To show or not to show…that is definitely the question for NFHA members Ron and Kay Konove as they discuss the possibility of driving their Fjords at the Orleton Farm Pleasure Driving Show in June. Because the site of the show is just two miles from their house in Stockbridge, Mass., it seems like an easy decision. However, Ron wants to drive the pair of mares, Sonya and Wisteria, while Kay wants to go single with Sonya. The challenge of logistics is finally accepted, and the preparations begin.

The first issue is how to get two horses and two vehicles to the show. Sonya and Wisteria are in training with Bill Broe in Ancramdale, New York, using the Eagle carriage. Kay drives to Bill’s farm several times a week to work with Sonya, bringing her Running Brook Road Cart. Ron stops at Bill’s on his way to Stockbridge from White Plains, New York for a lesson with the pair each Friday, then reverses the process on his way back to White Plains on Mondays (are you beginning to get the picture?).

Cut to the day before the show. Kay now has two vehicles to trailer to the show, while Bill drives the mares to Stockbridge. Ron arrives from New York that evening, and the tensions mount as there is much to do before the first class on Friday.

The weather is perfect for mid-June in the Berkshires, but nerves rise to the surface. Kay has to drive her Training Level Dressage test first thing in the morning, and Sonya can feel the anxiety right up the reins! Even though Kay practiced the test for months, this is crunch time – and in front of all these people! She decides that no matter what, she will have a big smile on her face the entire time. As it turns out, she forgets a little part but receives a really good score in spite of the penalty. Kay and Sonya are now relaxed and working together nicely, and they move on to the Timed Obstacles (cones) and Pleasure Marathon Pace.

Ron enters the cones course and the pace with the pair. He drives fault free except for going through the wrong last set of cones, resulting in elimination. But he is pleased with his progress and thoroughly enjoys the thrill of the pace.

On Saturday, competition for the Konoves begins with the Pair Pony Turnout. Ron looks spiffy and places third. For some reason, he and Bill unhitch the pair when their next class is in 10 minutes! Back goes the harness on Sonya and Wisteria, and Ron heads off to the Carriage Dog class with Bill’s chocolate lab, Teala, sitting almost in his lap – they place third out of five entries.

Kay decides to enter the Maiden to Drive division because of her inexperience in American Driving Society shows, being more familiar with NFHA shows since 2004. Sonya is put to the road cart and goes through two ring classes; then back to the pair for Ron’s Cross Country Obstacle (water crossing, hazards – fun!); then back again to the hard-working Sonya for Kay’s cross country class. The good news is that the crew is getting good at changing harness, and the bad news is that everyone is exhausted – Ron and Kay are no spring chickens and this is their first attempt at a major show.

Bill is not available on Sunday, so Kay and Ron decide that she will drive Sonya in her division classes and not attempt the pair switches on their own. Kay finishes the show with Working Pleasure and Fault & Out. What a breeze to work with just one horse all day! Sonya and Kay are delighted to earn the Maiden to Drive Championship and will now needs to start training for the Single Pony division. Unless she decides to drive the pair too….

Orleton Farm is the site for their next show – the Colonial Carriage & Driving Society Annual Summer Fun Day – at the end of July. The theme is the Wild West and what fun is it!! Kay and Ron share Sonya, driving her in the marathon vehicle for such games as Cowboy Basketball, Cattle Round Up, and Pony Express. And the costume class – just picture Ron as a card dealer/gambler and Kay as a saloon girl. Fun Day is for club members who did not compete in regular shows and want to have fun with their equines. It has become very popular because of the skill involved in such a casual atmosphere.

Thank goodness for a Fjord pony who will do everything– Sonya is awesome!!

PS Ron finished the summer driving Wisteria and BJ (the third Konove pony) at shows in Connecticut and New York. Kay plans to compete in October at the Saratoga Driving Association Horse Driving Trial.

In my travels around New England my Fjord and I, along with our other Fjord friends, often attract quite a bit of attention.  As we walk through the fields or rows of trailers you can hear comments from people and watch heads turn.  I have to admit I like the attention.  As we ride in our events it is very rare for us not to get at least one question about the breed.  I’ve gotten some real funny ones over the years.  The best one yet was, “is that a Morgan?”  Thankfully they are normally a bit more geared towards their appearance and athletic ability. I take these opportunities to promote the breed and answer their questions entertaining their awe at any chance I get. Who doesn’t like to talk about their horse?  

