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Delikat ground driving for the first time.
You'd never know she had never done this!
Delikat driving for the first time- on the very same day we introduced her to the cart and ground
driving. I normally would expect to take a couple of weeks to get to this point, but this horse has the
sound mind and was bred for this. She was completely accepting of each step without any concern. Don't do this
at home unless you have horse training experience!
So what is a Fjord?
Norwegian Fjord horses have been in existence for about 4000 years and are among the oldest breeds.
Some do sport the primitive leg and martingale striping. The Vikings began active breeding programs with them
around 2000 years ago (the same time that Jesus walked the earth). I like to refer to them as the 'Viking War
Horse' as the Vikings developed them for war as well as for farm work. The Fjords were (and are) so calm, that
they would load them on their Viking ships for their voyages and conquests. These same horses, back home,
would be used for farm draft work, for riding, and for driving. They would also be used as pack horses to move supplies
through the steep terrain and narrow trails of western Norway. In World War ll, they were the only breed of horse that
could pack the 264 pound cannons on their back through these same steep and narrow trails when Norway was trying to protect
itself from invasion.
Today's Fjord still resembles the 'trojan horse' of yesteryear. They are not a tall breed,
with most individuals being between 13.2 and 14.3 hands high at maturity, but the traditional types are still
very much a draft breed, sporting a long sloping shoulder, thick strong neck, wide head, and strong bone. Their body
size will definately support an adult man! Their feet typically do not require shoes and they cost less to feed than
a quarter horse. Because of that, you may have to regulate the amount of pasture time that they have, so they
don't founder. There are 5 official colors- all duns, with the color we have, the brown dun being the most common at
somewhere between 80 to 90% of the breed. A unique feature of the breed is that their dun stripe starts at the
forelock, runs through the middle of the mane, down the back and ends at the bottom of the tail. Manes are
usually clipped short to show off the center dun stripe and crested to show off the strong necks.
There is a second body type of Fjord that is more towards the english type of horse. Many of fjords
are so versatile that you can jump, do dressage, trail, drive, CDE (driving obstacles under a timer), and draft
the same horse, and then put the grand kids on them and let them go. Some are used for open reining and cutting as well. With
proper training most can be schooled to bridleless bareback riding (just a rein around the neck at all gaits both directions). Because
of their mellow temperment, they are a favorite with stables that have riding programs for the disabled. They are considered
to have an excellent work ethic, meaning they are willing to work for you as often as you are willing to work with them. I
am finding the temperments, hardiness, and versatility perfect for what we are after. I am also finding that
they are incredibly intelligent, making them easy and quick to train, but of course, you must train them correctly. Most
Fjords also adore human company and make great barnyard companions.
They are a rare breed with the largest concentrations of them occurring in Norway, Sweden, Denmark,
Belgium, Germany, the UK, Canada, and the United States.
Just like in goats, there is an 'appraisal program' called Evaluation. Our US evaluators are trained
in Norway.
We have three mares. We plan to breed about one per year, and will offer the resultant registered
and DNA'd foals for sale. All three of our horses are registered with the NFHR. www.nfhr.org if you want to look.
We are using the horses for pleasure and trail, have plans to drive them (maybe some light draft as
well as our mentor is really into that), and I have one for a dressage horse which her and I will be learning. I expect
I'll also train her for driving and she's certainly stout enough to draft (but has the awesome floating movement of a dressage
girl).
Have fun looking at the Fjords. A N.A.S.H. has also found her way to our house and you can
see her at the bottom of this page.
TBF Delikat, says "Hi"!
| Delikat |
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| Delikat 4 years old August 2011 |
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| Thanksgiving 2011, Kat and Delikat |
TBF Delikat is a July 2007 mare. Delikat is Norwegian for Delicate. "Deli"
is a medium build Fjord that has the muscle and sound bone for work yet the refinement and movement required for
dressage which I think of as "horse yoga" for flexibility, strength, and balance requirements for the horse. She has
a WONDERFUL friendly temperment, is extemely curious and even though not previously handled on a regular basis is learning
her groundwork and round pen training fast and not forgetting lessons even when days or a week lapse in between them.
I hope to have quite a bit of saddle time on her by the end of 2011. She just floats on the move and has an extremely
well balanced trot and canter. She currently has a 5 inch mouth and stands at about 13.3 HH (at 3 1/2 years old).
She is out of Blue evaluated parents (like an LA 90 in goats) and is 3 generations blue up her sire line. I hope to
have her evaluated in the future. She, evidentally, has quite a bit of potential for dressage (my background
is almost all western riding), which I am taking lessons on with her- to train both her and I. She is coming along
well and remains relaxed, learns extremely fast, and tracks up naturally. She is extremly light in her face and is just
a joy to ride. It's very evident that she wants to please and is willing to do whatever is asked as soon as she
understands what we are asking. We'd be progressing much faster if I was already schooled in dressage, but since we
are learning together it will take longer. No problem. She has picked up shoulder ins like a pro in one lesson...
I may start taking local dressage tests with her beginning in 2013.
Here is about 45 minutes of video with Deli and Kat at their first ever dressage clinic.
Sue Sherry, who has a keen eye and great communication and encouragement skills coached us through some foundational items.
If you are in to this kind of thing, it's fun to see how quickly Deli improves and progresses as I'm able to fine tune
what I'm doing. I LOVE THIS HORSE. She's a joy to ride. This is only her 2nd time in this arena...
Click here for Deli's dressage video- we're currently at 'first grade' level as my instructor, Michelle Merkin, put it :)
. I think this clinic time was huge in helping us move forward. CLICK HERE
| Glory and Jerry |
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TRR Glowynn is an April 1999 mare. We call her "Glory". She is the tallest of our
Fjords, standing about 14.2 1/2 inches. Let me tell you it is a TALL 14.2! This mare has all the shoulder,
bone, neck and head of a draft animal and has the best temperment and ground manners out there. She even drops her huge
head for you when you halter or bridle her and is a sweetie. We easily ride her with a halter, though Kat is doing some
snaffle work ( 6 1/2 inch mouth!) with her as she is pretty much not much more trained than lifelong greenbroke, but incredibly
safe. She is coming along well and her husband, Jerry, has dubbed her as "his horse"...
| Blakka |
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Blakie was born in May of 1996. "Blakka" meaning 'dun mare' in Norwegian, is a stout about 13.3
hand high mare with a floating jog that you could sit all day. She has very nice conformation and again great ground
manners. She also came to us lifelong 'greenbroke' so Kat is also putting some snaffle time into her. Another
6.5 inch mouth! She is a very sweet mare and loves to hang down her lower lip when you scratch her. As she
is the oldest in the group, we will likely breed her first late spring or early summer. Here is a photo of a friend
riding her, that hasn't ridden much in the last 20 years. I now have her cantering in both leads, nice gaits.
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| Kat and Katie (NASH) Thanksgiving 2011. We sold her in 2012 as Delikat is now starting to drive. |
Click here for more Alpaca info on our farm https://lamanchas.tripod.com/alpacas
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