Midwest Fjord Horse Club www.mwfhc.org summer 2007 President’s Message ello all you Midwest Fjord Club members! May how time has flown. This is my last article as President of our merry band and I must admit that I have had a blast serving. Fjord owners in general are nice folks but those Hof the Midwest Club are a definitely a cut above the rest. We have seen a busy two years. Ones that have seen the club continue to grow and prosper. We always seem to have a great deal of work ahead but it is, and always has been,good honest work. The kind that makes you feel good at the end of the day. The new Executive Committee will be a good one with lots of experience and leadership under its belt. Look for more good things to come. I only ask that you support and stand behind Suzie as you have me. It makes a great deal of difference when the going gets rough. Well, that's enough foolishness for now. Time to sign off and head to the barn. Blue Earth will be here before you know it. Chuck Kelly, President Lois and Viggo’s Excellent Adventure by Lois Handel 2007 BuffaloTrip him part way over it, then jumped in and made him finish it himself. That was ok. e started out on a beautiful, sunny but cool day. I left home (near Isanti, MN) around 10am, We wandered along at a plenty of time to cover the 25 miles to Sand better, slower pace after WDunes Forestry and Horse camp. I ditched the map pretty that, and came to Elk Lake, early, deciding on a route that I’d not driven in the car where the map had showed previously, as I knew the regular way and wanted some - I could cut down and meet thing different, a route would cover more countryside than up with Co Rd 4 to Sand I’d seen so far. Sounds good, right? Viggo started out with a Dunes. Yahoo maps and bang, giving his fast road trot that meant getting some - real roads are sometimes not where sooner. I tried to warn him this was a long trip, but what they claim to be. After he didn’t listen. I think he got the hint after the first 10 going a couple miles, and miles. By then we are in territory we’d not been for a not finding the right turn (or any turn), we turned around while. and backtracked to the lake again. Bummed and not want - ing to backtrack to the south end of Elk Lake once again, I I happily discovered my route took me over Hwy 169 with saw on the map that if I just kept going west, I’d get to just an overpass rather than fighting for the road on fishing north of Orrock, a bit out of the way from my plan but do- opener weekend, and even though it was a Thursday, it able. So, off we went, Viggo getting slower by the mile was pretty busy down there! Viggo decided he didn’t like now. By the time we reached Orrock, he was TIRED! We the overpass, and balked at the beginning of it. There was walked the 3 miles (I got out and walked along with him) enough traffic even there that I had to get out and lead into the town, and camp was still a couple miles down. continued on page 2 In this issue… Blue Earth 2007 Update ....................................................................... 4 President’s message ............................................................................... 1 Babies ................................................................................................... 5 Driving to Buffalo ............................................................................. 1-2 Classifieds ............................................................................................. 6 Midwest Horse Fair .............................................................................. 3 Club Officers ........................................................................................ 7 Minnesota Horse Expo ..................................................................... 4-5 Upcoming Events ................................................................................. 7 Membership Form ................................................................................ 7 continued from page 1 hose. I got the spare We pulled into camp around 4 p.m. Plenty of time to room, a great gather some firewood and set up camp. I put Viggo to bed dinner, a hot on the tie line, made a nice, warm fire for me and settled shower (the in. The DNR manager from the Ann Lake campground best part!), came over for firewood and water, and we chatted a while, and a warm otherwise the campground was all mine. I did clock it on bed! Life the odometer after I couldn’t be got home, we’d cov - better! ered 33 miles that day, a bit more than Saturday was beautiful, sunny, cool and just about perfect. I’d intended for I helped set up the cone course at the rodeo grounds and Viggo having not then we went back for the horses. I borrowed Steve’s train - been out much this ing cart and we had a great time playing with all the fun spring. stuff that was set up. I did not work Viggo very hard there, my husband came out and we ran the courses, then I In the morning I helped Steve and then my friend Mary with their horses loaded everything for most of the day. back up and we got started by 9am. Viggo is tired, and I think a bit sore, but he’s game to go. He was pretty disap - Sunday morning I got ready early and got going by 9am or pointed to head south rather than back east and home, but so for the trip home. It was cloudy and looked like rain, so didn’t complain too much (yet). He had enough energy to put on the rain gear right off. Viggo knew he was on his bug at some plastic blowing in a landscaped area, and way home since we’d been through this last year and he garage sale signs, he really does not care for balloons on put on a good pace. It was pretty uneventful heading back those. In Big Lake I led him through some of the town, up, and at least I never had to get out and push. He booked across the RR tracks, and at a busy intersection with of all through Monticello without missing a beat, bridges, tracks things a yellow gas line box & pipes. Once past that, we & all and on up to Big Lake. I drove him up to Sand took Hwy 25 down to Monticello. I had to lead him at the Dunes, arriving there by 2:30. I took pity on my tired Fjord start of the river and called hubby to come fetch us home. We covered 81 bridge, then miles total. Enough for 4 days out. I got treated to a nice jumped in and he Mother’s Day dinner with my family, and hubby was happy finished going to have me safely back home. I have a full year to get over that, but Viggo in shape for next year’s annual Buffalo drive again! once we got off But this year, we are going on a longer drive part way back the main highway from Blue Earth in July, so I have to get busy and condi - and onto the tion him for that one. You won’t catch me lying around in back streets that the hammock at home doing nothing until then. were quieter, he decided that was enough and stopped dead. I did let him rest, for quite a while as I was in no hurry, but I did want to get to Buffalo before dark. I got him through town by leading him, even over the Hwy 94 bridge. I’m sure it was pretty funny with me trotting over it leading him along like a sheep pulling a buggy! I got lots of Hi signs from drivers on both sides, and lots of laughs I’m sure! After we got back on the quieter streets, again Viggo said no. And I said yes. We had a discussion about the virtues of a good horse, and a long trip, and how I was not about to walk the last 10 miles along with him. I’m glad I did carry the whip even though I rarely use it, but after line driving him on the ground with it tickling his fetlocks in the rear, he got the message loud and clear. I did not ask for any big trot, just a walk was fine with me, but forward motion was required. He finally gave in and we did make it to Waddell’s about 3:30 or so. Just about the length of time I’d expected. He got bedded down in a nice box stall, fresh water & hay, and lots of rest after a cool bath with the 2 Midwest Horse Fair by Patti Jo Walter he Midwest Horse Fair, April 2007 in Madison Wi, stallion, Fair Acres Ole and had decided to sell him, I had Twas once again a time to show what Fjords are all to talk about him a lot that weekend and it was very hard about. The Fjords have been at the Midwest Horse to talk to people about selling him. Knowing this was my for since the early 90’s. Each year the group tries to show last year with him at the fair, knowing the fun we had and the versatility of the fjords, the disposition and tempera - the great memories but also knowing it’s the right thing to ment. It’s not always easy as it’s a super nice fair, with very do in selling him, made it a hard weekend on me. Ole is a nice facilities, but..also limited warm up area, and since we one in a million horse.