Do you cut their mane that way?

Why yes of course we do.  They are horses and grow manes just like any other horse does.  If we did not cut it it would grow long and flop over just as a Quarter Horse’s mane might.  Their manes, as a rule, are very thick and normally flop on both sides as they have so much.  You see we cut their manes in such a fashion for a couple of reasons.  For starters we cut their mane to show off their strong necks that have a natural arch to them.  We accentuate this natural arch by cutting their mane so that the arch’s highest point is about 1/3 the way down the neck from the ears.  It goes from 0 at the poll to 0 at the withers.  We also cut it this way to accentuate the dorsal stripe these horses carry from their forelocks down into their tail.  Most Fjords have a black stripe; however, some of the other colors have more of a red brown stripe to no stripe at all, and no we don’t dye their manes. 

They come in different colors?

Of course they do.  Your brown dun is the most typical color as they have a golden dun coat with dark points including the dark dorsal stripe.  Your red dun is typically lighter in coat color with a red tint and has red/brown points including their dorsal stripe that can run from a dark red/brown color to a light red tint.  The gray dun Fjords have simply that, a gray coat color, while your white duns have a white coat color.  There is also a yellow dun that is the rarest of the colors and similar to the red dun but has yellow tints instead of red. 

What can they do?

Why anything you want them to do.  By nature they are very reasonable horses.  As a rule they are easy going and really can excel in whatever you’d like them to do.  Some are more suited for a specific discipline than others; of course, as not every Fjord has the same desire as the next but they are seen in almost every riding sport imaginable.  They are very versatile.

Are they gaited?

Most often I get the confusion that they are cousins of the Icelandic ponies.  While each breed has their own wonderful traits to offer, other than the shaggy winter coats, they are like night and day.  Fjords walk, trot, canter, jog, lope like any other horse does.  Their gates are comfortable and not pony like at all.  They don’t have the short choppy quick gaits a pony would but more resemble the horse’s gait.  Again this is not for ALL Fjords as I’ve seen my share of “pony” trots; however, as a rule they more resemble a horse than a pony even though they have the pony height.  Don’t let that height fool you though.  What they lack in height they make up in width often requiring extra wide saddle trees and draft sized tack. 

So, while there are many misconceptions about the breed my crew and I are slowly spreading the Fjord knowledge and educating about the breed.  It helps when the top placings at an event go to all Fjords too!  We not only show how great they are we prove it.  As I said before we all like to talk about our horses so I encourage you to do so and let all know why we love our Fjords.  Knowledge is power.

Welcome New Year!  Each New Year we start out with a set of goals for ourselves and for our horses as well.  “No matter the feat, great or small, Fjords can and will do it all!”  I truly believe in this quote as do many of those that have had the privilege to work with this wonderful breed.  Whether the feat at hand be big or small it truly is great to accomplish it and worth bragging about.  

We’d like to highlight some of our members that had a wonderful 2010 with their Fjords and were gracious enough to share their accomplishments with us all. 

 Robin Malkasian from Milestone Farm in Connecticut writes:   On August 17, our Fjord mare Bryhyl Sophy competed in her first 25 mile Competitive Trail Ride in Rhode Island sponsored by NEATO.  She was ridden by junior Doni Hanshaw.  They placed first in the junior division and had the 2nd highest score of the entire ride.  We are so proud of them both!

Susan Griffin of Muddy Water Farm Fjords in Rhode Island writes:

I'm proud of my Fjords for participating in a horse show for children with mental and physical disabilities. They got all dressed up for the special day as other animals.

Susan G Baer of New York won a blue ribbon in her first show ever with her Fjord BHF Roan. It was only her 7th time riding him in the previous 3 months due to her broken hand healing.

