This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hello, List,
Well the Dutch keuring/evaluation is over and I know all of us who participated are very glad we did. I will post all the results when I get them back from Bob when they are all through, but I do remember the stallions. Konggard was awarded a 3rd premium (2nd premiums are awarded as a result of the quality of the stallions offspring) and received an "A" on his driving test and a "B" on his riding test. LLA Hilmar recived a third premium and an "A" on his Draft test, "B" on his driving test, and an unfortunate "D" in his riding test, because he was not well prepared for the test and it was much more difficult than the woman riding him had anticipated. I know that next time he will do much better in both riding and drivng. Let me say that the riding test has alot of depth and canter work in a small dressage arena and then jumping a verticle and oxer at the canter in both directions and then out in a 30 acre field with the other stallions for a trail test where they must lead follow and wait while the others go ahead. At one point all the stallions were going three abreast across the field within feet of one another and it was a very impressive test. Unfortunately Marnix blew getting a "AA" in riding because he was naughty in the rear of the group as being last has never been his strong suit. Richard Giargiari handled LLA Hilmar in Draft and the first mark is for obedience and character in harnessing and hitching. With Richard in control and no one heading this horse he got a 9. Everyone cheered when they heard the results. Hilmar also had the biggest testicles of all the stallions which is important and also made Richard very proud.....HAHA I can breath a sigh of relief as I report that Marnix also got a third premium and an "A" in his riding and "AA" in his driving which makes him a Prestatie and Model stallion. He hadn't been ridden by Kathy Bruce since last May and had never been jumped (at least since I have had him), but I knew that unless he got an "A" in Riding and an "A" either driving or draft he could not be Prestatie or Model so at the last minute I had Kathy ride him for me. I'm pretty glad I did. It was because of all the ridden dressage he has done in past years that he was well prepared for the riding test and because Kathy has ridden him a good deal and is a very accomplished rider. She ended up riding 5 horses for the riding ABOP. One of which she had never ridden before. My daughter got on this same mare "Rodika" and jumped her in test and got an 8 for jumping On Friday we did about 23 mares, youngsters and geldings in hand and in tests. It took all day and we just finished the last riding tests as it was getting dark. Phil Juran had a high score Erlend daughter out of MVF Stine. Ceacy had the highest scoring yearling by Konggard and Marnix's baby sister Nanja was high score for the older mares. The three of us got individual medallions and a group picture which hopefully will go into the Dutch newsletter. International stars..... Thruout the weekend it was amazing to see the insight and depth of knowledge these judges had when looking at not only Fjord horse type but just horses in general. Things learned from years and literally 1000s of horses evaluated. Albert Wezeman who accompanied Bob and Joke designs special equipment for theraputic handicapped programs in the Netherlands. He has designed a cage that goes over and around the horse being driven from a seat behind. Over the horses back there is a hammock where profoundly disabled people ,who can not sit up at all, can lie close to the horses back while feeling the movement and warmth of the animal. Hopefully I can get pictures scanned and a brief explanation from Albert to publish in the Herald. I read the list briefly before I took the judges to the airport for their trip to Ann Stifels where they will do an on farm evaluation and then on the Brian Jacobsen's and from there to California to Margaret's and Barry's Village Farm. On the way to the airport I asked them about the recent discussion on the roan spots some of us have seen in the winter coats generally somewhere in the saddle area. Joke said that they also have seen this and have no explanation for it and were perplexed by it and wished they knew why it happened but felt that it was not due to any injury or circulation problems due to ill fitiing tack. So it's a mystery. I want to thank all the people who helped me during the keuring and all those who brought horses for evaluation. The weather was absolutly gorgeous and I hope everyone had a great time and learned as much as I did. Sue G. videotaped the whole thing and Lindsay Sweeney videoed the stallions on Thursday. So we have a great record of the event. Thanks again. Now it's back to work as we have leaf peeping friends due on Wednesday. Vivian
