Re: New Fjord Owner Here
This message is from: Ruth Bushnell [EMAIL PROTECTED] We left her barefoot, to see if she will handle that, she is a little ouchy yet. But I hope she gets over that. ** Great idea. I'm what you might call a frothing-at-the-mouth barefoot advocate ;-) Brigid I've noticed that about you in the past =) Is this a personal preference (...transference... you'd rather not be shod yourself =) or do you have hard data on the subject which substantiates your position? I think that some people needlessly shoe their horses, because it's a somewhat accepted concept when it's really not necessary, but there are instances where it appears to be very necessary because it protects their hooves from harsh surfaces, and additionally greatly increases their traction, thus preventing accidents. I always wonder if they don't actually feel like a kid with new hiking soles on, like they can jump higher and run faster =))) and I've never been able to discern any visible discomforture on their part. We only ever shoe a few of ours seasonally, for specific purposes. Had my foot stepped on this week (once is not bad considering our longtime association, but not at all would have been better =))) ...I was glad the stepper didn't have metal shoes on =))) So what about your reservation with the shoes? Ruthie, nw mt
Re: New Fjord Owner Here
This message is from: Tamara Rousso [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Jennie, Congratulations on acquiring Bonnie. And congratulations to Bonnie on acquiring you! She sounds like a very sweet horse. I am new to Fjord ownership also. You can see Harrison Fjord on our website. He is a red dun and we are totally devoted to him. We have had him since January. This group is very helpful and you will learn a lot if you stick around. Tamara Fallbrook CA www.algedifarm.com On Thursday, June 3, 2004, at 06:37 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: How I became a Fjord owner: Well, I used to work at that camp. And always held a special place in my heart for Bonnie. She was so good, and fun to ride.
Re: New Fjord Owner Here
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Jennie- I had the farrier out today! I saw that the last farrier (who was a student from a local school) did a horrible job. ** Great. They did all look different lengths in the photos. I've seen high priced farriers do rotten jobs, too, so you have to always be critical of their work. We left her barefoot, to see if she will handle that, she is a little ouchy yet. But I hope she gets over that. ** Great idea. I'm what you might call a frothing-at-the-mouth barefoot advocate ;-) Being ouchy right after a trim isn't unusual. If you want to ride her right away, boots work well. I have Old Mac brand -- there are many different kinds. You can use them as needed, and they will last a year or more. I thought she was overweight. Some say she isn't, but she does have rolls of fat under her tail, I don't think that's normal! And on her crest that one part is very thick and hard. ** There are different fat appearances. I don't know what causes each one. Vets, maybe you can explain this? Some Fjords are just round all over, like balloons, while others have sort of normal body shapes but those lumps on the neck and tail area. Yes, she does have some old saddle sores on her withers and under belly. There is white patches there. At camps with low spending for programs, tack is not always high on the list. So you do with what you have. I know my saddle does NOT fit her, and in time I hope to find one that will fit her better. I prefer western. But when I do ride, I have been riding bareback! ** Fabulous! I just finished writing an article about saddle fitting which will soon be published on our registry's web site, along with a list of saddle makes popular with Fjord owners. How I became a Fjord owner: Well, I used to work at that camp. And always held a special place in my heart for Bonnie. She was so good, and fun to ride. ** What a great story! And the price is right! Bonnie is lucky to go to a home with someone she has a special connection with. But I think that last trim was more to blame for her latest lameness than the founder, as she has had no heat in her feet, or much of any other symptoms. ** I agree. Founder is pretty brutal and over time the feet take on a strange appearance. If she's recovering already, it was likely just imbalanced feet. My plans? Well I have a 5 year old daughter that LOVES horses. I wanted a nice gentle horse for her to learn on. And that is what Bonnie is. ** Cool. Wish I had a Fjord when I was 5 :-) The guy across the road said I should show her on the Buckskin Circuit, that she'd win ribbons. But I have never been in a horse show. ** At least in this area, registration is not required for entry in the Fjord shows. You might go to the one nearest you and just watch to get an idea of what goes on. They are great fun with classes for all levels of experience. I will get more pictures up tomorrow. After her trim today, I think she looks much better. Maybe try a bath? I know she hasn't had one in a few years! Take the pictures fast, before she rolls :-) / )_~ /L/L Brigid Wasson SF Bay Area, CA www.Brigid.Clickryder.com
Re: New Fjord Owner Here