 Wendy Luscombe of New York writes: 

BDF Quest  moved up to Open Class One Jumpers and jumps 3' 6" courses now. He won the Bucks County Spring Classic 3' 3' Gamblers Stakes and Open Jumping ridden by Stephanie Kleinbauer.
Kingstonachieved his Award of Excellence in August. He won many awards including but not limited to Amateur High Score at Dressage at Saratoga, USDF All Breed Champion at Training Level Open, and Amateur and Vintage Cup
Koriakin of Narnia achieved his Award of Excellence in September. He won the USDF Foundation Benefit Class, Champion First level and USDF All Breed Champion at First Level Open, Amateur and Vintage Cup to name a few.
 Vestmark's Nikoline won a very large Intro class at Dressage at Saratoga with Emily Kamenovsky.  I rode Nik at the NFHA Show and discovered she was talented in many more areas than I knew about. She won in equitation, trail, hunter pace, and dressage and ended as High Score for her division, Dressage Champion and Trail Champion.
Orgonne was in his first year of showing. He won a high score championship with a 74% and received four 9s for his walk in dressage tests.

Morgan Podielsky of Empty Pocket Farm in Massachusetts writes: Being a full time college student with a full time job has sadly taken me away from my Fjord this year, but I found a wonderful family that was looking to lease their own horse and Otto (my fjord) fit the bill. These 2 younger children give him the time and the attention that he loves and deserves and I am very thankful for their help!

Margaret Williams of Blue Heron Farm in Massachusetts writes:  Blue Heron Farm’s Tulie and I had a very successful summer.  We won the hunter classic at camp Marshall’s show series.  In the Fall Tulie and I competed in the Equine Affair’s cowboy challenge.

Allison Bergeron from Red Rock Farm in Massachusetts writes:   My Fjord Spicey and I competed at several shows this year, including the NFHA Breed Show, and several local shows.  We competed in dressage for the first time and did very well. We also went swimming for the first time together.

Angela Young of Red Rock Farm in Massachusetts writes:  My Fjord, Frits, and I entered the world of versatility challenges and competitive pleasure trail riding this year.  We definitely entered a realm where Fjords are rare and with our friends (Fjords) took the top placings at each event we went to!

Congrats for all of your achievements and here’s to a successful 2011! Remember NFHA membership renewals are due this month if you have not done so already.  You can join at anytime within the year; however, memberships only run from January to January.  Thanks to everyone for your 2010 support and hope you will join us again this 2011! 

Winter is upon us and the New Year ahead.  Our Fjords are all fuzzy and warm in their beds.  Resolutions are being prepared to start fresh and new so how about start with a NFHA membership for you!?

 The New Year not only marks the new year in our lives but the new year for the club as well.  2010 was a good year for the club but there’s always room for improvements.  With a Hoe Down fundraiser the club raised enough money to host the 27th annual horse show and attend Equine Affaire.  People were very generous in their support both at the Hoe Down and the show and with donated items and purchased ads for both events.  Without these people it would not have been possible.  Thank you again to all who contributed and showed their support. 

A lot of hard work and time went into keeping things running and afloat this year as I’m sure it has in the past.  Membership support and participation is what makes this club what it is.   The more you can do for the club the more it can do for you.  We have a great core of members that are inviting, easy to work with and there for the simple goal of promoting the Fjord breed in the best and most fun ways possible.   I understand time and money are issues these days but there are always simple ways to help your club become more and to have fun while doing so.  So, what can you do to help support your club?

For starters just by becoming a member you support the club and the promotion of the breed we all love and share.  One membership goes a long way and provides you with a lot of perks as well.  All memberships are due in January.  You can find the form in the back of this journal, on our website, or by contacting me.  January membership renewals help the club officers gear what kind of support they have for the year and plan on what type of events they can host.  Yes, the show planning starts way before December and needs to be put into place no later than February to hold a spot.  This is early, I know, and why it is so important to get your membership in on time and support your Fjords.

Other ways you can help is by recruiting more people to join.  Do they have to own a Fjord to join?  Absolutely not.  Everyone and anyone is welcome to join the club.  The more members we have the stronger the club will be.  We always need volunteers at local events, donations for our fundraisers and show, and just plain old manpower.   The show and equine affaire are supported by memberships, fundraisers, and donations held and collected throughout the year.  These two events not only support our mission to promote the breed but provide for a fun and entertaining time with some great people.

Some more simple ways you can get involved is through the website.  We have a great photo of the month contest going on where members can submit their photos and share their Fjord with all.  We also have a local events page where people can post, through me, where they and their Fjord will be competing or traveling that way anyone who would like to join them can.  It doesn’t have to be an NFHA event but you can make it one by getting a bunch of those furry beasts together and really make heads turn!  How much closer to breed promotion can you get than that? 

