If you don’t know the breed, please take some time to get educated on what a Fjord is and is not. Please do not expect to find Fjords that deviate from the breed standards in conformation or skills. The breed standard as far as height is 13.2 to 14.2 hands. Are there taller Fjords? Yes, there are a few that are 15 hands tall. Are they commo ? No. If you really need 15 hands or taller, then look at other taller breeds. Similarly keep in mind that a Fjord is a light draft horse. While they jump, there are only a few of them that will jump over 3 feet or handle 100-mile endurance races or perform grand prix level dressage movements.
Currently it is a seller’s market for Fjords. There is greater demand than supply. Many breeders and sellers are not interested in moving the horse quickly. We are concerned with a good fit. We will say no to prospective buyers when we don’t think the horse is a good match for their needs. We want the horse to be successful in its new home because that assures that the horse will have a long-term home. We are not looking for “forever homes” but homes where the horse is a good fit for the buyer’s intended use.
Realize when you decide you want a Fjord the likelihood of finding one close by may be challenging. While there are some states with larger Fjord populations than other states. When we first assembled our herd, we bought Fjords from sellers in Oregon, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Nova Scotia. Recently we imported Fjords from Germany and Denmark.vOver the years we have sold Fjords to buyers in Washington, California, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Texas and Pennsylvania, as well as to international buyers in Canada and Bermuda. We have been able to buy Fjords in our home state of Virginia, but that has been more the exception than the rule.
Buying a Fjord is not going to be your typical horse purchase where you locate a horse proximate to you, try that horse, and then if you decide to purchase, and haul that horse home. Chances are that the Fjord is going to be further away than you are used to. This becomes particularly critical when you are buying a mature riding or driving horse where training and compatibility are important. Many Fjord sellers will be willing to work with you as we are interested in a good fit, not just a horse sale.
Here are some suggestions for the location issue:
· Sellers should be able to provide current video and photos of the Fjord. Use them to determine if this is a horse you want to pursue.
· If there is something you specifically want to see the horse do -- jump a certain height or be ridden by a child. Ask the seller to show that on a video or on-site if the horse is being tried.
· If you have a horse savvy friend in the area, ask that friend to go out and try the horse for you. Have someone video that ride. If you go, bring a friend or a trainer who can video you on the horse.
· If you need to try the horse, make sure the seller will hold the horse until you can get there. You may need to put a deposit on the horse with some sellers. Other sellers will honor having the horse available for someone who has made concrete travel arrangements.
· If you want a pre-purchase examination by a vet and it is possible to arrange one when you are present, do so. We always prefer having the buyer be present and speaking to the vet directly at a PPE.
Consider the cost of shipping the horse as an acquisition cost. We appreciate that everyone has a budget. However, you should be aware of what the shipping cost will be BEFORE you engage in a purchase negotiation. There are web sites that will give you shipping estimates. We have paid a fair amount of money in shipping fees, but we have never regretted it because we bought the horses we wanted. As sellers, we are not going to reduce the sales price because the buyer must ship, although we are happy to work with buyer to coordinate with the shipper and have all the requisite paperwork available to facilitate shipping.
If you can't afford to travel to see a horse or to ship, then we counsel that you be very patient and wait to see if a suitable Fjord becomes available closer to you. Networking with Fjord breeders and owners can help. Or sadly, consider other breeds that are easier to come by than a Fjord. While we prefer Fjords at Ironwood Farm, we also know there are plenty of other good horses in this world.
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