This message is from: "Beaver Dam Farm" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hello from Carol Rivoire at Beaver Dam Farm in Nova Scotia
We had our first snowfall last night. Only about 4", but heavy so the
power went out for about 8 hours. It didn't bother us much as we have the
woodstove in the house, and all the horse's tanks were filled and the temp.
stayed just above freezing.
It being a snowy day today, I spent the morning on the computer and looked
at the NFHR website to see what's new. -- The Evaluation Committee's
excellent work, "The Evaluation Handbook" was new -- New to me anyway. I
hadn't seen it. -- Frankly, I was very impressed. It's a good piece of
work. Overall, I liked it a lot. There was one thing, however, that bugged
me, and has bugged me in the Breed Standards for many a year now, but no
matter how much I griped about it, nothing has changed. --
What I don't like and what I think is misleading and inadequate is the
description of what the Evaluators are looking for when a Fjordhorse is
trotted out for them.
First of all is the description of the trot ----
The Evaluation Handbook says the trot is . . . "A true two-beat gait. Being
a powerful gait, the trot demonstrates the characteristic traits of speed,
comfort and athletic ability. The trot comes naturally and is the most
favored gait of the horse."
I honestly think this is an inadequate description and should be
evised. -- The trot should be "a powerful gait", but NOT necessarily a
speedy gait. -- In my opinion, the trot should clearly show the power of
the horse's hindquarters in the way he thrusts forward . . . The way he
propels the movement forward. -- It does not need to be fast. It does
need to be powerful and forward. -- Forward is not necessarily fast. -- I
think this part is very unclear, and would lead some people who do not
understand horse movement to simply push their horses for speed.
And, I'm sorry, but I don't understand the reference to "COMFORT". I guess
it means that the horse should be comfortable to sit to at the trot. --
Yes, this is great, but sometimes a big mover who is a very correct and very
good mover is not comfortable to sit to. Not because he's jarring and
rough, but simply because he has a very big stride. -- This is the case
with some big moving Warmbloods, and there are some Fjords who have this
same kind of movement.
The last thing that I object to is the mention of "EXTRAVAGANT MOVEMENT"
being undesirable. I find this in two places in the Handbook. -- What
exactly does the Handbook mean by "extravagant movement."? -- In the
beginning of the handbook, the writers explain how breed type and overall
conformation is most important, and that "extravagant movement" (they also
mention beauty and elegance) should never override the importance of type
and conformation. -- I totally agree with this! I agree that no one thing
such as a beautiful head, or a huge trot should ever override the importance
placed on overall quality and breed type.
However, further on in the Handbook where the writers list UNDESIRABLE
TRAITS, they again list "extravagant movement". -- I wish somebody would
tell me what is meant by this.
* Does it mean high knee action like a Hackney, Saddlebred, or Morgan? --
If that's what it means, then I agree. Fjords should not move with high
knee action. This is a big fault. Fjords should move like Warmbloods with
a long, reaching stride. --- If the Evaluation Committee means high knee
action when they speak of "extravagant movement", then they should say it
like that. HIGH KNEE ACTION is a fault in Fjords.
* Does extravagant movement mean a horse capable of giving a big extension
at the trot? -- If that's what the Handbook means then, I beg to differ
most vociferously. -- But, again, I do agree that a Fjord with a big
extension at the trot should not be forgiven for lack of "breed type" or
faults of conformation.
The thing is that if a Fjord is capable of doing a big extended trot, and he
has all the other qualities . . . . What I want to know is if such a
orse --with all the other desirable qualities -- is going to get marked
down because he has a big extended trot? -- Is it a fault? -- I sure
hope not!
I hope the Evaluation Committee can answer this for me.
And I also hope that they will revise the Handbook in this regard to make
the issue clearer for everybody.
Kind Regards, Carol Rivoire
