This message is from: "Dave Walter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Jean,
Too funny about Eike being a woman, hope he read that!! LOL He is all man, he is a licensed Vet., so is his wife, and if I got it right she runs the practice and he ranches. Didn't get to meet her but wish I could have. I asked him what I could bring to him from America, he wanted a good lariat and leather gloves from the US. I also asked what I could bring for his wife, she wanted a lariat too!!! Too funny, don't they sound like a great couple! Bet they have a lot of good times together. As far as exactly where we went on our trip, we started off in Berlin. No Fjords there only about 4 million people! We then headed toward Dresden, I'm not sure exactly where the first group of Fjords were but it was around Dresden. Michael and Elizabeth ?, I was pretty sick so was not a good visitor the first day, they had around 20 Fjords. They lived in an old castle. It was really neat, alot of work, more than a life time, but it was really neat to see. Then we went to Gersdorf, south of Dresden and saw Jeronimo, a very beautiful stallion, and oh so light in the bridle. Very refreshing to ride. They had 5 stallions, not all for sale. Jannik Gaerum, one of their stallions, would turn a lot of heads in the US. He was beautiful to watch. He was around 12 yrs old and not for sale, of course. :-) The owner, Annette Weber-Meixner, had a wonderful facility. She also had around 5 apartments she rents out, like a B&B. We got to stay there the first night. Her house and the apartments all are above the stables. I LOVED IT. I told my hubby we could build our retirement home like this, he said NO WAY. You could hear the horses under you and in the morning if you open the window you could hear them eatting right below your window in their stall. It was great. They have a wonderful trainer as well, she does a great job with the horses. Next we went to Berkatal, a small village north of Frankfurt in the central part of Germany. I don't know how to explain this set up. The villages there are hard enough to explain. No house number, sometimes no street signs, you don't know where one house starts and another ones ends. Very narrow streets, I would have no idea where or how to park. They use every inch of their space! There stallions were in a stables around the corner from them and they had a couple mares in their garage! There was a community outdoor arena just outside the village. One could walk or ride to. We saw Ragnar there. I just giggled when I rode him, he was like riding another breed. What suspension. You could feel the "push off" in his trot. It was great! . They also had a couple other stallions there and a French bred stallions at a different location. Then we were off to Reinhold Eitenmueller in Guttersbach. After that we went to Spechbach, both south of Frankfurt. In Spechbach we met Heir Ruf. Don't have his first name, as I couldn't read Eike's writing. Heir I believe is like Mr. Anyways he has a fablous stables and set up. A full boarding, training lessons, breeding facility. Think he had 20-30 Fjords plus many other breeds for boarding. They have 150 kids a week come for lessons- on Fjords only. They have a GREAT program. The kids do everything and learn everything. While we were there they had a vaulting lesson going on. We got some great pictures and will be putting them in the Herald with an article, which all of you will know by then. :-) Heir Ruf's girl friend has a therapuetic program with all fjords. We did not get to meet her but she is in Friedensdort and has several Fjords there as well. Her and her twin sister run it and I think they have over 20 maybe 30 Fjords? It was a great trip, I'm still trying to decide if I want to buy Malino, a 2 yr old stallion. He is by Merkur and out of Pram St. Lalina (Kvest Halsnaes X Lajona) He really has nice movement, but it is just so nerve racking to me to buy a young one. Will he turn out exactly what I want when he is mature?????? Well that was our trip, now you'll all be bored with my article in the Herald, only good thing I missed this last deadline so it won't go in till the following issue. Patti Jo Walter
