[haflingerfriends] Re: Why Halflingers?

I don't think that I chose Haflingers. I think that they chose me! :) I was interested in Haflingers to use as youth lesson mounts when I graduated from college, because of their size and temperament and that was about the only reason. I figured I would keep my Quarter Horses and show. And then came the opportunity for me to work at a Haflinger farm for a summer as an intern. I had been working at a reining horse farm and was learning about the 'techniques' used to get the reiners to do those amazing slides adn spins, and it was making me sick. When the guy threw a horse over backward and cut his tongue almost in two and left for vacation and told the owner the horse was 'fine' that was it. I headed to this Haflinger farm. Three days later, I was at my first Haflinger show in PA. And as funny as it may sound because of some of the people on this list, I chose Haflingers because of the people at that show. I could not believe how kind, sweet, and helpful they were! Everyone was one big happy family, they were there to show, but they were there to have fun too. I had never seen that or had that opportunity before at other breed shows. It knocked my socks off! I came home from that show and told my mom 'you have got to come to a Haflinger show, these people aren't right!!!!!' I couldn't believe how nice and kind they were.
It ended up being the first Haflinger I trained from scratch was A Rock, now our own stallion. He had just been imported, and it was up to me to get him ready to show at a stallion parade. Within 45 minutes of starting him in the roundpen, I was riding him. I could not believe that this horse was so smart, willing to please, and easy to train! Within 45 days, I had started showing and placing with him at local shows, and within 60 days I had him with his first under saddle title. The gentleman who owned the Haflinger farm gave me my first Haflinger mare from his herd, my pick, and that is how it all started. She was a lovely yearling mare, not worked with, and my pride and joy. I had a few other breed horses, but always came back to the Haflinger because of their willingness to learn, they want to be with you, they can be challenging, but will give you 100% if you give them the opportunity. They are all so different, and not a 'cookie cutter' breed which makes them great a different events, but also athletic enough to do a variety of events with one horse, which I love. I then started dating the farm owners son once I went back to college and my internship was done, and now, we are married, have a son, and I only train and show Haflingers! :) Interesting how things work out.

> >
> > I posted this once.. but I don't think I got a response. (I think the
> > breeding discussion was brought up.) I am looking for a "pony" to
> > ride. I would like either a Halflinger or Fjord. I am five foot
> > nothing and have MS. I'm not wheelchair bound at all, I can still walk
> > on my own. I just need something that is gentle and quiet on the
> > trails. I really am not looking for a so called "dead head", just one
> > that is trustworthy. What are the temperaments like with Halflingers?
> > Are they pushy? Are they slow, not fast enough to keep up with the QH?
> > Can someone tell my why they chose the Halfy compared to other "ponies"?
> > Thanks guys
> > ~Cari
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
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> >
> >
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