This message is from: Karen Keith kkke...@hotmail.com
For those who care, here goes.
What attracted me to this unproven foreign youngstock? I wanted a white dun.
That narrows the field drastically, as I'm sure you know, Bonnie, having been
there yourself. So much for thousands of Fjords. Even at thousands, what
percentage are for sale at any given time? Being able to look outside our
borders increases the possibilities. With my foreign import, I was able to
visit the farm and see several white duns from foals at side to yearlings,
2yos, 3yos, on up to the sire. I like having choice. I guess that's clear in
my previous post. :^) I was able to have it in spades.
Additionally, Eike and Suse Schoen-Petersen are long-time Fjord breeders,
incredibly knowledgeable of international Fjord bloodlines, great
conversationalists and just plain good folk. If you ask Eike a question,
you're definitely going to get a full, complete and thoughtful answer and
learn way more than you ever expected, whether it's Fjords, cattle, pigs,
veterinary, Germany and Europe in general, and even the US. Good fun.
Am I a breeder? I guess that depends on how this unproven foreign youngstock
works out. But no, not up to now.
Am I touchy? Yes, I suppose so. I've just made a huge purchase, some might
say a gamble but all horses are a gamble, and I react to terms like unproven
imported youngstock. How proven is any weanling horse? I guess we can look
to its pedigree and parents' records.
My filly's dam placed 1st in her 30-day performance test for Fjord mares as a
5yo in Germany. Okay, that's a plus. Last year, as a 13yo, she was declared
overall champion horse at a Fjord show (70 horses) in northern Germany near
the Danish border. Another plus. Eike recently regaled us with the results
of my filly's sire at both Equitana and the German Jubilee Stallion Show at
Essen a month or so ago. Plus, plus, plus. Finally, my filly has a record in
her own right. As just a wobbly week-old baby, she scored highest of seven
Fjord foals at the Fjord branding. Big fish, small pond, but definitely a
plus. Then she went on several weeks later to place second in her filly class
at the same show where her mama was champion. Again, plus.
So is my import unproven? You bet she is. As was your little guy when you
brought him home. What's the difference? A few thousand miles in transport
when you come down to it. We have high hopes, but let's face it, all horses
are a crapshoot. But she is a white dun, and that's what I wanted. And like
you and your little guy, I believe my filly will some day be a positive
influence on the gene pool of the American Fjord. Only time will tell. Good
luck to us both.
Finally, I was told by one American breeder, after hearing I was importing,
that I was buying a pig in a poke. That put me off even looking at his stock,
and I was in the market for a domestic Fjord as well. Found one last week, by
the way, but had to go pretty far afield again, just not outside the country.
So now I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my little piggy and her
domestic but unproven companion who will act as her nanny while she's growing
up.
Mike May, I'll be sending my check to join the NFHR today if I can get the
printer working. Seems I've got some horses to register, hey?
Cheers!
Karen, No. VA
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