News

May 2007
Stallion winners at the 2007 Nordfjordeid Stallion Show

Klasse 1 - Lunner Gråen 1st for quality with 88778 and 10 for offspring

Klasse 2 - Torsetblakken 1st for quality with 98999

Klasse 3 - Perakrossen 1st for quality with 98888

Perakrossen is the son of the society owned stallion, Pera Gut, winner of klasse 2 in 2002. In 2005, Krogs Balder, also sired by Pera Gut, won klasse 2 at Nordfjordeid.

Pera Gut is standing in Aberdeenshire, Scotland this season. More details can be had by contacting David Stewart at Fjordhorses@aol.com,
or by calling 01651 891712

February 2007 Maple Venus Immortalised
Sally is thrilled with the bronze sculpture she commissioned of her Fjord, Maple Venus. The Sculptor is Belinda Sillars, who is famous here and in America for her wonderful sculptures specifically of horses and dogs. Sally says "The bronze is beautifiul and especially the patination which shows the colouring of Venus brilliantly". Copies of the bronze are available as a limited edition of nine and can be purchased from Belinda's website at www.belindasillars.com.

January 2007
Not bad for an "old chap"

"I took Kato to a local riding club fun show on 30th December '06. Kato really enjoyed himself and was in fine form. He got a second in the Handy Pony. He'd started off quite gently at a collected trot but didn't waste a moment. Towards the end he really got going so that we flew through the finish and had to do a turn to slow down again."

"So Kato proved that at age 25 he can still hold his own, he was clearly enjoying himself, as needless to say so was I."

"Little did I realise in May 1985 what a tremendous favour the grooms at Maple Stud did me when they suggested that I bought Kato in the dispersal sale.

"I would very much like to hear from any of the people who were at Maple Stud Ewhurst around the mid 1980's. Especially Rachel, Hugh, Keith, and Vanessa who did the early work on Kato. If any of you or your friends please do contact me via emai"

"He is a great character and continues to provide my friends and me with lots of fun, as well as bossing my other two horses - and me on occasion!"

David K

August 2006 Lindum Success
	Ally and Tanya with their Fjord mares Heidi and Ull-Mi won the turnout prize for the pairs 20 km class and came 2nd overall for the points awarded for presentation and optimum time on Thursday 27th July. This was part of a week long endurance festival, Aerbom Lindum Spirit held across the Lincolnshire Wolds from 27-30 July 2006. Friday didn't go quite so well, but they still managed a respectable 8th place in the 25km orienteering class - they managed not to get lost but were a long way off the optimum time! However, they did surprise everyone by completing the timed section at 13.33 km/hr when they should have been doing 12 km/hr.

June 2006 Fjord Horse Performance Show 2006 See results
	The bi-annual Fjord Horse Performance Show is being held at Drumnagesk Equestrian Park, Aboyne in Aberdeenshire on Saturday 29th July 2006 , starting at 10am . Classes include ridden, obedience, jumping, best turnout, condition, gelding and veteran. The show will be followed by a barbecue. Stabling is available at £5 per horse per night. For further information, please ring Jane Pryor on 0780 150 8072. For members attending the show from outside Aberdeenshire, Monymusk Outdoor Centre has been booked at a cost of £10 per person per night. The Centre is only available for use by charitable organisations and the accommodation is excellent. For reservations, contact David Stewart on 01651 891712. The AGM will be held at the Monymusk Outdoor Centre on Sunday 30th July 2006 , commencing at 1pm . Refreshments will be made available. Nominations for election to the committee are welcome and should be made to Fiona Nicholson on 01482 841941.

April 2006 Norwegian stallion Pera Gut purchased
	The Fjord Horse Registry of Scotland is pleased to announce that the Norwegian Fjord stallion Pera Gut N-97-2767 has been purchased by the society for use by its members. Pera Gut by Bjorktind x Evita won the prestigious 5 year old class at Nordfjordeid in 2002. He received a 2. premie, which is the highest score a 5 year old stallion can achieve. He stands at 147.cm and has an impressive 19.5cm of bone. He has an excellent pedigree with the genetic possibility of carrying several of the dun colours, having already produced grå and ulsblakk. Last year, Per Gut’s son, Krogs Balder, kept it in the family by also winning the 5 year old class at Nordfjordeid. Pera Gut achieved top marks for temperament during his performance test in Norway. He will be standing at Asgard Stud in Aberdeenshire for the 2006 season. For further details call David Stewart on 01651 891712.

April 2006
"Kina" is a star!

As part of National Story Week, film maker Lee Kern filmed four short films in Shetland entitled "Tales of the Creepy Crooked" for Channel 4's "Three Minute Wonder" series.

One of the stories featured the Fjord Kina in the role of the Nyuggle - a bizarre horse like creature that appears to lull and trick unsuspecting, weary travellers.

Kina and Ailsa

March 2006
Helmar Photographs discovered

Liz Johnson, the society's webmaster, has recently uncovered several photographs of the 2nd Duke of Westminster's Fjord stallion, Helmar by Foss N-755. The photographs were taken in the early 1930's at Achfarn in Lairg, Scotland and features Liz's father, Bob Johnson, who worked as a teenager with His Grace's horses at Chester. This is indeed a rare find as until now only one photograph of Helmar was known to exist.

Who was Helmar?

The first Fjord horses imported to Great Britain in order to establish a Fjord population arrived in 1929. When the 2nd Duke of Westminster, on holiday in Stryn purchased a stallion and three mares for his Reay Forest Estate in Sutherland. The stallion was Helmar.

See the Fjord History page to read more ....

Bob with Helmar

Comment from Liz: It was such an incredible coincidence that I was sorting through a collection of family snaps at the same time I was helping with the web site. After reading the Fjord History page something clicked and I realised "those handsome horses" in the pictures could be Fjords - I sent them to David who got on the case. The subsequent identification of people and locations has been fascinating and a lovely insight into part of my father's life. What a good job those pictures weren't discarded years ago!

November 2005
Maple Kevin (Kato) Fjord Horse of the Year 2005

David Kernahan and Kato
with the engraved Scottish
Rock Crystal Glass presented
by the Hon. Mrs. Jean Bruce
at a buffet supper in
October 2005

In recognition of Fjord horses promoting the breed, it was decided to hold an annual competition entitled the “Fjord Horse of the Year Award”. For this first year only, the Committee felt it only fair to take a “longer term” view of member’s horses activities.

The competition attracted 18 entries and was judged by Julia Gourley, Chair of the Grampian Branch of BHS Scotland. She was very impressed by the standard and found the judging a very difficult task and added: “I have been impressed with all the entrants who have proven that Fjord horses are truly versatile, very biddable and are enjoyed by a wide variety of people. After much consideration I chose Kato as he has proven himself to be a true all-rounder with Thor as runner-up.”

Nominations for Fjord Horse of the Year 2006 are now being accepted. If you would like to nominate a Fjord, then contact the society office for an application form.