the hair coarse. Kate
Re:
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Denise, My Baldur drinks more water than any horse at our barn. He also pees alot. Everything else is perfectly normal about him, I have always thought that he drinks so much to counteract the heat and humidity of our New England summers. Kate in CT where it's getting hot and humid again...
fjords in a movie?
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have an exciting tidbit for you all! I went to the movies last night and while sitting through the previews a trailer came on for the movie "The 13th Warrior". Lots of nice horses...but what did I see during a battle scene? FJORDS! The special effects probably was what made it seem like a sea of them, but how could you mistake those forelocks and dun bodies? I thought I had been mistaken a month ago when I initially saw it at another movie, so I watched more closely during this one. They were in several scenes during the trailer. WooHoo! So now I've got another reason (beyond Antonio Bandaras) to see this movie. :-) Kate
Re: Teeth and jumping
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Maybe a double fence? Also was he zapped by the wire when he jumped it? I know that increasing B's voltage on his wire was the best way to prevent him from climbing through his paddock fence (the stable has a double board fence and a electric tape in the middle). He was zapped once and that was the end of it. They turned the voltage down and only up it briefly when the fence shows signs of being leaned on. Solved the problem nicely. Kate
Re: A mystery
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Could it be sap from a tree? Has the odor of his breath changed at all? Check your fenceline too, as something may be growing into the paddock but not have made it all the way in as yet. Good luck! Kate
Re: horsey haha + chat links
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 7/24/99 10:43:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > I WONDER what a fjord would do MM what flavor is that lightbulb? I had a particularly good one last week...is this the same vintage? It's all I could think of...as Baldur tried to eat my coffee cup today. Kate
Re: In defense of Morgans
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The barn that I teach out of has a small morgan breeding program going on. She is VERY selective about her stallions that she chooses. So far she has 4 wonderful, kind, talented babies. Unfortunatly with Morgans the tendency is going towards the saddlebred look. Personally if I wanted a saddlebred I would buy one. But there are still clusters of breeders who stay with the original purpose of the breed. What angers me are the abundence of mixed parentage horses out there who are so poorly bred that they are never sound and are in one word...ugly. I think all the breed organizations should have regulations for cross breeding. Maybe not as strict as the fjords, but possibly only to "approved" horses? It would be a major undertaking, but possibly it would save the purity of each breed. I do love my fjord tho...he's one of a kind. Kate
Re: how much weight a Fjord can carry
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 7/13/99 11:37:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Or how > about giving someone a piggyback ride? I use this analogy for my beginners when explaining to them how much they affect the horse. It shows them how leaning too far forward or backward will keep the horse from responding properly. Even the kids understand it. Kate
Re: weight
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Just to add one more thought to this thread...those Norse Men weren't feather weights when riding our fjords ancestors. They were big heavy men and weren't fjords originally a little smaller in height? Kate
Re: Weight-Think of the horse
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 7/13/99 1:15:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > My father-in-law is 6'8" and I don't see him riding a Fjord. I put my 6'1" 280lb husband on my 14 hand fjord and he (the horse) had no problem. I also put him on my more slender appy mare and she was comfortable with him also. It has to do with BALANCE not size. I have seen peanut kids cause my fjord more discomfort due to their lack of balance and coordination. Please remember that adults are aware of their size and tend to be more cautious about their riding. In fact I have had to tell a few of my adult riders to become more aggressive or the horse will take advantage of them! Kate
Re: Weight Carrying Abilities of Fjords
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 7/13/99 12:34:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > the liability is just too much to handle This is what hold harmless agreements are for! I state in mine that the student must carry their own medical insurance. I also have a questionairre that asks for existing medical issues. I make my students sign a new aggreemnet and fill out a new form every 6 months. My insurance only requires them yearly but it has been recommended that for the "safety" of my business to do it twice a year. You can refuse a rider due to her weight...but what if it was a thin rider with a history of blackouts? Or a history of seizures? I had a child who blacked out in stressful situationsvery scary! And I was not told of it ahead of time. So now I ask. I also ask if there is anything that will interfere with the lesson, but I don't turn them away just for being obese. I do tend to spend more time on balancing work (ie-ground poles, jumping position, work without stirrups) and I keep all my students in private lessons until they are completely confident in all 3 gaits. Kate
Mike...
