open shows
This message is from: Dave and Patti Walter [EMAIL PROTECTED] Linda, yes the judge is QH all the way, or what I call a true pleasure judge. At least in our area, that is pretty much what you get. We ride in a dressage frame, arc neck, horse on the bit but with an arc instead of straight neck. I wasn't about to change for this one show. :-) I have in the past with my own horse, ridden to the type of show I was in. I.E. at an open show, I could put Silas in more of a pleasure frame, dressage show, dressage frame, etc etc. BUT...these are training horses and don't wish to mess with what I'm teaching them currently. I really only took them to see how they would behave, to see what we needed to work on, and knew we would not place high, but was thrilled that they placed at all. They were never last in their class, so the judge did use, just not high up in the scores. Although in hunter hack, equitation and the timed obstacle jumping the Fjords got 2nds and 4ths. It was a good show, bigger classes , nice horses and the Fjords were awesome in the ring! :-) Patti Jo Walter www.franciscreekfjords.com The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Open shows, Zipper
This message is from: Linda Lehnert [EMAIL PROTECTED] Patti Jo, was the judge a QH judge? We had Morgans for a long time and found that QH judges don´t like what I call upheaded horses, those with necks that sit on top of, instead of in front of, the shoulders with the natural head carriage that will give, i.e. Morgans, Arabs, Fjords, etc, This bias particularly shows up in western pleasure. After all, these horses act like they are alive and going somewhere instead of moving slower than cold molasses with their noses to the ground as if they are looking for grass in the riding arena. The latter look is what QH judges like and usually they will mark down the upheaded breeds just because of the way they look and move. Vanessa, your story about Zipper made me laugh out loud in the internet cafe. Very few horses of any breed could have done what she did - behave even if she didn´t steer very well! Just wait until she´s fully trained. She sounds like a great horse and you are fortunate to have her. Linda in Guben, DE (that´s Deutschland, not Delaware - this is what is on our license plates below the EU circle of stars) today it's FREE! The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: FINALLY! -- Fjords are out there at open shows - Dressage others
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Carol wrote: Isn't this great? That finally the Fjords are getting recognized for what they can do. -- I'm glad I lived long enough to see it. I was beginning to wonder if it would ever happen. But, guess what? -- This acceptance by dressage judges and beginning acceptance by riders is exclusive to North America. It is NOT happening in Europe. In Europe Fjords are still looked at as chubby, plodding ponies. This wasn't a huge show I went to, but a couple weeks ago I went to my first show ever. It was a local dressage show. I tried to have enough time to do everything, but with a special child in my life, I had a few delays. I just barely started warming Juniper up and my number was called. Reviewing the video of the performance, I could see that the lack of warm up really showed as far as my own position. But Juniper was alert, happy and responsive to me. My patterns weren't the best, as I had not practiced the test more than a couple of times, and I cut a couple of corners, but we still came in third. Our second ride was better and we got even higher marks. I can imagine how she'll do when we've got more experience under our belts/girths and when we have time to warm-up. The people I showed against are very dedicated to the art of Classical Dressage, and they had a variety of horses at various stages. What was endearing is that they'd all be walking by with serious looks on their faces and then they'd see Juniper and it was like the sun breaking through the clouds. They'd all get this delicious grin on their faces when they looked at her, and we received lots of comments on how cute she is and how well she did at her first show. When I saw my riding instructor the following week, he told me that everyone he talked to was very impressed with her. I was never interested in showing now, but when you are riding a fjord, it can be a fun experience! The ribbons are secondary. The adventure is primary! Pamela Northern Holiday Horses Welcome Polaris
Re: Open Shows
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 6/30/2004 8:39:50 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I remember the first year we showed the judges had NO idea even what we were and often asked if we were a Haflinger. One thing you can do in this situation is to send a copy of the Fjord Breed Standard in with your registration for the show, with a note for the secretary to pass it along to the judge so he/she has a chance to review it well before the show. (If you are entering the day of the show this won't work as well of course...) Some judges just have not had the opportunity to dig up info on EVERY breed there is, and will appreciate the information. Amy Amy Evers Dun Lookin' Fjords Redmond, OR Fjord [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Open Shows
This message is from: Dave and Patti Walter [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jessica, just hang in there at open shows, it will get better. I remember the first year we showed the judges had NO idea even what we were and often asked if we were a halflinger. It is much better now, I would say last year and this so ALL the judges know what we are. Although you are correct they don't know what to do with us in the halter classes. The open shows in our area, are actually a QH circuit. We are not a QH, don't look like one, don't move like one, so they are stumped. My attitude is have fun, do the best you can and remember love your horse as much before the show as after. AND you will shine in the performance classes because just like you were told, Fjords are steady, consistent and nice movers. We catch the judges eyes and you go girl!! Patti Jo Walter Two Rivers WI -Still missing the big guy being gone.
Re: Clipping for open shows
This message is from: Sherle Monheim [EMAIL PROTECTED] I've been lurking here for the past two days reading about clipping and showing. We took our stallion to about six open shows last fall and the classes were some where between 8 and fourteen, most quarters, saddlebred, morgans. We clipped his muzzle chin hairs, and just the outside edges of the ears. Left the legs and eyes unclipped. He place second in 4 of the shows and 4th in 2 of the shows. The judges knew what kind of a horse he was, but the other people showing couldn't believe where he placed against their well groomed, clipped and oiled fancy horses. So in my opinion, try it and see. Its a lot of fun taking them to open shows and the amount of exposure is wonderful for the breed and your horse. Thanks Sherle in Northern Wisconsin where we still have snow and ice!!
Open shows
This message is from: Steve McIlree [EMAIL PROTECTED] I am cross-posting a portion of a message from the SportMorgan list. It is a piece of a President's Letter which appeared in a 1971 issue of The Morgan Horse Magazine. I think that the Fjord breed can learn alot about what not to do from the Morgans. By the way, most of the people on the SportMorgan list feel that Mr. Appley's advice has not been followed by the association to the detriment of the Morgan breed. If the Morgan breed is to gain its rightful position in the equine world, it must be seen and observed by more and more non-Morgan owners and admirers. Two of the means for letting non-Morgan people see Morgan horses are Open Shows and Trail Rides. All Morgan Shows are valuable. They should be considered, however, from a promotion standpoint, to be preparation for Open Shows. It doesn't do us much good to be showing our Morgans to each other, although the fellowship and exchange at such shows is very meaningful. The question before the house, therefore, is: Should we have more Morgans in Open Shows and Trail Rides and how can we get more Morgans in Open Shows and Trail Rides? In the meantime, I would like to make a flat statement that I believe the Morgan breed stands at a very critical point in its history.Morgans must be seen in every possible place we can get them. I especially agree with the statement about breed shows being preparation for Open Shows. When you have a small breed you have to look to the outside for growth. The Morgan folks haven't done this and are today experiencing declining numbers in registration and in association memberships. -- Steve McIlree Cynthia Madden -- Pferd, Keyah, Skipper, Tank -- Omaha, Nebraska, USA Princes learn no art truly but the art of horsemanship. The reason is the brave beast is no flatterer. --Ben Jonson(1572-1637)
