I have finally found two ponies to see next week for our first driving horse. One is a Fjord and I was wondering if they have any physically weaknesses as a breed that I should be mindful of? A well known driver and clinician that is here this week made no bones about his dislike of Fjords, but then he drives fire breathing dragons. Are they not well thought of in driving circles? Thanks for the input.
Well there are exceptions in every breed… But when i think fjord, i think somewhat clunky, dull, draft/work type pony, much like a hafflinger would be. I know my driving instructor does not like hafflingers for competition, just too dull.
But again, exceptions in every breed and it totally depends on what exactly you are looking for in your driving horse. (I bid on a hafflinger at an auction a week ago that was a 10+ mover, modern built, owner wanted 1k, i was only willing to go $700, it was a no sale, if they would have taken $700, i would have him in my pasture right now!) As a first driving horse, i sure dont recommend a fire breathing dragon, it’s nerve racking enough to feel so helpless in the cart, let alone with a horse that might make you feel uneasy. But not all fire breathing dragons are bad either, if they are very well trained and behaved, they can be a lot of fun. My mini is a bit of a fireball, but if i’m attentive and ready, he’s REALLY fun. And i by no means am “experienced,” in riding yes, but we’ve only been driving since the first of the year. (Done plenty of ground driving when starting horses, and i drove a little as a kid, Arab/QH pleasure driving stuff, but i dont remember much of it.)
So “quick” can be fine if you are comfortable with it. Spooky, no respect, tossing head, no whoa, etc… I wouldnt touch it with a 10’ pole… 
Fjords can be a fancy looking horse because of their striped Mane and Tail
but they have a bit of a reputation for being stubborn -stick their feet in the ground-grunt-NO
I have never heard (as a rule) that they are runaways
OTOH we have several friends who have or had Fjords and they were the salt of the earth
Remember that they may be short but they are still a draft on short legs - so they are BIG
IMO some of them have been allowed to learn just how big/strong they are and that is a bad thing for horses to know = = but that is not the breed its the horse
because of their size they often dont fit “off the rack” equipment
May need warmblood size for some pieces but regular horse for others
I still think they are cute
I wish I could find the link to the Colorado farm where a friend buys her dressage Fjords! Last time she went up there with my daughter, they came back with amazing photographs of activity in the indoor. My favorite was the Fjord team being driven and pulling a jump while at least five ridden Fjords took turns jumping it, in motion. The whole arena was a swirl of activity, and there were all these pretty, sensible, forward and happy-looking Fjords going about their many businesses. It was very impressive.
I am in NH and know many farms who have hafflingers and fijords as the preferred driving horse.
There is a farm in Nova Scotia which is strictly fijords. I am sure a google search will come up with it. They do vacation driving lessons with their fijords.
If a horse is well trained, then breed only matters to the owner. I would consider them a driving horse since I know of so many good farms that do training up here that use them.
By the way, I take exception to clunky. I like big boned horses myself. I like finer boned horses too. Maybe that is why I have saddlebreds and percherons.
Geez, I hardly recognized the horses I breed from some of the comments on this thread. I am also surprised about the equipment issue – I’ve never had a problem sizing my harness or marathon cart to a Fjord.
Fjords have terrific temperament and do very well in performance. For example, my stallion regularly wins in Training Level dressage and Beginner Novice Eventing. He is a blast to drive and right now he is being shown by a paraplegic driver who is training for his first CDE.
Fjords did very well at Gala earlier this month. I believe Phil Odden won prelim pairs with his horses. A first time novice driver came in 5th with her Fjord mare in singles and she was over the moon. I know that Maggie Sullivan and Reina have been doing very well in the prelim singles. Andy Marcoux coaches her and he has no issues with Fjords that I am aware of.
Anyway, we drive several Fjords on my farm and really enjoy them. I know lots of other breeders who are actively driving and winning with Fjords.