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Answer some Questions you have: One, she appears to be a cross breed, probably with Quarter Horse. This is a common cross at PMU farms -- is that where you got her? ~NO. I got her from horse camp. They purchased her with a foal at her side, then sold the foal. I think they said the camp had her for about 4 years. Two, her feet look horrid. If you haven't had them trimmed by now, make an appointment. They look like they've been neglected for some time. I had the farrier out today! I saw that the last farrier (who was a student from a local school) did a horrible job. That's how they get so many horses done so cheaply, is have students do them. I know, you get what you pay for, and they get just that. Now, with her feet trimmed she looks like all her feet belong to the same horse. Although he didn't want to take too much off too fast, she looks much better. We left her barefoot, to see if she will handle that, she is a little ouchy yet. But I hope she gets over that. Three, she is overweight. Notice the lump on her neck -- that's fat. The neglected feet and excess weight no doubt contributed to her founder. I thought she was overweight. Some say she isn't, but she does have rolls of fat under her tail, I don't think that's normal! And on her crest that one part is very thick and hard. She is on NO grain, and only grass hay. At the camp, they don't like to single out special needs and care for them differently. Even if it is just a little different. With your good care, it probably won't happen again. I hope with everybody's suggestions, I can make Bonnie into a much more healthier horse. Four, it may be a trick of the light but she appears to have patches of white hair on either side of her wither. If this is the case, she's been ridden hard in an ill-fitting saddle. When you start riding her, take it slow and easy to avoid problems; she may have developed bad habits from the discomfort. Yes, she does have some old saddle sores on her withers and under belly. There is white patches there. At camps with low spending for programs, tack is not always high on the list. So you do with what you have. I know my saddle does NOT fit her, and in time I hope to find one that will fit her better. I prefer western. But when I do ride, I have been riding bareback! So, how did you come to be a Fjord owner? What are your plans for Bonnie? Tell us more! How I became a Fjord owner: Well, I used to work at that camp. And always held a special place in my heart for Bonnie. She was so good, and fun to ride. Then after a year or so of not working there, I went back to help out one day. I had seen that a lot of the horses had been sold and new ones in. I asked if Bonnie was still there, and they said yes. I asked jokingly if she was for sale, and they said YES! My heart sank. I asked how much. They said $500. This was too good to pass up, it seemed. But my problems were I rent the house I live in. My in-laws own it. Gramma owns the land around the house. So I asked everybody if I could have a horse here. It took them 4 months to tell me it was ok. So I went back to the camp, put a deposit down on her. They gave me a month to get the fence up and all. So I started working on that. With the fact in mind that she had foundered in the past. Well a week later she came up lame. They said they couldn't sell her in this condition. I didn't know what to do. So I finished the fence and sadly started to look at other horses. Then finally catching up with the boss to get my deposit back. She told that Bonnie still needed a home, after not being sold, and lame. So I offered her the home anyway. And That's how I got her. But I think that last trim was more to blame for her latest lameness than the founder, as she has had no heat in her feet, or much of any other symptoms. My plans? Well I have a 5 year old daughter that LOVES horses. I wanted a nice gentle horse for her to learn on. And that is what Bonnie is. She'd let you do anything on her, and she just stands there. I enjoy trail riding. We live on a family plot of land, 50+ acres, so there's plenty of trails here. Also a lake, if I could ever get her to step in it. Its there if she wants it. For this summer we are just going to get her back into shape and see how things go. In time we will see if we will do more with her. The guy across the road said I should show her on the Buckskin Circuit, that she'd win ribbons. But I have never been in a horse show. Maybe we will join the local 4-h or youth club, so my daughter can do all those things that I never did. (still need a trailer to do those things.) I will get more pictures up tomorrow. After her trim today, I think she looks much better. Maybe try a bath? I know she hasn't had one in a few years! Jennie http://fjordbonnie.tripod.com [demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type image/jpeg which had a name of
Re: New Fjord Owner Here
