Fjords parade at the 2014 Millfield Festival of the Horse
Some of the Finiymoor Stud Fjord Horses from Northumberland took part in the Millfield Festival of the Horse earlier this month. It was a wet & windy day but that did not put the spectators off. They gathered around the fjords from early morning.
Hundreds of people eagerly took the chance to learn about the Fjord Horse & it's origins and the fjords gave them countless pleasure throughout the day. The Finiymoor Team spent hours talking to the public, some of whom had travelled a long way to see the fjords who of course took all the fussing and patting in their stride.
Stud stallion Fini Skovly originally from Denmark played his part in showing that the fantastic temperament of the breed extended to it's stallions too. Show visitors were thrilled to be able to actually stroke "a live stallion". The smiles on their faces said it all. Fini as always, behaved impeccably being used to all that goes with "stardom". Fini when standing at the Ausdan Stud appeared in one of the BBC's Richard Attenborough productions which had him galloping across the plains with "wolves" in hot pursuit. He amazed the BBC production team with his good manners and calm attitude.
Also at the Festival was mare Sandy from Norway who has given 100's of children and adults confidence around horses with her placid, you can't scare me nature. The fjords, who spent from morning to evening at the Festival, remained friendly and nosey throughout.
The stud said afterwards "our fjords were an instant hit. The attention was constant. Many of the Festival visitors were bemused by the fjord's manes. We combed manes a 100 times and a 100 times they were ruffled by curious hands wanting to see if they were "real".
The Finiymoor Fjords also had appearances in the Main Ring. The air filled with "oohs" and "ahhs" as spectators listened attentively to the commentator as he gave a history of the origins of the Fjord and their versatility as riding, driving, competition and even today, work horses. After each Main Ring appearance, the Stud and their magnificent fjords were mobbed by spectators wanting to touch them and admire them. Hundreds of cameras whirred and clicked. Children asked to have their photo taken with a fjord and adults were happy to stand and drink in their amazing looks and gentleness of nature.
All in all, a great day for the Fjord Horse who once seen are never forgotten!
What a great promotional exercise for our breed. Our thanks to the Finiymor Stud and of course it's fjord horses.
"Fjord National Studbook Association of Great-Britain"
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