Rosendalsborken
by Arve M Bakken & Gyldendal Norsk Forlag
-----Original Message-----
From: Catherine Lassesen [mailto:lassesen@mcsi.net]
Sent: Saturday, March 06, 1999 12:55 AM
To: fjordhorse@mailing-list.net
Subject: Translation
This message is from: "Catherine Lassesen" <lassesen@mcsi.net>
This is from the "Fjordhesten" book by Arve M. Bakken (red) & Gyldendal
Norsk Forlag 1986 /87 book Page 67. On this page there is a drawing of
Rosendalsborken I 8.
I was asked to have Rune translate this page. I will type the English
translation from my husband that I received by fax today.
Matadors in the Fjord Horse Breeding
It is hard to get around Rosendalsborken I 8 when talking fjord horses.
This stallion was wool dun (gray or white dun?), measured 146 cm (14.2
hands) at the withers, was born in 1863, and created sensation when he was
shown at 20 years old on a big international horse exhibition in Hamburg,
Germany in 1883. After a week of stormy weather across the North Sea he
kicked down stallions of other breeds and proved himself sovereign at the
show. Government Consultant Lindeqvist had to swallow his own words when he
said that this stallion would not improve the breed. Rosendalsborken, which
also is used as a symbol (logo) for Norges Fjordhestlag (Norway's Fjordhorse
Association) had managed the indefinable. He was a proud stallion with a
very noble head. He had a great presence/carriage/posture (also clean or
straight gait), he was round shape, his body was stocky and he had "dry
clean legs" (straight legs or good bone).
Rosendal = Today it is a small town in the Hardangerfjord, county of
Sunnhordaland.
Baronie_i (the fax slipped and I cannot read the letter) Rosendal = An old
barony or estate known for breeding fjord horses in the same area.
Borken = Dialect for birch, bark (of a tree)
Rosendalsborken = may translate to, the birch colored one from Rosendal
(Norwegian "bein" or "ben" translate both to leg and bone.)
The other translation, I will type during the weekend and then I will
continue with the Breeders Plan. I do hope you all are reading and enjoying
the education part of the "show".
-----Original Message-----
From: Catherine Lassesen [mailto:lassesen@mcsi.net]
Sent: Saturday, March 06, 1999 9:13 AM
To: fjordhorse@mailing-list.net
Subject: Translation Book 2
This message is from: "Catherine Lassesen" <lassesen@mcsi.net>
Hello, This is a translation from the New Book we picked up in Norway in
May. "Fjordhesten - Menneskevennen" by Arve M. Bakken, Jon Hegdal, Helge
Sunde .... Page 140
MATADORS AND OTHERS
What is a Matador? many will think about people who bother bulls, but here
it is spoken about horses. One may also think about somebody with great
influence in his own field of activity. And this is what horse people mean
when the expression matador is brought into conversation. A matador is a
stallion that characterizes (or influences) the development of his breed.
But before starting the history of these stallions it is worth pointing out
that this is only one part, although very important part of the history of
development (or evolution) of the fjord horse. The mares also deserve their
great share of the honor. Some of them are ancestries to widely spread
pedigrees that also have influenced the breed. But that is another story.
Throughout times there have been many great stallions in the fjord horse
breed. Some of them have had great and glorious names. The first to earn
fair fame for his name was
ROSENDALABORKEN I 8
Borken was born in 1863 at Stove Omvik in Kvinnherad, Sunnhordland. His sire
was a stallion belonging to Gjert Haugland in Uskedalen and his dam was a
mare owned by Lars S. Store-Omvik with ancestors from Bauge in Aakrafjorden.
In April, 1864 the wool dun yearling was purchased by the estate manager of
Rosendal, Marcus Gerhand Hoff Rosenkrone. He was shown at Voss the following
year and was awarded 1st Premium, only 2 years old. He received the same
premium in 1868 and 1882. At the age of 20, in 1883, the stallion was taken
to an international agricultural exhibition in Hamburg, Germany. It is said
that even though the long sea passage experienced rough weather, the
stallion danced ashore and created great success with the fresh way he
carried himself all the time he was there. He returned back home in good
shape and lived at Rosendal until the age of 26.
Rosendalsborken was a first class working horse and quick on the road. His
legs were "dry and faultless", his shoulder long and sloping, the way it is
also desired today. What strikes you when looking at a picture of Borken, is
his neck and the elegant way he carries his head. His head was distinctive,
beautiful with large eyes, said those who had seen him.
His breeding had great influence in Sunnhordaland and Rogaland counties. And
some of his colts also went to Telemark. his best colt, Baronen 22
influenced and introduced a new era in the breeding at Jaeren, According to
Government Consultant Stenersen. His breeding line disappeared from Norway
in 1919, when his last male offspring, the stallion Rask hauge 448 was sold
to a Danish veterinarian. But the blood from the fairytale horse
Rosendalsborken is still present in contemporary fjord horses.
The End.
