This message is from: Norsk Wood Works [EMAIL PROTECTED]
This message is from Phillip Odden
Having just returned from Sunny California I feel compelled to share some
insights from the Fallbrook evaluation that was held last Friday and Saturday.
The event was sponsored by the Vestlandshest USA Fjord Horse Club, a
relatively new club, with an especially enthusiastic group of members. Since
this was their first evaluation many of the folks were not sure what was
expected of them and their horses. Certainly many of them looked up the
guidelines for an evaluation and the expectations of the animals under the
documents section of the NFHR website. But until one has experienced an
evaluation many questions can arise.
So on the evening before the conformation tests were given there was a mini
clinic given by Niels Mortensen together with his son and daughter who are
from Denmark. Niels instructed the group on ways to present the horse and in
proper ways to walk and trot the horse for the judges. Some of the protocol
for Danish evaluations is a bit different than with NFHR evaluations so I
helped clarify what our evaluators would be looking for. Niels is a very
highly respected evaluator from Denmark for Norwegian Fjord Horses and it was
great that he was on hand to witness a NFHR evaluation. However Niels did not
score horses in the ring at Fallbrook. Karen Cabic and Karen Maas were the
official NFHR evaluators at Fallbrook.
We made certain the exhibitors understood that it was important the horses
were set up correctly for the judges. I reminded them that their horses should
look bright and not fall asleep in the ring. When asked to walk the horse
should walk with an energetic stride with good reach in the front, an overstep
of the back foot landing in front of the front hoof print, and with good
engagement of the hind quarters and top line. Much the same is important in
the trot, good reach with the front legs, engagement in the rear and use of
the entire body to achieve an athletic trot. Not easy to describe but still
'easier said than done'.
Most important I assured them that the evaluators would be judging their
animal against a breed standard and not one horse against the next. We wanted
their horses to receive the highest mark that the animal deserved, but it is
up to the exhibitor to show the animal to the best of its ability. The judge
can't evaluate potential, only what they see of the horse on that day during
that test.
I believe there were 24 horses evaluated by Karen Cabic and Karen Maas.
Often I heard the evaluators congratulation the exhibitors on a good
presentation. After each class the evaluators gave oral comments on the
animals presented and handed the exhibitor a copy of written scores and
comments along with a ribbon. Many of those attending the evaluation praised
the evaluators on the educational aspects of the program.
The quality of the fjords at Fallbrook was overall quite high which was
reflected in the scores. Fjord owners in Southern California should be pleased
that they have a good core group of breeding animals. Of course there were
some horses that did not do as well as one would have liked to see. The owners
of these horses could better understand what improvements they might look for
in choosing a mate for their horse and what they might do to improve their
horses score. They also learned what to look for when shopping for quality in
a performance horse, breeding stock, or a well conformed companion horse.
Our NFHR President Neil Sorum and his wife Ruth along with Sophie Fiedler
from the evaluation committee traveled to Fallbrook to volunteer their
services in measuring horses, handling paper work and setting up the arena.
They, together with the show sponsors, deserve a big thank you for extra
effort in helping to make the Fallbrook evaluation a wonderful success.
Respectfully submitted. Phillip Odden Technical Delegate for Fallbrook
evaluation.