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mike, I tried to reply just to your email but couldn't get it to work, it kept bouncing. I may have screwed it up. I want to do 2 things; join NFHR and transfer Baldur into my name. If I do both transactions at the same time will I be able to pay the cheaper rate for transfer of papers? ALSO, the people I bought him from never transferred him into their name, so he is still under the name of the person they bought him from. Can I sign skip a transfer or do I need 2 transfer forms and will I have have to pay 2 fees (like with AMHA)? I was reading the transfer form in the paperwork given to me and it's clear as to what I need if transfer is direct and it doesn't have the required fees on it. I also checked the website and couldn't find a great deal of info on transferring. Any help is appreciated. Kate Greiner
Re: Weight Carrying Abilities of Fjords
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 7/11/99 11:20:11 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > I work full time, and the lessons are a > sideline, so it's hard to justify the cost of the insurance. I don't know how much you were quoted but my teaching insurance only costs me $250 per year with 1 school horse on it. And I teach full time. I feel, as you may well now, that the risks outweigh anything and insurance is a must for anyone teaching ANY kind of lesson. Cost does depend on the size of your operation, but it's better than paying the medical bills of someone who tries to sue you. Kate
Re: boarding blues
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 7/11/99 12:29:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > Is a stable owner supposed to check the horses during the night as a > regular routine? >> Also, when do they feed? Most barns feed after 5pm anyway because of the boarders arriving after work. Could the feed person have forgotton all this? Kate
Re: grain?
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 7/9/99 7:34:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Does everyone feed their Fjords grain? Mine is on grass for 8 hours, so he gets just enough grain to mix his supplements in and a few pellets at night when the others are fed so he doesn't tear down the arn. He prefers his hay. Fjords get fat very easily and founder is always a risk with an overweight animal. Kate
Re: Tack questions
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 7/9/99 12:13:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > Do the Fjords take a standard horse sized bridle or do they require a larger > one? Baldur wears a cob bridle but it is a bit tight in the throatlatch. > How do English saddles generally fit them? I originally started with a wide tree but found that now that he is in shape he fits better in a regular tree. > Anyone who has jumped with their Fjords (stadium and cross country) have you > found that they need croupers or breast plates? Baldur jumps close to 3 feet and has never had a problem with his saddle, but those things are usually individual to certain horses not specific breeds. > Regarding splint boots and such do the Fjords tend to need larger sizes or are standard horse sizes large enough? With his chunky cannons I rarely use splint boots, but do have a pair for him. They are a large, mediums were too small. The larges are a smidge too big and a touch too long but do the job if he's going to be doing a major jumping lesson. Hope this helps! Kate
Re: What Bit to Use!!
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 7/4/99 11:35:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > twisted copper wire snaffle This is a very severe bit and should only be used by a rider with soft, experienced hands. There are many other less damaging bits out there that you could try first. Do you have a driving trainer around? I spoke to a friend of mine who drives and found a few bits that are softer to the mouth yet command respect from the horse. I will try to find my list of them. But the most important thing to remember is that in fear or anger a horse will run through ANY bit you put in it's mouth. There are many other ways to stop a horse from taking off with you. If the trainer is resorting to a bit then maybe additional hekp should be brought in. When I put the kimberwick in Baldur's mouth it was only temporary. I taught him to "internalize" his fear and now he will just jump a bit or toss his head. It took me a year to get him from a horse who was running from birds to a horse who could do a lesson in a thunderstorm. It takes time, patience and trust. Now his does it all without a bit. Kate
Re: What Bit to Use!!
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 6/30/99 10:16:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Her trainer suggested a o-ring twisted > iron bit. What do you guys think or what kind of bit would you suggest. In my limited fjord experience I have found that they will lean on the bit if the rider leans on them. Just as any other horse, the tendency is to go INTO the pressure. Baldur was being ridden in a snaffle when I got him, but he was taking off so badly when scared that I switched him to a kimberwick for safety sake. As he started teaching more beginners and was having them pull on his mouth he started running through the kimberwick and dragging the kids around the ring. I finally decided that he needed a break from the bit and put him in a western hackamore with a curb chin and long shanks. He loves it. He never pulls unless pulled on and usually he stops before it comes to that so it teaches riders early on that pulling on the reins for balance is a no no and will only get them a screeching halt. He has been in it for over a month and Friday I will put him back in a loose ring snaffle for my own use. I only want to do this so I can get more collection from him, though he does a very nice training level frame in the hackamore. But the hackamore does give the needed control without being harsh on his mouth. Kate
Yippie!!!!!
