FinnishLapphund
There's no cow on the ice
First I want to make it very clear that I have COPIED this story from swedish horse journal Ridsport's webpage, it was written by Charlotte Wall Holm, and released: 2008-11-18. I have only translated the text, as best I could.
NIKLAS - a four-legged old man passed out of time.
Kjersti-Maria Nielsen got Niklas, a small piebald coloured pony, as a five-year gift in 1972. They proved to be as old. In over 35 years, he has been in her life. Now, Niklas left the paddock for good. He became the whole 41 years old.
Ridsport has previously told us about the old man Niklas, bought from a horse trader who specifically claimed that he was born in 1971. But when he came to the family Nielsen in 1972, as they sensed that the horse trader might not have been entirely truthful, a veterinarian was called and Niklas birth date was set for around 1967.
Jumping was Niklas specialty in his heyday. He jumped well over a meter without problems and had great success in showjumping in several different classes. During his greatness he went under the nickname "Björn Borg" as he almost always won the races he set up in.
Niklas lived with the family Nielsen cows because he was the first horse in the yard. When it was time for the race Kjersti-Maria did everything to get rid of the smell of cow from Niklas.
- I poured perfume in the water and put curlers in his mane. Then he was ready for the race, she explains.
When Kjersti-Maria had to start to go by the school bus to another school, in the neighboring village South Åby, she rode on Niklas to the bus stop. Niklas was then given strict orders to go straight home.
For the most part, he did as he was told, but during a period, about 20 years ago, he and his pony companion, Max, walked loose around in the village. They just came home to the stable at night.
Then during a period about ten years ago, Niklas didn't want to go back to the stable at all anymore. He had got the taste for the "wild" life. Many villagers remember how he used to walk around in the village and keep an little eye on the people. Sometimes he stood and hung outside the shop, sometimes in the schoolyard.
41 years is a long life, even for a shetlandsponny. Many of the today adult villagers, learned to ride on Niklas when they were children. Only in the village itself, Kjersti-Maria appreciate it to about 50 children.
He spent his last summer, just a stone's throw outside the village. Daily, he received visits by neighboring children who took the apples and carrots to him and he enjoyed it wholeheartedly.
- He has been a great pleasure for me and many others. His last summer was a very good summer but he will be missed by many, said Kjersti-Maria.
Written by Charlotte Wall Holm for swedish Ridsport. Released: 2008-11-18.
I felt it was such a nice story, that I couldn't resist translating it and share it with you all, from Sweden.
NIKLAS - a four-legged old man passed out of time.
Kjersti-Maria Nielsen got Niklas, a small piebald coloured pony, as a five-year gift in 1972. They proved to be as old. In over 35 years, he has been in her life. Now, Niklas left the paddock for good. He became the whole 41 years old.
Ridsport has previously told us about the old man Niklas, bought from a horse trader who specifically claimed that he was born in 1971. But when he came to the family Nielsen in 1972, as they sensed that the horse trader might not have been entirely truthful, a veterinarian was called and Niklas birth date was set for around 1967.
Jumping was Niklas specialty in his heyday. He jumped well over a meter without problems and had great success in showjumping in several different classes. During his greatness he went under the nickname "Björn Borg" as he almost always won the races he set up in.
Niklas lived with the family Nielsen cows because he was the first horse in the yard. When it was time for the race Kjersti-Maria did everything to get rid of the smell of cow from Niklas.
- I poured perfume in the water and put curlers in his mane. Then he was ready for the race, she explains.
When Kjersti-Maria had to start to go by the school bus to another school, in the neighboring village South Åby, she rode on Niklas to the bus stop. Niklas was then given strict orders to go straight home.
For the most part, he did as he was told, but during a period, about 20 years ago, he and his pony companion, Max, walked loose around in the village. They just came home to the stable at night.
Then during a period about ten years ago, Niklas didn't want to go back to the stable at all anymore. He had got the taste for the "wild" life. Many villagers remember how he used to walk around in the village and keep an little eye on the people. Sometimes he stood and hung outside the shop, sometimes in the schoolyard.
41 years is a long life, even for a shetlandsponny. Many of the today adult villagers, learned to ride on Niklas when they were children. Only in the village itself, Kjersti-Maria appreciate it to about 50 children.
He spent his last summer, just a stone's throw outside the village. Daily, he received visits by neighboring children who took the apples and carrots to him and he enjoyed it wholeheartedly.
- He has been a great pleasure for me and many others. His last summer was a very good summer but he will be missed by many, said Kjersti-Maria.
Written by Charlotte Wall Holm for swedish Ridsport. Released: 2008-11-18.
I felt it was such a nice story, that I couldn't resist translating it and share it with you all, from Sweden.