Now’s the time friends.  It’s the time to make that resolution to support your club in any way you can this year and make it even better!   Get off those sidelines and in the game.  I encourage you to do so as I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the fun to be had.  On behalf of the club, I wish you a very Happy and Safe Holiday season.

The air was a bit cool for a summer morning on the farm. Eight Fjords at Blue Heron Farm in Charlemont, MA were tacked up and standing patiently on the cross ties.  Blue Heron Farm owns eighteen Fjords, varying in all ages, shapes and sizes and whom, to an uneducated eye, look identical.  I remember the first time Bill and Norma Coli, owners of Blue Heron Farm, allowed me to help exercise their horses.  At first, I often wondered how Bill and Norma were able to tell each horse from the next. Even though I rode the same horses every day, it would always take me a minute or two to really figure out who I was leading from the paddock. I imagine that must’ve been the similar feeling of confusion and awe I received from my polo team when I invited them to come ride these eight Fjords with me before school started up again.

How does one tell one Fjord apart from another?  At first I would look to certain indicators to tell each apart.  One, Astrid, has a distinguishing scar on her leg. Others have slightly different dun colors. Now, I know all of their personalities, their quirks and can pick out their faces as if they were totally different breeds.  Although the Fjords are a breed of horse, many of them fall within pony height. One of their best attributes is their head. They have beautiful big eyes with dark lashes and long thick forelocks.
Lets not forget their distinguishing manes as well that the girls all ran their fingers through in awe.

Once introductions of who’s who were done we mounted up and headed out.  With any other breed of horse, I could imagine three green horses and five broke horses difficult to handle while trotting and cantering across fields and through trails. However, every horse was perfectly behaved, as eight college girls giggled and joked riding up and down hills. The team was in awe of how well behaved and comfortable they were to ride and how they trooped through the woods and galloped up hills heeding every command given to them. As we walked down the road, many neighbors came out, and commented what a sight it was to see so many of the horses out and about all at once.

When it comes to the pros of owning a Fjord horse there are no limitations. No matter where you are, you are bound to attract attention.  Many of the Fjords exhibit at open shows around Massachusetts. They successfully compete in hunters, gymkhanas and foxhunts to name few. They are easy keepers, and all of the horses at Blue Heron are barefoot.  Although I strongly believe there is no such thing as an entirely bombproof horse, every Fjord I have ridden is close to unshakable.  A green horse named Talia that I recently rode at the annual Fjord Breed show at Berkshire Equestrian Center fell upon a family of turkeys. Eight in all, they were rustling the bushes before they emerged and one by one they crossed our path and disappeared in to the tree line. Although it took Talia a moment to get her eye on the movement, she did not shy or spook.

The Fjord breed and each individual Fjord are also very versatile. They can be showing competitively in the jumper classes one day and teaching a lead line rider or walk trot rider the next day. Many of the horses at Blue Heron have gone off to dressage riders or eventers. There is no specific event the breed is designed for, instead, every Fjord has their own strengths but also willingly embraces any other obstacle or new situation introduced to them.

My personal favorite Fjord, Tulie, is a gray dun. This means that her coat has a gray, darker tint than that of a normal Fjord Horse.  Tulie is shown in almost every type of show. She was series high point in a Western Massachusetts gymkhana, and the series end champion in jumper and hunter classes at local shows. This year Blue Heron has decided to take another step in demonstrating the versatility of the Fjord breed. Tulie has auditioned for a spot in the versatility challenge at the Equine affaire in November, and we are all hoping she will earn a spot to compete. ~Margaret Williams

From as far back as I can remember I always wanted a horse of my very own.  As I grew up, still wanting a horse, life took over and I never got that chance.  The year I turned 40 I decided if I ever wanted to own my horse, it was now or never. With the support of my husband and family I reached out to an old acquaintance of mine, Michelle Moynihan, who owned a backyard barn around the corner from my home.  

  Upon speaking with Michelle about my dream she graciously opened her heart and home to me which eventually allowed me to fulfill that lifelong dream.  She introduced me to her two Fjords Anita and Anders and asked if I was interested in a Fjord. Although I thought they were cute, my heart was set on a Quarter Horse. She recommended an instructor named Angela Pieroni who could help me find a safe horse.  After some failed attempts Angela called me one day and asked me if I would be interested in meeting a 12 year old Quarter Horse named Emmy who just happened to need a home. The second I laid my eyes on her I knew she was the one.

