This message is from: "Nancy Hotovy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Have to put my 2 cents worth in on this one. We bought our son a nice 10 year old Welsh pony, saddle, bridle, cart & harness for his 5th birthday. The pony was very well broke and did everything well - - - when I was standing nearby. If I wasn't in the yard he would buck Michael off and go eat grass. The pony was small enough that for me to get on him and correct him was difficult. To make a long story short, Michael didn't much enjoy his pony but I found him with my Quarter Horse, leading her up to a gate or picnic table and hopping on. She was great - always took great care of him. By the time he was 7, he was always trying to race the neighbors. I saw him start to lose his balance and this mare slow down and get underneath him before going on! She's now 24 years old and teaching my 8 year old niece who is very very timid.
I don't believe size, strength, etc. has anything to do with a horses (Fjord or not) being a good mount for children. It's all in the temperment and training of the individual horse. Michael's Fjord was our mare Bakken's Aurora. For those of you who have been in Fjords a few years, he used her as his 4-H horse, took her to Blue Earth for many years and once to Libby. No matter if he rode or drove her, she also took very good care of him - seemed to know he was her responsibility. I also agree with Patti's comment - the child MUST ride or drive the horse. The horse is not a mind reader and does need direction. That is where good 4-H programs are livesavers and teach kids what to do and how to act when handling horses. The real kids horses and ponies are few and far between and are the most valuable horse you will own. They give kids confidence instead of fear. Hope everyone is having a great summer. We are now home from Blue Earth and the Fingerlakes Show in New York and had a great time! Now I have a lot of tack to clean!!! Nancy Hotovy The Upper Forty P.S. If anyone is in contact with Karen, give her our best wishes and tell her to call me sometime when she is feeling better - - Been there, done that. What a way to get 6 months off!
