Youngsters
This message is from: M Korose <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I read the following: "There seems to be a window of opportunity when they are young that can't be completly made up for if you start taking them out and about when they are 5 or 6. " in the last digest and altho there are some great ideas flowing around, I think this thought may make folks looking at older Fjords take pause. My primary example is my first Fjord, 5+ years old, halter broke, good home, that I wisked away to become the 3-time Versatility champ of the NE show. I have said that the only breed I would trust that can START as an "older" (5-6-7) horse from scratch is Fjords. I have seen other examples, Fjords tend to be slow maturers, easy learners, and if the program involves trust and consistent learning, take a chance on that "older" Fjord. Marsha In VA PS - We now also have Icelandics and I may have to extend the "older" start factor to them to, Icey folks always wait till 5+ to even start most of their horses - Stay in the know. Pulse on the new Yahoo.com. Check it out.
MVF Erlend & Karibu youngsters for Sale
This message is from: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello everyone. Wanted to let you know I have 2 Karibu yearlings and 2 MVF Erlend weanlings for sale. If you are interested, please contact me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and I can send pictures and details on pedigree. Marlene Coffman, TTEAM Practitioner and NARHA Instructor, in Austin, TX area. Thanks, Marlene Coffman TTEAM Practitioner NARHA Certified Therapeutic Instructor Trainer/Breeder of Norwegian Fjords 512-898-1075
SV: bratty youngsters
This message is from: "Anneli Sundkvist" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I agree with Jean! Let the older gelding teach the brat how things work. I got Cider home as a weanling and Tina tried to chase him through the fence the very first day. Cider, who has always been a very self-confident guy, didn't mind very much - he just ran. At that time, we had a 6 yo grey dun gelding by the name of Totte. He actually protected Cider from visious Tina the first weeks, placing himself between her hooves and Cider! After some time, Tina and Cider made friends (and they still are - he's 8 and she's 16 now) and Tina, who is a really KIND horse once the new herd-member is accepted, tolerated A LOT from the young, self-confident and VERY bratty Cider. At that time, Totte must have decided that the youngster needed to know who was the boss and that Cider had to learn good manners! Totte never used more 'violence' than needed, but he was very successful in his work indeed! The funny thing is, that now when Cider's not a youngster anymore, I see so much of Totte in him! Cider reacts just like Totte when it comes to a lot of things, which is very good, because Totte is a very well-tempered fjordhorse. Calm, confident and very responsive. He was also very kind to new horses and helped them to be accepted by the herd - Cider's just the same. He actually NEVER fights with other horses. I think he was 3 years old before he pinned his ears back for the first time and that was when a horse new to the barn attacked HIM! Not much choice, eh?;o) But of course it's important to have the horses in a large field so the brat can escape when the 'schooling' starts. Regards Anneli P.S. Totte was sold 5-6 years ago and now takes care of Cider's old mama who is 23! He has a great personality and is much loved by his human family too. D.S. * Anneli Sundkvist Department of Archaeology & Ancient History Uppsala University St. Eriks Torg 5 S-753 10 Uppsala Sweden Phone: +46-18-4712082
bratty youngsters
This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >We tried putting hubbys solid App gelding in with them and after >much halter chewing between the two geldings, rearing, knee chewing, the big >guy swings into Storm and tries to kick him out through the page wire fence! >We obviously can't keep those two together. Maybe that is just what he needs... a trouncing by the appy gelding to teach him manners. If you had a safe place where he could escape and not get kicked into a fence or something. I credit my old gelding Bjarne for civilizing Bjorken who I raised from a baby. Bjorken turned out great with a lot of respect for the other Fjords and me. And when I introduced Adel as a 2 year old into the herd (Stella, Bjorken and Bjarne), she showed disrespect to old Bjarne and he trounced her good. Now they are special buddies, he is her hero and she always stands by him. If it weren't for old Bjarne, Bjorken would have been a terrible brat as Stella tolerated a lot from him, and there was a time I wouldn't go into the corral without a big stick to wack him when he tried to play with me. I put Bjarne in with them and Bjarne would play with him but put him in his place. Bjorken is now the biggest, but the meek "low man" in the herd. Bjarne is still the boss at 25. I think geldings play a lot rougher than mares, and Storm needs to roughhouse with another gelding..I think your Appy would put him in his place and then they would get along. but it may be frightening to watch! LOL Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska where it doen't light until 10:30 Am and then is dark again by 3...If you don't go ouside at lunch time you will miss the daylight! Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
cantering youngsters
This message is from: "Karen McCarthy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "...I am also very aware of their balance and do my best to keep my body balance aligned with theirs. It's also important to keep your weight more over their hindquarters, as any tripping they might do can end up with the horse doing a somersault in the blink of an eye..." Beth Oh yeah Beth! somersaults are one of the reasons I tend to be kinda conservative! :-] And yes, the riders body (incorrect) position is one if the biggest causes for the frustrations of trying to "get" a canter and a correct lead. Pushing and rushing a horse that is not truly forward,leaning forward (trying to "help" the horse into the canter), and looking over the shoulder to see if the correct lead was taken will all contribute to problems trying to achieve a canter. If you are able to ride out with a buddy on a more experienced horse, ask them to go up into a canter if and when the time is right, and ask your inexperienced horse as well. Try to take atvantage of the "see monkey/do monkey" dynamic. If you can stay 'in the middle', and support & maintain forward momentum, you shall succeed. Enjoy the ride, Karen PS: be prepared for a buck now and then, and don't freak out, but do keep their head from getting to low and keep asking for forward... _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
Breeding youngsters
This message is from: misha nogha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I am not keen on breeding three year old mares. Having been pg myself. I think it takes a lot out of you and personally, I am glad I did not start at 16. I also think that there is a lot of mental maturity the mares go through between 3 and 4. People have said this doesn't make a difference but it does! Who do you think influences those kids how to act. Mom. When you are in a crises situation, it's nice to have at least one of the two be fairly level headed. I don't treat my horses as 'livestock' and commodities. They have responsibilities just like I do. They are given and give respect. I never bought into anthropomorphism comments. If you work and live with animals as closely as I do, you will find that they have a lot of the same hopes, drives, desires and emotions as people. After all, humans are mammals too--last I checked. Misha