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have exciting news! I just purchased my school horse, Prins Baldur, from his owners. They are getting "out of horses" and thought I would be the best person for him to be with. I'm so happy...he has turned out to be such a love, I didn't know what I was going to do if they decided to sell him on the open market and get a really high price for him. Just thought I'd gush for a minute, I actually own a fjord now heehee!! Mike, how do I go about getting the papers transfered? They gave me all his stuff, I guess I need to sit down and really read through it. Kate...who is in heaven right now!
Buttercups
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Regarding buttercups...it is a toxic weed to horses if eaten in mass quantities. If it is the only forage in the paddock and the horse eats it without any grass they will get a belly ache. Most horses will avoid bitter plants like this if offered grass or hay as those a sweet and tasty. Some horses will eat it in small amounts if they like the taste or if they "need" it. As in for it's medicinal properties. I had an appy mare who always ate wild onions. I was worried b/c onions, like potatoes are poisonous to horses. I finally decided that as she was in a huge field with tons of grass, that either she really liked those onions or she was self medicating. Also...be careful when mowing grazing areas as the oil and gas are deposited on the grass as it is cut. That can be poisonous to horses too. Kate
Re: plastic fence
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baldur has been fairly respectful of the board/hotwire paddock he has right now...but we do use PVC pipes for cavelletti poles (trotting poles) and he figured out that they don't hurt when he hits them. So when ridden over them he will crash straight thru without a thought tossing them everywhere. When I use the heavy wooden poles he is VERY careful and picks up those toes like he was stepping over a boogeyman. But he does know the difference. If there is one PVC pipe in a line of 5 poles he will always hit the pipe...never the wood. They are too smart :-) Kate
Re: bears, parades, hippotherapy etc
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 6/17/99 4:30:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > I wonder if a mare > is better in this situation or if it is just the personality of the horse? Baldur, my gelding, is my sole school horse right now. He is patient to a certain point. He does test the kids frequently and has given some a really hard time. But I think they have become better riders for it. My first school horse was an appy mare, push button and all. Baldur is much harder to ride BUT once you learn what buttons to push he is very easy to ride and the kids love him. My 5 yr old son loves to meander around the indoor on him. I won't take let Hunter go outside off the lunge yet b/c Baldur has a special love for the barn and our outdoor has no fencing. But all in all Baldur loves his lessons now...probably b/c the kids bring him treats for after. He especially loves the kids who bring him doughnuts. Kate
Re: Equitana
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Is Equitana this week? I'm in CT and really want to go. I know there's a Morgan show this week as the morgan trainer at out barn has been packing. Does anyone know when and where the fjords will be featured? Kate
Re: sightseers
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] That's really scary! The farm I board at has signs up, and being a business always has someone there. You may want to put up "no trespassing" signs or even "beware of dog" or "guard dog patrols these premises". Even worse than her suing you, what if they had fed the horses something that caused them to colic? Knowing fjords and their love of food that is a good possibility. It's sad that people are stupid enough to go into a field full of horses without permission. She could have been seriously injured more than a sore toe. Kate
Re: bridles and bits...fjord virus
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 5/26/99 8:56:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > or a fullcheek now, more bending power. My Baldur actually uses the full cheecks to gain leverage to drag people around the arena! LOL He's such a character. We are now in week 5 of the hackamore experiment and I must say that anyone can safely ride him in it. He steers, stops and can be controlled in a spook far better than any other bit. When I take him back to a bit for my use of him (not lessons) I will use the loose ring that he seemed to prefer. It is soft and light and not much of a bit to use to hold his big head up on. I've noticed that he likes to get the students to carry his head for him. Which BTW makes his tripping worse. Speaking of spooks...do any other fjords have spring fever? Baldur went through this last spring also. I think it's a combo of the grass and warm breezes...but he is high! I have to ride him before a lesson to take the edge off. It's fun for me, but not for a few of my little peanut girls. Kate where the rain has FINALLY stopped
Re: Liability Insurance for horsde owners
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have Liability Ins for my teaching. It costs me $240 per year with 1 school horse on my policy. I get a discount for being an ARIA certifed instructor and a graduate B pony clubber. The policy is through American Bankers Ins Co, my agent is a local business...that's part of the reason I chose it. I have a problem, there is a human face to talk to. Right now I am happy with it, it's inexpensive but the coverage is good. Kate
