This message is from: "Pat Holland" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I mentioned about the illness issue in Fjords and sometimes that demeanor dovetails with training too -
For example - a bad fitting saddle on another breed might cause them to buck or create bolting issues - where in a Fjord - you might just get less "willingness" - to say, canter, or relax, or extend a trot. They still TRY....even when things don't feel right - but they tend to give less - thus causing the term "stubbornness" to find its way into the Fjord terminology and discription. They aren't stubborn - they are just saying "it hurts....but I'll give you all I can."
The same with bits - Fjords tend to get heavy if it's the wrong bit and lean into it - where in other breeds they throw their heads and you feel like your riding without steering - with some Fjords it just feels like your trying to steer a semi loaded with iron ore.
A very good trainer once told me that the Fjords make you a better trainer - and I think it boils down to the little-quiet things they tell us - so you have to be more "tuned in".
Just a thought. Pat Holland The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
