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Haflinger Horses Contest #8
Celebrating the start of the 8th year of the Haflinger Friends online community--Congratulations to Jillian Gemmell and Terri Woodliff!
Theme: How did Haflingers find you?
Tell us the story, through words and/or drawings or photos of how Haflingers came into your life
From Jillian Gemmell of New York
From Terri Woodliff of Ohio
Congratulations to the winners of Contest #7
Share a favorite Haflinger photo that shows the special bond between human and Haflinger.
Winning photo taken by Kerstin Dreborg of Sweden of her filly Belinda giving special hugs
Runner up photo taken by Jacque Woodward of Coshocton, Ohio of her son
Johnathan petting a mare in their field
What Haflinger, now living or in the history of the breed, would you most like to meet and why?
Runner up Essay by Elizabeth Brandenburg of California
Who Would I Meet?
They are like a mix of golden sun and cold snow, poured out in
generosity upon the mountains. They raced down into meadows,
into
our fields, finding rest in our stalls.
Each one is distinct, like a many faceted jewel, each has a
tender beauty,
a stab of sun, a brush of snow.
Who would I meet? A golden stallion, a sire of many? A graceful
mare,
with leggy foal following? One with many ribbons blowing in the
wind?
One with heart?
Heini, faithful Heini, I would meet you. You rescued Otto, and
all of us.
You were a faithful friend. You forgave the cold, the darkness,
the war.
Your loyalty shown glistening like light on the snow.
A
simple gelding, wise and strong. Rising from the snow, pulling
us to
safety. Banging on our door. I hear you out there Heini. I
would meet
you!
Haflinger Horses Contest #7--2005--deadline Dec. 15
Celebrating the 6th anniversary of the Haflinger Friends group
Our Haflingers teach us many life lessons. What has your Haflinger taught you?
Our winner is Trina Bianchi of Vermont.
My “magical pony’ came into my life this past July as a replacement for my 30 plus year old Morgan cross gelding that I’d had for over 17 years – so he had very big hooves to fill! Alchemy had been my first horse and he taught me to ride, to trailer, to bushwhack, to canter, to gallop, and to drive. I thought he had taught me a lot in those 17 glorious years.
Magic, the ‘magical pony’, took over my equine education less than 6 months ago and we’ve accomplished nothing compared to the things Alchemy and I did together. We have not been to Acadia National Park to ride, we haven’t galloped across any fields, we haven’t bushwhacked our way through any woods, we haven’t crossed any streams or rivers together, we haven’t driven together. But this ‘magical pony’ has taught or reminded me far more about horses, horsemanship and life in general in these 6 months than Alchemy taught me in 17 years!
“A good relationship tales time and effort – it doesn’t happen overnight.”
“Stop babbling and watch me – I’m communicating with you!”
“Talk to me with your eyes and body. Watch me and listen!”
“Spend quiet time with me and I’ll see you as someone special.”
“I’m always happy to see you --I don’t care if you’re grumpy.”
“If you do your part, I’ll do my part for you.”
“Patience will win.”
“Trust is a valuable commodity – you cannot buy it, it must be earned.”
“You must kick up your heels occasionally – it not only feels good, you feel better afterwards!”
“Take pleasure in the little things in life.”
“When you need support, lean on a good friend.”
Less than 45 days after Magic arrived at his new home with me, my husband and soulmate of 36 years was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma in his arm. Our daily life instantly changed as he faced 5 weeks of radiation and next week, surgery. Magic’s daily ground work got put on hold and this six year old, head strong Haflinger instead became my rock, my shoulder to cry on. He became the ‘magical pony’ for both my husband and me. Watching him gallop in the pasture and kick up his heels strictly for the joy of it, reminded us to laugh and play. When we’d go to the barn, he always greeted us with a nicker, trotting up to the barn to see us whether we were happy or sad, content, depressed or grumpy. Anytime either of us spends time in the barn or in his paddock with him, we always leave feeling better. A head over the stall door, a nose softly touching your face tells you more than any number of spoken words. As I clean his stall now, wearing my heavy parka and hat, Magic will nuzzle my shoulder or my hat, reminding me that he is there and that I can trust him not to hurt me. A good cry into those big shoulders gives me the support I need to continue to have faith and forge ahead.