Re: Rearing
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 5/11/99 3:59:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > re you talking about EPM which is a protozoal disease carried by Opossums, > or are you referring to the muscle disease HYPP (hyperkalemic periodic > paralysis) which is carried by the Impressive line of Quarterhorses? I was talking about the protozoal disease...but maybe I'm mistaken about how it develops. HYPP would be good to test for too, as it is a QH thing too. Kate who is suffering from mommy brain lately :-P
Re: Rearing
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Rearing is one of the worst things a horse can do. After you have checked out any physical problems I would look at the horse's life and training. If she is running through a loose ring then someone has hauled on her face and she's afraid of the bit. (Also have you tested for EPM? 50% of the mixed breed population is now carrying this disease. It originated in a very valuable QH stallion and can lay low up until the horse's teens, but usually appears early on. Other symptoms are stumbling, lameness that comes and goes, etc.) But I would be more worried about her training schedule. She's only 4 and hasn't been ridden for all that long...so she's still a baby. You may be pushing too hard and rearing is her way of expressing her frustration with you. And now that she's done it a few times she knows the rider will get scared and back off. I know what you mean about rearing in the trot. I've been flipped over with twice, once out of an extended trot. Both horses were dressage horses that had been pushed too hard too fast. My advise would be to back waaay off and go back to groundwork and lunging because this problem will only get worse. Kate in CT where it's sunny and getting humid(yuck!)
Re: Tyr's training is not going so well.
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 5/6/99 11:51:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > It might be in the bit. Baldur ended up terrified of the bit after a dressage trainer got hold of him...I use a hackamore now. Good suggestion to check the bit. Kate
thanks!
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I want to thank you all for the responses on my stumbling post. I will have the farrier roll his toes at the next shoeing. I also totally agree with the boredom/tripping idea. I have seen that stoned look on Baldur's face esp after the 2nd lesson with the same excersizes. I'm going to have to challenge myself to vary my teaching a bit more LOL! He never trips while doing groundpoles or jumping and is a little burro on the trails. So a great deal of it must be him zoning out. I'm not sure about the ringbone, with his drafty conformation it is a possibility...but this has been going on for 18 months now. About riding on the bit... As a dressage person and an instructor of beginners I've found that it is not always safe to throw that phrase about. Many well meaning riders try to get "on the bit" and instead get "backed off". I prefer to have my students ride forward and through rather than worry about on the bit and collection. Forward and through gets Baldur's head up as well as keep him focused on the task at hand. When his rhythm becomes hurried he trips frequently, when kept long strided but with a slower rhythm he stays more balanced. I just get the willies when riders think that a horse "has" to keep his head down to be ridden correctly. Instead the horse needs to be using his hindquarters and softly taking the contact. Oh BTW, Baldur got really heavy and pulling in the last few months, now he's being ridden in a hackamore...much lighter and easier for even the smallest rider to steer. Amazing what happens when you take away the leaning post :-) Kate
Stumbling
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hello List! I want to say how much I enjoy reading all the great info you all have about Fjords. I have only been in contact with my Baldur, but have fallen in love with this breed completely. Here's my question... I use Baldur in my school program. In the indoor he is very sure footed, jumping close to 3 feet. Outside is another matter. He stumbles constantly. Today was the worst one yet. He almost went head over heels and did step on the students hand in the process of their fall. She is ok, thank God! Nothing broken. Baldur is fine too, I always worry about his knees when he trips. It is mostly in the trot...when he gets quick and distracted. The footing outside is sand/grass. Not deep at all. Is this a common Fjord thing? It has gotten a bit scary and I know it scares Baldur. Could there be something physically wrong with him? The farrier is happy with his feet, they were done last week and he is not kept long in the toe. He is a stocky build (short legs, big body). I'm at my wits end here...he scared the heck outa me today Thanks! Kate
Re: Brenderup Trailers
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] We sold a pony to some people that had one 10 yrs ago. It was perfect for har as she had had a bad trailer accident before we bought her and would fly out of the trailer as soon as the ramp was dropped. Very dangerous, almost injured us seriously numerous times. This trailer had the front ramp featyre and they unloaded her that way...never ever had a problem. I think they still have it and are very happy with it. Kate
Re: BUGS !
