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Hi, everyone! Thanks Brian for pointing out all noteworthy stallions that
are out there! I am lucky enough to own one on your list: Ivan. You had
mentioned he was owned by Bernadine Karns, but he is really owned (as much
as a Fjord can be owned) by me. However, since she is my mother, I'm not
upset by that!
Ivan (King Gjestar X Kristoffa) came to Nottawa Crossing Fjords in 1990. He
came to us with no papers and having been sent through a horse auction
several years before. Well, my parents had previously owned an Arab stallion
(many years ago) and really didn't want another stallion on the farm. You
know the story: Too much work, too unpredictable, too much of a hand full.
Well, a week after he came, we knew we had a totally different kind of
stallion. So, I purchased him and here is has stayed.
Over the years, I have used him for showing at local shows as well as the
Michigan State Fair. We entered the halter classes against the All other
breed categories and always ended in the ribbons. Just goes to show that
good conformation can make up for being different in the looks category.
We also showed in showmanship, English, Western, jumping, cart, and hitch
classes, and we placed well in all of them. He was very well known around
the local show circuit. Everyone loved his laid-back manner and wonderful
temperament--people would always search him out just to pet him.
We have also used him extensively in educational pursuits. He has gone to
the Michigan State Fair in the Horse Hospitality Row and Minor Breeds
exhibits, Sauder Village (Ohio), Michigan State University Education Days,
and many other exhibitions. At each of these he has represented the breed in
the most professional, friendly manner.
As a matter of fact, at the Michigan State University Stallion Expo that we
attended for 4 straight years, no one cared that I was there! All I heard
when we pulled up to unload was, Ivan is here! Doesn't do much for one's
ego!
The nice thing about Ivan is he passes along these traits to his offspring.
His foals tend to be very easy going and great to work with. He also passes
along his tremendous striping and dorsal stripe.
We have bred him three times to our mare Tundra (Solar X Fjordelv Farm's
Katina) with wonderful results. While Ivan is 14.2, this combination has
resulted in foals that will be taller than that with great movement.
I have not had Ivan at an evaluation due mainly to the cost of such an
endeavor. I find that at this point the expense of traveling to a location
and the actual evaluation is more than I want to incur. Also, at the present
time, I am not comfortable with the evaluators handling these evaluations.
So, I have opted to not put myself and Ivan through this.
However, I feel Ivan has proven himself over the last nine years through his
foals and his actions. It's not every stallion that can be used on a
Sheriff's Department's Mounted Division for crowd control and searches. He
was exclusive mount for this detail for over 6 years. While I am breaking
another Fjord into this duty, Ivan still is used by other members when they
need a steady, calm horse for a specific duty.
This tells me more than any evaluation ever could.
Thanks for listening to my brag.
Anne Karns Crandall
Nottawa Crossing Fjords
Marshall MI 49068
