CONFERENCE 30th APRIL 2014 at 1 pm in NORSK FJORDHESTSENTER
After a warm welcome with coffee and sandwiches offered by the Fjordhestsenter in Nordfjordeid and thankful appreciated by the international representatives, Nils Ivar Dolvik opened the conference. As you know, Nils Ivar is the leader of the Fjord Horse International Association and he had the pleasure to welcome persons from Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, Finland, Netherlands, Great-Britain, Denmark and Belgium on the international meetings of this Wednesday 30th of April.
The Norwegian breeding plan was presented and Nils stated that their main responsibility is taking care of the type of the fjord horse and of the pure breed 5 generations pedigree. Good quality movements are also very important and the test system is developed in view of it.
Then Nils shows the index for fjord horses and for the stallions of the 10 last years. This presentation gives information about the quality of the stallions and the position over the ten years schedule of individuals.
Below you can find links to all the presented documents.
The conference continued with the presentation, by Elin Furrevik, of the new testing system set up in Norway. Elin is working on the Norwegian Horse Centre. The low breeding numbers of the last years in Europe invited the establishment of a plan that started in 2011 and will run until 2020 and contents the organisation of breeding activities as well as a marketing plan. Another part of the plan is collecting performance data and this will be tested out this year within the 3 Norwegian breeds. Regarding the question which traits should be tested, aims and disciplines are considered. Important traits to evaluate in 2014 are the gaits (walk ; trot ; canter) and the temperamental traits : willingness to work - cooperation - courage -reactivity. In view of marketing we should increase the activities, exhibitions, use of the horse in riding clubs. The purpose is to show the potential buyers how the horse will perform. The international participants at the conference agree that marketing is in the first place equal to high quality. In several countries numerous riding competitions are organized to show quality to the users. Also compete with other breeds is a very good promotion. Riding and driving must be possible without problems. The breeding shows organized now should be completed with other activities to make it more attractive. Closing the presentation, Elin Furrevik states that the main factor of the new testing system is "testing more horses to collect more data" and to improve the horses' movements.
Then the participant countries present the performance tests they are using. You can find this information through links below.
International breeding information: Jochen Nösinger presented the figures we could collect in different countries and if you consult the statistics (link below), you will notice the existence of a joined problem in most of the countries. How can we proceed to increase the breed? We should bring the horses to the people with information about the usability of the horse and its good temper. We should bring people together on exhibitions organized in combination with "use" demonstrations, tests and riding and driving competitions.
The conference was closed at 4 pm in a positive, well-meaning ambience with the participation of the Netherlands, Germany, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, France and Belgium.
Michelle Delaurier
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Links to the different documents:
Nils Ivar Dolvik, Norway Elin Furrevik, Norway
Stallion Tests in the Netherlands
Presentation of the French Association
Stallion Tests in Denmark
Stallion Tests in Finland (to receive)
Stallion Tests in Sweden (to receive)
International Breeding Information
° Approved Stallions
° Covered Mares
° Foal Registration
° Mare Registration
° Yearly New Approved Stallions
° Yearly New Registered Breeding Mares
Michelle Delaurier, Belgium Maureen van Bon, Netherlands Inger Davidsson, Sweden
Jochen Nösinger, Germany Anne Ernwein, France
Flemming Strange-Hansen, Denmark Liisa Kaitala, Finland
Click here to view more photos
Photos : Jochen Nösinger & Michelle Delaurier
The International Judge Conference on 1st of May 2013 in Nordfjordeid
was a success !
After a cordial and warm welcome word of Jenny Johnsen and Nils Ivar Dolvik to the numerous judges out of different countries, the conference started with a presentation of Karl Vie regarding breed caracter and type of the fjord horse.
For the practical part of the conference, four groups were made and 4 fjord horses were judged, first individual, then with a short discussion inside each group and finally Kari-Anne Indrebø and Nils Ivar Dolvik listened open minded to the comments of all participants. The discussion was much appreciated, instructive and positive.
In the afternoon, the Norwegian project: "Strengthening the competitive edge for the Norwegian horse breeds through sports and breeding" was presented by Hanne Fjerdingby Olsen. This project results in utilize the breed's strenghts in a sport activity, under the slogan "Cold head Warm heart", to increase the demand and population sizes. It will be called "Signature Activities". Afterwards, the GA of FjHI asked about promoting of this signature sport.