The Stallion Anvil's Torbjorn
by Nancy Hotovy
-----Original Message-----
From: Nancy Hotovy [mailto:upperfty@net-link.net]
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 1999 11:09 PM
To: Fjord Horse Mailing List
Subject: Anvil's Torbjorn "Toby"
This message is from: Nancy Hotovy <upperfty@net-link.net>
Rich and I purchased Toby in 1989 from Orville and Anita Unrau. He had
been standing at Roger and Diane Whitney's farm in Minnesota and they
traded him back to Unrau's for a stallion of different bloodlines after
Toby sired too many fillies which they kept.
Toby was born in 1982. His sire is Rudaren (a stallion the Unrau's
imported from Norway) and his dam is Duchess x Prince x Buck x Sanko.
When we started looking for a stallion, I sent out many, many letters
and talked to many, many people. Toby's picture was one of the first we
received and after talking with Whitneys and people who had bred their
mares to Toby previously we were definitely interested in him. I still
kept searching but always in the back of our minds, Toby was "the one".
When Orville led him off the trailer, I knew we had made the right
choice for us and we have never regretted that choice.
Toby is the "draft-type" Fjord. He is 14 1 hands tall, wears a 26"
collar, and has a forelock that goes all the way to his nose! He is
very impressive to watch and very proud. He is very correct in his
legs, has a nice short back and a trot you can sit all day. His great
temperament is passed on to his foals (as evidenced by my farrier). On
the babies 1st trim, he always looks up and gives me "the look" and says
"This isn't one of Toby's is it?" That's not to say I have wild horses
out of other stallions, just that Toby's seem to be very accepting of
everything.
Toby was evaluated by David Klove and Jon Hegdal in Woodstock in 1990.
He was given + in Type, Body and movement and ++ for legs. His trotting
test was done in 2.33 and his performance test points totaled 25 which
Lindsay said was highest score. He was given his 2nd premium at that
time.
Toby received his Gold Medallion of Quality at the Blue Earth Evaluation
in 1995 -
Conformation - Blue Ribbon
Advanced Driving - Red Ribbon
Advanced Draft Test - Blue Ribbon
Introductory Western Riding - Yellow
(Started him riding just a couple months before the Evaluation)
We have bred him to 50+ mares and as stated earlier last week, we have
been very happy with the foals, especially when crossed with our King
Gjestar mares. Really get the draft type Fjord when bred to a draft
type mare, however when bred to lighter type mares, we get a nice Fjord,
lighter then Toby and usually a little heavier than the mare.
Toby has won the Get of Sire class in Blue Earth both times we've
entered it. I was told that here was a stallion that sure put his stamp
on his foals. Seems to be very consistent is producing Fjords with nice
hindquarters - a good hip and nice movement.
My most interesting cross has been to our old mare Frida (King Gjestar x
Jonetta). Her colts seem to mature out around 14 hands and are of the
heavier build but her fillies mature out at 14 2 to 15 hands and seem to
be of the lighter type. One of these is TUF Reba who has received her
Silver Medallion of Quality in 1998 with Blue Ribbons in Conformation,
Intro Driving, Intro Draft and Intro Western Riding.
TUF Kelsey (Anvil's Torbjorn x Bakken's Aurora x Orrjo) was 1999 Reserve
Champion Gelding in Blue Earth and 1997 & 1998 Grand Champion Gelding.
He has matured to 15 hands (out of a 14 2 mare) and is very correct (and
also our farm's biggest clown).
Roger Ekstrand of Osceola WI has many Toby daughters that cross nicely
with his stallion Hamar (King Harald x Hedwig). The same for Roger and
Diane Whitney who kept so many of Toby's daughters they are now crossing
with their two stallions, Anvil's Jon and Anvil's Stinfinn.
Toby has many 1st places in halter throughout the years of showing in
Blue Earth. He was also shown in many driving classes placing very
well. Our first win was the Novice Driving Class at Woodstock in 1990.
At 17, he is "retired" from shows and traveling, and stays home keeping
a close eye on the "girls".
I used to feel kind of bad when a "show quality" fjord was sold to
someone who wanted it to be used for something other than promotion and
shows. However, my mailbox at Christmas time is loaded with many, many
cards including photos of Toby's "babies", and messages from people who
are totally happy with their Fjord. Hard to find fault with that! We
are now breeding OUR Toby daughters and so far are very happy with what
we are seeing. Have a yearling filly (TUF Reba x Anvil's Gra Viking x
Leido) that I think is the best we've had on the farm - very balanced,
pretty head and neck - - - - time will tell.
Regards to all
Nancy from Michigan where it's Snowing!!! NO NO NO - NOT YET
