This message is from: "Catherine Lassesen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hello, This is a translation from the New Book we picked up in Norway in May. "Fjordhesten - Menneskevennen" by Arve M. Bakken, Jon Hegdal, Helge Sunde .... Page 140 MATADORS AND OTHERS What is a Matador? many will think about people who bother bulls, but here it is spoken about horses. One may also think about somebody with great influence in his own field of activity. And this is what horse people mean when the expression matador is brought into conversation. A matador is a stallion that characterizes (or influences) the development of his breed. But before starting the history of these stallions it is worth pointing out that this is only one part, although very important part of the history of development (or evolution) of the fjord horse. The mares also deserve their great share of the honor. Some of them are ancestries to widely spread pedigrees that also have influenced the breed. But that is another story. Throughout times there have been many great stallions in the fjord horse breed. Some of them have had great and glorious names. The first to earn fair fame for his name was ROSENDALABORKEN I 8 Borken was born in 1863 at Stove Omvik in Kvinnherad, Sunnhordland. His sire was a stallion belonging to Gjert Haugland in Uskedalen and his dam was a mare owned by Lars S. Store-Omvik with ancestors from Bauge in Aakrafjorden. In April, 1864 the wool dun yearling was purchased by the estate manager of Rosendal, Marcus Gerhand Hoff Rosenkrone. He was shown at Voss the following year and was awarded 1st Premium, only 2 years old. He received the same premium in 1868 and 1882. At the age of 20, in 1883, the stallion was taken to an international agricultural exhibition in Hamburg, Germany. It is said that even though the long sea passage experienced rough weather, the stallion danced ashore and created great success with the fresh way he carried himself all the time he was there. He returned back home in good shape and lived at Rosendal until the age of 26. Rosendalsborken was a first class working horse and quick on the road. His legs were "dry and faultless", his shoulder long and sloping, the way it is also desired today. What strikes you when looking at a picture of Borken, is his neck and the elegant way he carries his head. His head was distinctive, beautiful with large eyes, said those who had seen him. His breeding had great influence in Sunnhordaland and Rogaland counties. And some of his colts also went to Telemark. his best colt, Baronen 22 influenced and introduced a new era in the breeding at Jaeren, According to Government Consultant Stenersen. His breeding line disappeared from Norway in 1919, when his last male offspring, the stallion Rask hauge 448 was sold to a Danish veterinarian. But the blood from the fairytale horse Rosendalsborken is still present in contemporary fjord horses. The End.
