This message is from: "Warren Stockwell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
This is original statements form Pat Holland. The QH industry went through all of this in the 70's - which it was a time I was deeply involved. The bulldog vrs the TB type. Oh my,.. the shows were a "fun" place to be at. At one time the halter classes looked like a stairwell - 1st place the tallest and most refined - on down. One of the reason the peanut-roller effect came into being was that as the horses grew longer and taller they were also traveling longer and more fluid - people began "cranking" them in and creating the artificial movement the industry is trying to get out of now. And might I add - becoming successful at. This is From Lynda Welch. I believe this to be a wrong move and hazardous to the longevity of the breed. It does not matter if people are more into riding in the modern day, or whatever discipline is the current trend! The point of the matter is the Norwegian Fjord has always been a versatile horse that is a wonderful family companion. Some Norwegian Fjords are exceptional, and show highly in specific disciplines and this is truly wonderful, whereas other Norwegian Fjords are outstanding family horses. Through the years, they have been used for a variety of purposes and do each of them well WITHOUT us messing around with their body type. What I simply cannot understand is if people really want a refined horse, why on earth do they not go with a breed that already has this quality? Now my food for thought. I also was involved in the QH world and still have ties their ( I was born a QH girl, I left the QH world because of this messing with what worked and other stuff along with many others I know ). My experience tells me that the QH I use to ride are now starting to reemerge after 30 ish years of messing with type. Along with the finer refined QH's came built in health issues remember the surgance of navicular?? Amongst other leg problems that rendered many horses burnt out at ages when they should be starting to thrive. Their are still lines that you just don't buy knowing that you will get leg problems along with the price. Imagine a big powerful body on pretty little feet and thin legs, the mechanics of this combination just doesn't work. I wonder the pounds per strike those feet are absorbing at the walk, trot, and canter? Maybe we are remembering the negative instead of the other things that came from this type changing. Crossing the QH with the TH came the Appendix QH, now the Foundation QH ( which is back to the original that worked ). Could this be why the Qh registry is so big, they have off shoots of the original and than back to the original?? Looks to me that the QH has gone full circle, is this what the Fjord folks want to do go 30 ish years trying to make a great thing better and than end up back where started? That's a lot of effort. I will raise and show what I like (within the written standards) if the judge or others don't like what I have to offer so be it. I have to please myself first and I know that their will be people that will appreciate what I have to offer. An associate of mine kept breeding, raising,and training the now called Foundation stock QH and now folks are coming back. Yes it's been long and hard road but her diligence and dedication to herself is paying off once again. A quality breeding program with people of high standards and integrity is always in demand and hard to find, once found their are referrals and return customers. So as sad as it would be to see the Fjord go the way of the QH ( which Thank God is starting to make a come back) their may be some good that comes from it, but at what cost ? I just hope that those that choose to go that route have some education in breeding so that the FH don't end up heavy in the feed lots being culled out. Roberta
