This message is from: "sheri kane" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I'd like to comment on a few of the issues that have been discussed lately on the list. I own 1 Fjordhorse, 5 years old, trained to ride and drive. He also works, in a light capacity, in a therapeutic riding program. I am a certified level instructor through NARHA. This is my first Fjordhorse. He is indeed the most level headed, kind and gentle horse on earth, but can be very easily bored and single minded. I believe that he can sense a special needs rider and will cooperated nicely for them, but if a weak rider,,,,,, gets on and doesnt demand respect from him, he will take them wherever he wants to go. He wouldnt hurt a fly, but will take the reins over and move on to greener pasture, literally, if you let him. A rider must learn to "control" the horse properly,,,,,ANY HORSE, ANY RIDER!! To think that any breed of horse is child proof is ridiculous. At this stage in my horses training, I would not sell him to a child without knowning that he/she has good horse skills.
When my Fjordhorse was a little over 3 years old I sent him to a friend of mine who breeds and trains Fjords to ride/drive. She is known to many of you on this list, she lives in Wisconsin, I do also. I had my horse riding lightly and ground driving at this time. She had him for 1 month. I went to her for some basic driving lessons while he was with her. He came back to me like he had driven for his whole life. My Fjordhorse loves driving and I go everywhere with him. I always take along another person in case of problems, but I've never had problems yet. I have taken each step very slowly and I do alot of reading. I think the trick is to "listen" to your horse and take things slow. If they are not ready to move ahead, then dont! I believe that my horse loves to drive, and enjoys trail riding because he bores easily. Now that he is over 5 years old I will move him to a lesson barn where we can take regular lessons and he can loose his big fat grass belly. He has been on a very chewed down grass pasture with 5 other horses while away at the therapeutic stables and he is FAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant wait to get him going nicely into the canter and actually take lessons on him. I have made the commitment to take things slowly with him. I hope to keep him a good long while. I find the need to be very firm and consistent with him in every area, I dont mind this because I have a friend that will go anywhere, do anything for/with me!!!!!!!! A small price to pay for the best friend on earth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last year I taught a basic driving class for a few of our special needs clients at the REINS using Red. He was fabulous!!!! This year we have been told that every NARHA certified program needs an additional certification to teach driving classes. I am ready and willing to go to get this certification but with fees and travel expenses,,,etc. I am not able to attend such a clinic. Our program is riding around 80 riders each summer, 2 months right now. We are non profit and we all work our tails off to see that our riders get at least 1, 4 week riding session per year. We dont have the $ to fund this either. I guess I am writting this in hopes of finding some special funding for such a special program. I can tell you that when you see these special people riding/driving a real horse, you will never be the same again. These special horses are the real healers and they give everything for us. I hate to think that my drivers will not be driving again. Two of them have weight issues, and 1 has back issues so that he cannot ride anymore. 1 driver was a small child when he was hit by a car on bike. He will never marry or drive a car, but he can drive a horse. He lives to do just that. Any one of us could be placed in that position at any time. We need to support one another. If you really love horses you will understand. Thanks for listening, I read the list everyday! Sheri and Red