I think they are the coolest horses. I worked on an arabian farm in belgium for a month or so, and one of the tease mares was a lovely Norwegian Fjord. She was strong as an ox, and bullied the big wb mares (used to carry E/T foals. Mares that weren’t approved for breeding can be picked up inexpensively I was told, so they used them) if they tried to close in on her food. She had a great personality and was sweet, steady, just a wonderful horse If I could have fit her in my suitcase and brought her back… i totally would have. (Yes, I was on a really well known Arabian farm, working with some of the most well known arabians in the world…my dream, and I fell in love with the Fjord ROTFL).
Well, its nice to hear the positive. We are so green at driving that we have no idea about prejudices against breeds. I’m not a fan of lots of horses as a group but there is always an outstanding line or individual in every group. As I said we need steady and I would have “no go” than “tally ho” at this stage of my driving.
The seller has already said if he is worried about a situation he will balk so I’m going to look at him with a pretty good picture.
Ok, i take back the “clunky” comment…
I’ve only known two fjords personally. Both were in a lesson program (testiment to their temperaments). Both were tight in the shoulder, build like bricks, on short pony legs. Neither could have done a very decent dressage test… BUT, in brains and cuteness, they were worth their weight in gold.
There is a fjord overseas somewhere that is at the FEI level as well as knows several tricks. I dont remember his name, but i’ve seen the videos, he was brought up by a young girl. HOWEVER, he himself was not very free in the shoulder either. He simply had the heart to give it all he could and then some.
To me, if they are tight in the shoulder and heavier built, they look more “clunky.” But of course, there are lovely exceptions to any breed of a modern built, light moving animal. I’ve seen percherons in the dressage ring, heck, i would have spent 5k on a grade perch x mare at the Perry auction if i had the money, she was not clunky and was quite elegant.
My preferred breed is a cob, and some of them are built too heavy for my taste and can be tight in the shoulder too. Built like bricks with a bit of a fire breathing dragon/stubborn mule mentality… With exceptional loyalty that will always give you 130% if you are fair and they like you… My kind of animal, unless it’s a stupid day, then i say lots of bad words…
I wouldnt think it would be too big an issue fitting a harness to them, this day and age, you take measurements and let the maker decide what will fit best anyway. I have a cob size harness on my 13.3h cob, that thing is so adjustable, i think i could let it out to fit a 16h bucket head.
I agree that there are plenty of “a leg at each corner” Fjords in this world. I have a gelding who is the star of my beginner lesson program, but he could never do a dressage test beyond intro.
That being said, the Fjord breed has evolved from this “old style” and the more modern Fjord is more sporty and sleeker. In Virginia, we have a bunch of Fjord owners and breeders actively competing in eventing, dressage, and driving. Our horses compete in recognized open competitions and they hold their own against all comers at their level. There also are a number of Fjords nationally that have reached the FEI level. Ann Appleby and Wez come to mind immediately.
I think a Fjord can make a great first driving horse, particularly based on their temperament. There’s much to be said about learning to drive a horse that is safe, sane and fun. So, I hope JustFive enjoys looking at a Fjord.
for a first time driving horse I’d take a trained Fjord anyday. Again I suppose that there are bad apples in any breed, thus can be found in the Fjords. But the one I have spent time around (known for 5yrs) is a fun fun girl. She’s peppy and sporty on the trails, but never ever spooks. Ever. I took her to her first ever horse show and she was just amazing. She never once looked at anything, never tense, was the exact same ride at the show as she was at home. Won her class, and got high score of the show. ok it was only Intro A dressage test, lol but we had a Large R as a judge. Anyway they have the most wonderful unflappable attitude. Love that. I could trailer her anywhere and ride her and have a fun safe ride. That is worth alot to me. alot.
Super Guus!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVb-DFI7G1k
fjords make my knees weak, chunky no! hunky! :lol:
If you want a pony that’s kind natured with a sturdy constitution and strength then look no further.
They’re very kind and forgiving and with an even temperament.
They’re inclined to make steady dependable solid driving ponies. For their size they are most definitely up to weight.
They also tend to breed very true to type and pass on the primitive horse features despite centuries of domestication and use by man.