Our relationship has blossomed during this time – we’ve done no training, but our working relationship is on much better footing! I’ve learned to listen to him and he’s taught me how to more effectively communicate with him without opening my mouth. I’ve seen and been reminded that special time spent with this pony can work magic! Patience, communication and time will continue to work it’s magic on this pony and soon we will be partners, galloping over fields, bushwhacking through woods, fording streams and traveling to Acadia to ride!
Thanks to honorable mentions from Terri Woodliff:
TOP TEN THINGS ABOUT LIFE I LEARNED FROM MY HAFLINGER
1. be of gentle spirit.
2. trust in learned best when we walk (or drive) through life together.
3. comfort can be found in a warm furry neck.
4. peace can heard in quiet munching.
5. self confidence is learned at an altitude of 14 hands.
6. learning should know no boundaries, or fences!
7. don't ever quit dreaming--you dont 'haf' to.
8. whoever said 'don't give me any lip' didn't kiss a Haflinger.
9. Nancy Reagan was right when she said, "Just say Neigh!"
10. sharing with a friend is a great thing, especially if it involves treats!!
And from Judy Bowers from Tennessee
Some Things My Haflinger Has Taught Me......
1. Take time to enjoy the simple things in life;
like warm sunshine on a lush green pasture.
2. Never think you know it all;
there is always someone wanting to teach you something!
3. Those who persevere get results;
maybe even to the greener grass on the other side of the fence.
4. Do not take guilt trips;
instead, go across country or down a peaceful trail.
5. Tell the people you love that you love them;
especially when they bring you hay or treats.
6. Listen carefully;
volumes can be communicated without one word.
7. Stay healthy;
especially do not overeat from the grain barrel.
8. A small child is a precious thing;
approach gently and carry safely.
9. All work and no play gets boring;
so enjoy frequent meals with family and friends.
10. The stable is a humble place;
and there is life in that hay in the manger....
Haflinger Horses Contest #6--2005
The theme is "Haflinger Folk" , celebrating the second anniversary of this website. The winner is Tina Eubanks of Arkansas.
Haflinger People
Haflinger people must be the very nicest people around.
How do I know? Because my mom
often says this and, in fact, has told me this since she bought her first
Haflinger in 1989. She’s related
story after story of how just how helpful and kind Haflinger people can be.
For example, I remember when she was attending her first Haflinger show,
she commented out loud that she had forgotten to pack the hoof black, and not
just one or two, but several people called out “You can borrow ours”!
Haflinger Horses Contest #5--2004
To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Haflinger Friends internet discussion group, we introduced our fifth Haflinger Horses website contest. The themes of this contest were:
"The Traditional Haflinger Horse--alive and well or an endangered species?"
Essay Winner is Elizabeth Brandenburg of California
The Traditional Haflinger
Alive and Well
As far as tradition goes, I believe the Haflinger’s conformation has changed over time in accord with people’s changing needs. Fortunately there are traditional qualities that have not changed. Haflingers are thinkers, they have exceptional intelligence. They also have generous hearts, a willingness to bond deeply, if you are trustworthy. They can read you and know your intent even before you understand it yourself.
My Haflingers don’t haul huge logs but they do haul my burdens and cares away. They don’t plow my fields, but they do plow through the superficial stuff and go straight to the heart of what is important. In those furrows my happiness grows and life finds deep roots. They don’t pack great burdens over mountains but they are packing some precious hopes and dreams; I can trust them with the load.
The traditional Haflinger was part of the family. They were intelligent, discerning and capable of understanding people’s needs, they had the strength to meet those needs and the capacity to enjoy it. In my barn the traditional Haflinger is alive and well, may it always be so.
Photo winner is Theo Hug
Photo of A Gold Star and his riders at Grison Farm, Quebec
and
"My Haflinger Dream"
Essay Winner is Sue McAfee of Texas
My
Haflinger Dream
I reach
and grab the silky white mane in my hand and I lithely swing upon my pony’s
back and we gallop forever a perfect blend of bonded hearts and
synchronized movement. Absence of
fear, absence of care, full of physical harmony and mental ease.
A dream. My
body and my mind have had fifty years awakening to truths.
Truth bound in disease and packaged in abuse opened
over the years for me to examine and figure out which closet of my life should
hide the secrets, and these confrontations of knowing.