This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] Welcome, Jenni! She is a lovely mare. As for the foundering I see that her neck is very cresty..a sign that she is too fat and could founder again..So what you can do is start her on some magnesium, take her off all grain and avoid letting her eat much green grass. put her on grass hay and try to get her weight down. The magnesium will help with the cresty neck... Magnesium oxide works but the best magnesium supplement is Quiessence Available from Foxden Equine http://www.foxdenequine.com/quies.htmsupplement From their website: What is Quiessence? Quiessence is a Magnesium(Mg) based feed supplement. As well as providing much needed Magnesium for the body, the supplement provides synergistic B vitamins. Horses who may benefit from the feed supplement Quiessence: Horses with dietary concerns such as obesity or laminitic predispositions Horses prone to or at risk of founder Horses prone to cresty necks Since the Quiessence comes in a tasty pellet form she can have something in her bucket along with her vitamins so she won't miss her grain! As for Fjords being prone to laminitis, I don't really think they are any more prone than other breeds considering how many over weight Fjords there are who seem to avoid it! Easy keepers in general, such as morgans and ponies, etc. may be more prone to founder however. Concerning her papers, can you find out where she was foaled? She may not even be registered. check for a microchip in her neck. Good Luck! Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, cool and cloudy My name is Jennie. I live in South Central Michigan. And I am a new member of this group. I have owned my first Fjord since Saturday, May 29, 2004. I have surfed some of the internet and have learned that Fjords as a breed are different than other horses in general. Bonnie is a 10 yr old mare. I was told she was registered and has papers (somewhere). Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: New Fjord Owner Here
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 6/3/2004 10:44:01 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I have owned my first Fjord since Saturday, May 29, 2004. I have surfed some of the internet and have learned that Fjords as a breed are different than other horses in general. ** Welcome Jennie! Fjords are quite unique in many wonderful ways. Bonnie is a 10 yr old mare. I was told she was registered and has papers (somewhere). ** The only way to find out for sure would be to get her registered name, number, or microchip. Most Fjords registered in the U.S. or Canada are microchipped as youngsters. I know she has had a colt before, about 4 years ago, and they said the sire was a QH. I'd like to know if there's any chance of being able to track down her papers? ** Sigh. This is a common story, with an unfortunately common ending. If a buyer doesn't get the papers at the time of purchase, they seldom appear, and probably don't exist. Since the Fjord registry doesn't allow cross breeding, it's not likely Bonnie is registered, unless the breeding was accidental. Also, Bonnie has foundered before, which I guess is pretty common with this breed. ** Not really. As breeds go, they are one of the most healthy and hardy. Most need only hay, live outside all the time, and are unshod. I'd like to know how many of you owners deal with this problem. From feeding to shoeing and hoofcare, and all that goes in between. ** We are just starting to create a FAQ section for the registry's web site, so one day all this info will be in one place! I made a small page with some pictures of Bonnie, so if anyone wanted to see, you can. ** I enjoyed the photos of the pretty Bonnie, but I repeat myself :-) I noticed a number of things. One, she appears to be a cross breed, probably with Quarter Horse. This is a common cross at PMU farms -- is that where you got her? Two, her feet look horrid. If you haven't had them trimmed by now, make an appointment. They look like they've been neglected for some time. Three, she is overweight. Notice the lump on her neck -- that's fat. The neglected feet and excess weight no doubt contributed to her founder. With your good care, it probably won't happen again. Four, it may be a trick of the light but she appears to have patches of white hair on either side of her wither. If this is the case, she's been ridden hard in an ill-fitting saddle. When you start riding her, take it slow and easy to avoid problems; she may have developed bad habits from the discomfort. So, how did you come to be a Fjord owner? What are your plans for Bonnie? Tell us more! / )_~ /L/L Brigid Wasson SF Bay Area, CA www.Brigid.Clickryder.com
New Fjord Owner Here
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hello. My name is Jennie. I live in South Central Michigan. And I am a new member of this group. I have owned my first Fjord since Saturday, May 29, 2004. I have surfed some of the internet and have learned that Fjords as a breed are different than other horses in general. Bonnie is a 10 yr old mare. I was told she was registered and has papers (somewhere). I know she has had a colt before, about 4 years ago, and they said the sire was a QH. I'd like to know if there's any chance of being able to track down her papers? Also, Bonnie has foundered before, which I guess is pretty common with this breed. I'd like to know how many of you owners deal with this problem. From feeding to shoeing and hoofcare, and all that goes in between. The other horses I have owned were both QH's. And quite healthy, so this is a BRAND NEW experience for me. I made a small page with some pictures of Bonnie, so if anyone wanted to see, you can. (I tried to put a video at the bottom, it's not working on my computer. Not sure if will yours. I am trying to get my husband to make it work.) http://fjordbonnie.tripod.com This is Bonnie. Hope to hear from someone soon. Thank you, Jennie [demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type image/jpeg which had a name of Winter .jpg]