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 4/22/99 11:52:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Also do those "masks" that I've seen horses wearing work well? We use them and they do work. As long as your horse doesn't mind wearing it. My sister's Morgan pulls his off if it has ear attachments, but will wear the eye shield no problem. I use skin so soft and vinegar for fly spray. In CT we have the house flies and deer flies, with the lovely addition of mosquitos. SSO and white vinegar works well, you can also add cider vinegar to their feed or water. I tried that last year but my appy mare wouldn't eat it. My fjord eats anything, so I'll try that with him this summer. You could also get a sheet made from the same mesh as the masks for really sensitive horses. Doesn't hold in the heat and does seem to help a little. Good Luck! Kate
Re: saddle slip
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sounds like the saddle may be uneven. Or that she isn't tracking up evenly, possibly shorter on the right side. Check her movement...if she's stepping evenly than have the saddle checked by a saddle doctor. An improperly fitting saddle can hurt her back. Good Luck Kate
Re: Harness cleaning
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 3/30/99 1:48:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Kate how wet do you get your leather when using soap? Jean Gayle Don't soak it, but work up a really good lather. I use a scrubber sponge for the really gross stuff, then a regular sponge and work in a lather. Another thing I forgot to add is that beeswax is a great conditioner. It has a German name...Lepferdgecrem or something like that. Kate
Re: Harness cleaning
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Another thing about the Onestep is that it can clog the pores of the leather. The best stuff to start with for cleaning is Castille soap. It opens the pores. Then condition the leather. Take it from a graduate Pony Clubber...you need to open the pores for a deep clean. I clean tack in 3 steps 1) Clean with Castille soap or Ivory (any soap except deoderent soaps) 2) Condition (Lexol is a good one) 3) Close the pores...glycerin is ok for this, also adds some shine It's time consuming but when it comes to expensive leather it's worth the time. Kate
Re: feeding fjords in the spring
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I don't know about everyone else, but I cut way down on grain during the summer. Baldur gets just enough to make sure he gets his Bioten supplement. The paddok he is in has very little grass, what grass does grow is quickly eaten. I try to make sure he gets mostly hay since my belief is that a primarily roughage diet is best for all horses. I don't think it's the grass so much that makes them founder as the fact that they are being fed primarily grain then they go out to the fresh grass and gorge themselves on it. Causing an overload of nutrients. We have a 25 yr old Morgan at the farm whose life was saved by giving him free roam of the farm to graze. He almost died in the fall of choke and lost all his weight while being unable to eat. He now looks like a 15 yr old. He grazes all day and gets plain pelleted grain, no supplements. My plan for Bladur is to give him just enough grain so he doesn't get upset when the other horses are fed (less than a cup) and make sure he gets enough hay and grass. We did this last year and it worked out great. I will be interested in what everyone else does and whether your horses are in work or just hanging out. Kate (who is so excited that it's finally warm in CT!)
Hello All!
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hello everyone! I have been lurking for the last few days, but wanted to let you know how much I appreciate all your Fjord knowledge. I am currently working with an 8 yr old Fjord gelding. He was purchased by my clients 2 yrs ago and was taken to a dressage barn where the trainer tried to turn him from a laid back green horse into a "dressage" horse in 6 months. When his owners (beginners...knew nothing about horses) brought him to me he was terrified of the bit and running away at the slightest sound. About a year later he is back to being quiet and sane and is doing beginner lessons for me. He still gets REALLY nervous at strange noises, but seems to trust me enough not to run off with even the littlest kid. He is a quirky boy though. He has a tendency to turn into the middle of the ring if they stop "riding" him. I think he figures that if they aren't going to work why should he? My students get a little upset in at first, but once they understand that under that Eeyore like demenor he really is thinking, they all laugh and comment on how smart he is. I love him to peices and have decided that the next horse I purchase will be a fjord. Kate (who loves her Baldur more each day)