  Emmy came to live at Michelle’s barn as a member of our family as she was a horse that not only I could enjoy but my two children, Megan and Benjamin, as well. Megan began taking lessons and riding two nights a week on “barn nights”. Those are the best nights at the farm when the kids get together to clean and care for the horses then ride together! Megan enjoyed riding Emmy but never felt a connection.  Benjamin wasn’t much into the riding, or Emmy for that matter, but rather fascinated in the Fjord breed.  In the words of Benjamin, “Emmy's fine and all mom, but she's not a Fjord!"   

  The next two years flew by as we were swept up into the world of horses. I soon realized Megan would be heading off to college. We both love to ride but couldn’t really go anywhere together with only one horse. When time is slipping through the hourglass, the sand becomes more precious than gold. Spending so much time with the Fjords we came to love how different they are then most horses. They seem to be so much more people oriented and interactive. When we decided to bite the bullet and get a second horse, I asked Megan what she wanted. It was no surprise when she said, “I WANT A FJORD!” She said “they’re like big puppy dogs who are curious, carefree, and loving, and that’s the type of horse that I would like to bond with”.

  Our Fjord search began with the internet. After dozens of emails and even a failed trial period, we thought we’d never find a Fjord. Megan was sad; she said she felt her “heart drop a little” thinking it would never happen. Then one day, we got an email forwarded from Angela from a woman in NH looking for a forever home for her beloved Fjord Solveig. She raised Solveig from a yearling and had her for almost 18 years. She thought she’d reach out to the Northeast Fjord Horse Association in case there was someone “familiar with the breed” looking for a new forever Fjord. It was meant to be!

 Solveig has been with us for several months now and every single day she has been a gentle giant, loving and responsive, fun and sweet. Megan and I went on our first trail ride together to a field near our home where we’d been before but this time we were each on our own horse.  One of us did not have to walk. Words cannot describe how wonderful it was to canter along side her in the open field….Solveig and Emmy, Megan and me….life at its finest!

Vestmark's Nikoline or Nik as she is known used to be a school horse at a barn in Wisconsin. The owner of the barn was a horse collector and had over 200 horses. These horses were kept in terrible conditions and some were dying. The barn was known locally as "The Concentration Camp."

The barn was shut down and several wonderful people rescued the horses. One of these people bred Lippizans and took several trailer loads of horses back from Wisconsin to her home in New York. Amongst the horses were five Fjords. She could not bear to leave them in the terrible conditions so she took them home. 
One of these horses was Nik. Due to her background as a school horse and parade horse, she was kept for the riding school business. The other four Fjords were sold to very good homes. My friend Emily Kamenovsky bought Anvils Gray Gabriel from her. Anyway the Lippizzan breeding business became so busy that Nik was never used as a school horse and she spent three years with the weanlings in the fields eating as much as she could.
About that time, Emily contacted me to say that Nik was for sale as there was no use for her at the Lippizan barn, would I be interested in her? I already owned several other Fjords. When I heard of Nik's plight and history we went up to see her that weekend. Indeed she had put on weight and I have never seen such a fat horse. She is drafty by build but she was about 1,600 lbs which was dangerously overweight but she still cheerfully struggled around when I rode her briefly. I bought her that day - I did not vet her - I was just buying her to save her. In spite of all her weight she had not foundered.
I brought her back to my farm in W. Taghkanic and Emily and I started our Jenny Craig routine. She wore a grazing muzzle and we would spend hours leading her around the lanes and up and down hills to start the weight loss. Actually Emily and I lost weight too!  We did not dare ride her. She seemed very happy and loved the attention. We had the vet and farrier check her out, she was in surprisingly good shape considering, she has ring bone but that was all. After two months at my farm I took her to Cricket Hill Farm and the serious work started, she was ridden on trail rides and we worked in the ring on getting her to bend - which was not easy given her shape.
By the spring she was coming on very well and enjoying her work. She has a wonderful consistent nature and loved the attention. Emily rode her at a dressage schooling show and placed well in the Intro Dressage. We had no idea if she had ever shown before let alone done dressage. By summer things were continuing to improve and Emily rode her at another schooling show and this time they were High Score Champions - we were so thrilled. I had no idea Nik was capable of this when I bought her.
Our next show was the NE Fjord show in the August. Nik again came up trumps - she and Emily's other horse, Gabe,  won or came second in all the Intro Dressage classes and Nik came third in a huge Equitation class. We had no idea how she would be showing away from home but she took it all in her stride as though she had done this all her life.
Our last show in 2009 was another schooling show where Nik and Emily got a 76.6%. That was an amazing score but even more so when you think of Nik's background.
We are getting ready for the 2010 show season. Nik is now a svelte 1,100 lbs - a loss of 500 lbs. She has dropped dress size - I mean girth size from a 32" to 22". She is a amazing trail horse too as well as her show successes. Nothing bothers her on the trails and I swear she has a 5th gear as she goes into four wheel drive over difficult terrain.
It has been a wonderful experience "rescuing" Nik. I never believed she would turn into such a wonderful steady and pleasurable ride. She really seems to love what she does and just adores attention.

