This message is from: "Norsk Wood Works" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
This message is from Phillip Odden The official NFHR evaluation held near La Crosse Wisconsin is finished and the official results will be published along with a picture of the animal in the new record book which will be available late this year. Sharon Makurat and Wayne Hipsley were the evaluators. I believe there were 30 horses there. The first group of 16 mares three years of age and older was interesting. Each animal was evaluated individually by the two judges. The process seemed to take 15 to 20 minutes for each horse. After each mare was evaluated and the scores were tabulated all the mares returned to the ring and were circled for all to see once again. Wayne brought each mare into the center of the ring and spoke in general terms about the horse pointing out interesting aspects of the animal's conformation and movement at the walk or trot. The owner was then awarded the appropriate ribbon and given a copy of the each evaluators score sheets complete with official written comments and scores. At one point in the presentation Wayne had three animals in the ring spaced head to tail. The first was a very large fjord in every way. Her name was Gamla. Yet she was balanced and was very "typie". She was presented in a fit condition. Her muscles were toned from use. This horse was unmistakably the old type, or draft type. She received a strong blue ribbon and certainly deserved it. This horse had the nicest longest hip I have ever seen on a fjord and a very nice neck to balance the body. Her head was big but in good proportion to her body. And she had the kindest, large, dark eye. Of the other two mares standing with the large mare one was of medium build and the other was a lighter built mare. Wayne pointed out that all three had similar top lines and proportions. They all looked as a fjord should look or in other words they were good examples of fjord type, though each horse represented a different segment of fjord body size. Wayne also gave us a lesson in movement. Pat Holland was showing a light built fjord that walked very free with long over-steps. Another horse was also asked to walk out, this fjord with a different body style. It too walked with free movement but not quite as free as the horse Pat was showing in conformation. When the performance tests started I was thrilled to see Gamle was entered in riding, driving and draft tests. The horse and owner did an outstanding job. It was easy to see that Gamla was trainable and could move well. I am not certain of exactly which ribbons she won at the introductory and advanced levels. I know she had both blue and red. The results will be in the record book. In the performance tests there were the big bodied horses as well as the lighter styles. I could see no difference in body style equating to trainability. Some of the heavy horses were not willing to do the tests and some of the medium horses were not willing and some of the lighter horses were not willing. There were drafty horses such as Gamla that did well, there were medium style horses that did well and there were lighter horses that did well. I just wanted to say a little more about the Gamla horse because she was so special. Gamla is Rokida's Gamla bred by Ron and Kit Davis. Ron recently passed away. There are quite a few of the Rokida horses in my neck of the woods. Ron and Kit were interested in the draft style fjord and had a very sucessful breeding program. Gamla is an outstanding example of a quiet tempered, willing, draft style fjord. She was rewarded high scores at the evaluation because she deserved them. Gamla is a Norwegian word that means 'Old'. One more thing about Gamla. Gamla was a rescue horse rescued and shown now by Karen Klearman. Her rescue price was next to nothing. With her official NFHR conformation and performance scores she is worth a whole lot of money.
