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A 'Classic' Posting of the Norwegian Fjord Horse listserver
Annual Fjord Evaluation in Norway
by Dagrun Aarsten -----Original Message----- This message is from: "Dagrun Aarsten" <daarsten@artis-software.com> Hi Mark, Well, good point, how would you know? There is a big Fjord Stallion evaluation once a year at Norfjordeid (in spring), a very small town in the heart of Fjord Country in the west of Norway. (Stunning scenery, by the way.) It works like this: Class 3: 3-year olds: They are shown in hand at walk/trot, free jumping in an arena, performing a driving test and thoroughly checked by veterinarians for soundness and judges for conformation. Based on this, the receive either the grade "kaaret" (approved for breeding) or "ikke kaaret" (yes-you guessed it - not approved). The selection is severe, usually somewhere between 25 and 50% are approved, and only exceptional individuals are taken to the evaluation. Class 2: 5-year olds: They come in to the Fjord center at Nordfjordeid for a 4-week test period where they are handled, ridden and driven daily and the test personnel asess their temperament as well as their training and abilities. At the end of the test period (coinciding with the stallion show at Nordfjordeid) there is a riding test and driving test as well as the in-hand evaluation like for the 3-year olds. Based on this, the stallion gets either "avkaaret" (un-approved) or one of the "premie". The ones that are approved for continuous breeding receive either a 3rd premie or a 2nd premie. (To my knowledge it is impossible to be awarded 1st premie as a Class 1: Older stallions: To keep his approval, the stallion must be re-evaluated within the age of 8. At this point he can receive an upgrade from e.g. 3rd to 2nd, or 2nd to first, like Fjolestaen. At 8 years, the good stallions that have been bred actively will then have some offspring to confirm their suitability for breeding. Stallions receiving 1st premie usually have exceptional offspring and often several approved 3-year old sons. Owners of older stallions (over 8) might re-enter them a fourth time if their offspring has shown good results since their last evaluation. Hope that explains a little how things work? I have left out quite a bit of Here are some pictures from Nordfjordeid: http://www.multinett.no/ingvild/eve.html And while we're at it, this whole site is brilliant and it's even in http://www.multinett.no/ingvild/fjord.html Happy Fjording everyone, Dagrun, San Jose, CA, who just bought a panicky TB mare who is the perfect opposite of Quinn, sales project. I'll teach her to behave like a fjord, then sell her :-) Wish me luck! I'm still not sure those skinny legs can actually carry me... |