Whether that would all suit you depends on what sort of driving you want to do and what your ability is.
Here if you were wanting to go into private driving classes then all things considered a Fjord isn’t likely to go and win. Trade classes and exercise/pleasure classes though then you’d compete as an equal with say welsh C’s or New Forest or Exmoors and winning would depend on the whole turnout.
But for a first driving horse, that all sounds to me like it’s a lot going for it: obviously dependent on whether it’s been well trained and is an old hand at the job and up to keeping a novice driver/first owner safe and in check 
The good thing is that if you ask a Fjord to do something silly and brave and risky then it’s not going to be willing to die for you. That means as a novice driver who might do that unintentionally and looking for a first pony, it sounds like a good plan. They’re preferred behaviour and temperament is to “fail safe” NOT to bravely and boldly go where none has gone before.
Personally speaking a Fjord isn’t what I’d ever want for myself but then I’ve no problem with managing opinionated, clever and brave horses that have an abundance of self confidence and so much so they might even be willing to die for me. Those sort tend to be bright and quick enough to get me out of trouble… then again they’re as likely to get me in it!
NOT what you want or need for a first driving pony.
For sure though it’s not a breed I’d look to get, I can’t see anything wrong at all with you giving one most serious consideration and I for one, can certainly confirm that they are most definitely worth giving more than a passing thought to.
OK, the end result is I did not buy the Fjord (he wouldn’t stand and that just seemed like it would be miserable). I bought a tried and true section B Welsh X that is cute as button and has been sweet when I’ve driven him in lessons and has now been good at home for 48 hours. We’ll see. Now if I could just find a carriage and harness.
fjords
I just got a fjord- he’s wonderful! He’s 10- knows nothing (never been broke)- but he’s a fast learner. We are pretty far in training for only having him 3 weeks! Great personality- very willing. I have never had a horse who follows me to the gate and calls after me every time i leave- he’s more like having a golden retriever I have driven for years- and I have seen many really nice single and pairs teams at the shows. I love fjords- they are the ultimate family horse. My horse was a breeding stallion who was gelded less then 6 months ago. He was never handled or trained. Already I have him doing walk trot under saddle and ground driving. He’s a perfect gentleman around my horses too- he’s worth his weight in gold!
For the people who say fjords are dull and clunky, I will post some pictures of the amazing fjords that I know… I am positive you will think otherwise after you see these pictures!
here are some recent pictures from our club
http://www.northeastfjord.com/photos.html
here are some on the registries facebook page!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pid=1214913&o=all&op=1&view=all&subj=180686064146&aid=-1&id=1499534854
This is my ex-Fjord “Nika” in harness. Very cute, personality plus and dangerous to drive. The main problem, the breed is very “yep, I’ll try”…so the breeder I bought her from didn’t train her enough to be safe, but she came across as more trained than she actually was (due to the breeds personality).
After she bucked and kicked/breaking the dash on the cart out of nowhere (we were out with a another pony and “bang!” drama!!!
She’s now in California being used in dressage and making babies.
[QUOTE=Trakehner;4913080]
This is my ex-Fjord “Nika” in harness. Very cute, personality plus and dangerous to drive. The main problem, the breed is very “yep, I’ll try”…so the breeder I bought her from didn’t train her enough to be safe, but she came across as more trained than she actually was (due to the breeds personality).
After she bucked and kicked/breaking the dash on the cart out of nowhere (we were out with a another pony and “bang!” drama!!!
She’s now in California being used in dressage and making babies.[/QUOTE]
That’s not a fjord issue that is a trainer issue…its not her fault she was not trained correctly or that you did not make sure she was trained enough.
I got my mare when she was 6 months old. The first time we put a saddle ( when she was 3 years old) on her was the same day that my trainer ( who trained at a fjord barn) rode her walk trot around my paddock. She didnt know commands yet but figured them out quickly and was a perfect lady…that being said I knew better than to ride her without my trainer present until I was comfortable that she was going to be ok.