 My thanks to all the hard work of the Cricket Hill staff and Emily for transforming Nik. 

Hooves to Wishes

Clip, clop, clip, clop went the hooves of Fjords Anita and Frits along with their Appaloosa friends Chip and Spot as they enjoyed a beautiful, snowy, and chilly December morning at Borderland State Park. What brings these crazy friends out of their snuggly barns and beds into the cold snowy forest on a Sunday morning you ask? Well, good deeds of course! To own or even to know a Fjord is to love one. They are such a willing, caring, giving and social breed. I find that their good qualities often rub off on their owners making them just as willing, caring, and giving especially in the holiday season. And that is just what happened on this snowy Sunday morning in December. When I woke up Sunday morning to see a snow covered ground and then stepped foot outside to get smacked in the face with a cold wind, I wanted to just feed the horses and go right back to bed. But like true Fjords we packed up our gear, our horses, and headed out to ride and turn Hooves into Wishes. Hooves to Wishes is an organized 3-mile trail ride through the beautiful trails of Borderland State Park in Easton MA to benefit the Toys for Tots Foundation. This was the first annual Hooves to Wishes ride. Ashley Hardin is the creator and founder of Hooves to Wishes and did an amazing job helping to give kids the holiday they deserve. What better way to do it than to involve the horse community and to organize an event where you can not only give to a good cause but ride with friends and enjoy the beautiful scenery as well! Upon arrival to the park, we received a very warm welcome from Ashley and were told where we needed to go to sign up and drop off our donation. Every rider had to donate a $15 toy to be eligible to ride for the day. At the sign up booth there were wonderful raffle prizes, horse treats for purchase, and hot cocoa and muffins for the riders when they returned. Dogs and walkers were also welcomed to this event so there were dog treats as well. This building also had a real bathroom and a fire burning in the fire place which was very welcomed by our toes after the ride. Upon leaving the parking lot and entering the trail we were immediately submersed into a winter wonderland. The main trail is composed of an old fire road that rounds a large beautiful pond. The fire road eventually lead us into a large open field of fresh untouched snow. Frits and Chip went out and trotted a huge snowman figure in the snow. This park has a walk trot only rule as the trails are multi use but Chip threw in a few canters as it was so very exciting he just couldn’t contain himself. We had such a great time that when we returned back to the visitor’s center we decided to go back out to ride some different trails. One of these trails required us to walk through a running stream abutting a waterfall. We had to wait for Frits as he played in the water a bit. I’m not so sure he knew it was as cold as it was out with all of his Fjord fur. At that point, I think our toes wished our boots were lined with his fur and after a couple of hours in the saddle the cold factor brought us back to call it a day. When everyone was snuggled into their trailers we went into the visitor’s center to warm our toes and selves. Despite the weather, Hooves to Wishes raised over 30 toys for the Toys for Tots Foundation with their first annual ride. Those that did not venture out for the ride that day dropped their toys off anyway. As we pulled out of the park I felt good not only about enjoying a wonderful ride with Fjords and friends but that we did it for a good cause as well. I look forward to the second annual Hooves to Wishes ride on the first weekend of December 2010 at Borderland State Park. Should you want more information or want to be notified of the ride next year please send an email to Ashley Hardin at cashygirl@comcast.net. The more the Merrier!
Written By: Angela Pieroni