This message is from: Nancy Hotovy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Have been reading with interest the comments on different styles of Fjords. As Jean mentioned, our stallion Anvil's Torbjorn is, in my opinion, a draft style. He is big boned, very wide chest and has a neck that is a little heavy (right Wayne?). The very reason we started raising Fjords was that my husband could use them to do his thing, logging, plowing and other farm related tasks and I could use the same horse to compete in driving and riding classes and my favorite - - a good long trail ride. My kind of trail ride is not down the road - it's more like blazing your own trail. I think thats why I have trouble finding people that want to ride with me more than once. My son won't even go with me anymore. Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that no matter what type, if they have proper conformation, they can do many tasks, hence the all-purpose breed. It always makes me proud when I go to the plow days with Rich and I hear all the "old-timers" talking among themselves saying those Fjords will be wore out in an hour, look at that walk, they're going at such a fast pace, they'll never last. I also listen to them at the end of the day when I hear things like - That's one tough team of horses - they're still going! Kind of like the Energizer bunny!
Another point in regards to the draft breeds, Percherons, Belgians etc. One of the most important things a draft horse breeder looks for is a good foot. Draft breeds have a lot of trouble keeping a good foot under them, which is why the show horses have shoes on much of the year. I wonder if this is something that has always been or one more thing that humans have done to "improve" a breed. As far as having good, strong, bone, one of the people I leaned on for information when I did some Competitive Trail Riding told me that a horse first develops wind, then muscle and finally bone when conditioning for an Endurance horse. Bone is something developed over time, however the horse needs to have the proper conformation to be able to hold up over time and miles. I was told that when examining horses bones that were used 100+ years ago for riding day after day, mile after mile, the bone was more like ivory. Think about it, those horses had to be the best conditioned athletes the horse world has seen. If they weren't - - we all know their fate. Nothing makes me prouder than my Fjord holding up great during an all day ride - makes people give them a second look. By the way, before I close, even though our reason for getting a Fjord was so my husband and I could use the same horse, we each have our own now. I have a gelding that does not seem to like or want to do for anyone else and Rich doesn't always appreciate my opinion on how he should drive his team --- even though they work very nicely for him. You know, it's that stuff that every good marriage is made of - two opinions. Nancy from Michigan where the mud is finally drying up!
