Haflingers and Fjords

Wildspirit

Wildspirit

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 October 2007
Messages
1,743
Location
London/Aberystwyth
Visit site
Just being nosey looking at breeds and stuff

Anyone got a haflinger?
Are they good as a first time horse, in general?
What are they like?


Anyone got a fjord horse?
Ditto questions above

Any comparison or are they completely different?
Prefer one over the other?

Just looking
wink.gif
 
Only known one haffy and she was lovely.... very affectionate and nice to ride.....

But there is a general feeling that they are a little headstrong and not a beginners pony
frown.gif


Known of one fjord that used to come to our summer show at tweseldown and that was a gem..... used to be ridden round the show ground by a little tot, and he never turned a hair at anything.
 
i have a norwegian fjord on part loan..
shes very sweet, theyre espesh good looking but can be very strong && a bit bulshy..
i suppose this does depend on how theyre trained but they like to use weight against you..
in my experience anyway!!!
hope this helps..
pm me if you want anmore info about mine :P
xxxx
 
It's not so much the breed, but how they have been brought up and educated. They're generally kind (both breeds) but like any horse or pony of any breed, bad manners can make life mildly irritating, very annoying or even downright dangerous. They are strong, but so are all horses, and if they haven't been taught to lead politely, turn, tie up, slow down and stand still when YOU say, no breed is fun!

I think Fjords need special attention to their manes... don't quote me though!

Good luck, they're both very pretty breeds whatever their manners.
 
fjords are often hogged, and it definately suits them... mines just been fully clipped though and mane off, so just has black stripe as a mane.. its quite cute!!!
*she chuckles*
xxx
 
As palomino says, the breed gives you the basic ingredients but how they are handled then decides whether those ingredients give you a nice cake or a ghastly inedible disaster. Don't know about Fjords but Haffies are renowned for their long life, sturdiness, hardiness, weight carrying and general unflappability. They can usually turn their hooves to anything and, with proper manners instilled from day 1, make good riding horses and even RDA rides. HOWEVER, they can be strong, stubborn, opinionated little b*ggers whose attitude to life with a weak owner is "go on then, make me"! I'd recommend talking to the Haflinger Society of Great Britain and if you can hold on long enough, go to one of their shows and see some Haffies at work and play to get a better idea.

I had one a few years back. Nothing wrong with him at all except he was NOT the plod for a nervous rider that he was sold to me as. He was rude, bargy, and preferred not to work at all unless he was alllowed to ONLY go on hacks and then be at the front going at 90mph. He almost killed me when he had a major paddy in a group lesson. He was VERY pretty though lol!
 
Have both in our riding school- 2 haflingers and 1 Fjord.
Both have potential to be super ponies but both have had teething problems.
The Fjord mare is quite young (6) and although she is very good with her work in the school etc she can be a bit bargy and headstrong if she decides to be. Dont think she means any harm by it but its annoying all the same. Shes easy to ride but not great with complete beginners.
The haflingers we have are like chalk and cheese. The big one we have who is just a baby is an absolute saint,he never puts a foot wrong. He is very strong and quite forward going though.
The smaller one is more typical to what other people have already said here- can be strong,bargy and a bit nappy. He is definitely not a novice ride.
I expected them to be very sweet and steady neddies- all 3 of them are very forward going and can be headstrong if they want to be...
 
With both breeds I think they as stated above are generally very sweet natured but Haffies I would say would not be a suitable childs first pony havin seen the evil glee mine looks at tinies with :-0)

I think the younger you get them and the more chance you have to shape them and be consistent and firm with them, the better,

I got my Haffy at 3 unbroken and RI and I backed her and she is at 5 my horse of a lifetime. Now that might be cos I am asking her to do stuff she likes (hacking and endurance) but hopefully its not just that.

Even when just broken you could leave her a week and get back on and start from where you left off, she is SOO friendly to people and so talkative, she is just a delight to have around, even if you couldnt ride her if she was injured shes just like a big dog so you would keep her as a pet!

I would def recommend going thru the Haflinger Soc of GB, who have a website with advice and sales list. GB reg Haffies cost a bit more than the mass imports of random haffies from the continent, but are a lot better brought up and I think peeps have a lot fewer bolshy issues as a result. Also on the continent Hafs can have a bit of other breeds in them which can intro some unknown factors temperanment wise, thats not the case with GB reg Haffies as they follow the Austrian mother studbook rules.

Fjords I think are equally delightful, probably even calmer than Haffies but also built even more tank like so you need them on your side, thankfully the ones I have met are!
 
Fjord horses have a very good reputation in Sweden, and since we're neighbours, we have a few around. I know of one riding school/camp that only has Fjords. They're known as perfect family-horses, but with a personality.
Recently read someone saying that her Fjord did a typical Fjord spook, looked a good look, and then calmly trotted a little bit away to be on the safe side. As far as I know, they're not likely to try the rodeo-way to end a disagreement with it's rider, they tend to choose to just not do anything and wait, until either the rider agrees with them or the rider finds a better way to explain what they want.

Longlived, hardy, "sure on it's hooves" ( anything else in rocky fiordlandscapes, is not a good idea ) and doesn't need fancy new high-energy food ( unless you want it to start to look like the Michelin-man in horse disguise ).


from Sweden.
smile.gif
 
My mum has a Fjord and i have to say he's the best thing that ever happened to her!!! She had some riding experience but lost her confidence. Badger has restored all this confidence and she now feels pretty much invincible on him.

I don't know any others but i would recommend him as a first time horse. My nieces both ride him (6 and 8 years) and we had a complete beginner on him who trotted him on the lead rein during her first go and he was just great.

He's quite versatile as with beginners he's happy to just plod round but with someone more experienced you can gee him up and have a bit of fun!

He's not built to canter and it has taken him a long time to get the hang of it but it's coming along.

He also in the wrong hands could become bargy as he will occasionally try to push his luck. however we're reasonably experienced and it's never become a problem.

he was young and green when we bought him and yet we really haven't had any problems. he'll have the occasional spook out hacking or in new places but nothing my mum can't handle - usually shoots forwards but isn't hard to bring back (i guess you'd describe my mum as in-between beginner and novice in her riding abilities).

We've taken him to sponsored rides, dressage, clear rounds, cross country, in hand showing etc etc and he's always been calm and sensible.

We haven't found him particularly strong - he's ridden in a snaffle but we have used a bubble bit for mum to do cross country just so she's definitely got breaks and steering. i can see how they would be strong as they have thick set necks and shoulders but i think with the right schooling from the start they are fine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top