I amaze myself at times in my reluctance to fully
accept these definitive truths of my physical limitation, or my psyche that is
riddled with doubt, fear and sometimes loathe.
Horses would become the key to my closets.
A convoluted decision; my sister, my eye in a storm, no fear, a wall of
trophies, a stable of partners in glory. Their
leader and my leader lost to a competition she could not win.
Her horses came proudly, manes braided and ribbons
tied, to a funeral; with no where to go at the end. I
did too.
Sometime in the following nights as fear, loss,
disease and doubt would make me sweat, the salt from my sweat became the salty
breeze from an ocean. She visited
with divinity and turned my nightmares into the dreams of conquering my fears on
the back of a steed with mane in my face racing a beach of unattainable ease.
A whisper, “face fear, believe, fight; victories
will pebble the beach.”
Who would be my partner soldier in this conflict to
oust my long closeted foes.
In my search I passed over a stalwart, steady and
solid little soldier; musing too long over his looks instead of glorifying the
feel of his heart. For a moment upon his back I
felt a lightness and smelled a salty breeze.
I went through a succession of enlistees at that
point, some defeated me oh so easily and some though marching beside me were
never quite in tune with my campaign. They
were Intolerant of my unsteadiness and danced to the tune of my fear.
I remembered him and my dreams began to center on
golden ponies with white cap manes. I
searched.
At last I found this wonderful company of
like-minded steeds. Two came to live
with me because they were themselves partners and I feeling the pain of one
could not let them endure such a thing. Easily
they let me share their unique oneness and my being is buoyed from their calm
acceptance and sharing. Oh how
unique they are! What giving souls!
I found her then.
She was presented to me last; an almost forgotten pony.
Did that remind me of someone? Her
eyes, I recognized. We rode that
afternoon and I felt her heart travel up my calf through my thighs to my very
own center. We have traveled
together now often with a sense of knowing defying time.
Every night I put my hands beneath her tumultuous white cap mane and warm
them with the thought that when summer comes we will ride with the salt in our
manes and our heart light with no care. I
know she knows I am clumsy but she kindly lets me forget as friends do.
She never wrinkles her nose at my fear, as she wraps her head around and
presses her soft velvet nose into my side taking deep breaths and softly
exhaling fears and doubts, we synchronize. I
take a handful of white confidence into my hand and pretend to lithely lift
myself upon her as we both discount the unsightly purple-mounting block and the
bumping of her sides. She makes me
believe that I can gallop on a beach with the salty air blowing in our manes!
She encourages me to dream… She is my partner and like no one else I feel she
understands this campaign. We are
able to share a heartbeat and a rhythm. She
soothes my sleep and perpetuates my dream. Before
our time together ends I know we will share the salt air and a beach of careless
pebbles; perhaps not at a gallop but balanced and free none the less.
For real.
Her name is Candi and she is sweet as salt-water taffy. The kind you dream of.
Photo Winner is Magdelena Sobotkova from Czech Republic with her gelding, "Sunny".
Haflinger Horses Contest #4
Congratulations to Linda Watson of Pretty Pony Pastures for her photo of Gypsy meeting Tyler and to Michelle Peterson of Oregon of her gelding Washakee as a foal, with Lena.
Haflinger Horses Website Contest #3
To celebrate the fourth anniversary of the Haflinger Friends internet discussion group, we sponsored another contest and opportunity to win the vintage book "Haflinger: A Horse Captures the Hearts of the World" written by Otto Schweisgut and published in 1965 with text in 5 languages, including English
Congratulation to our book winners!
Lisa Crites for her art work and Chesna Klimek for her essay.
Contest #3 Winners
More Than a Fairy Tale: The Top Twelve Things That Only Haflinger Horses Can Do by Chesna Klimek
12. Only a Haflinger can gain weight by breathing.
11. Only a Haflinger can keep their golden coats clean, while at the same time transforming their white manes and tails to black.
10. Only a Haflinger will climb over, under, through or between any type of fencing simply to get to the other side.
9. Only a Haflinger can be measured in as a pony but wear horse-sized halters, blankets, shoes, and saddles.
8. Only a Haflinger will learn to perform a trick in a matter of seconds for a cookie, and then a month later ask for a treat by bowing.
7. Only a Haflinger can be dirty, fuzzy, and wet while also being completely adorable.
6. Only a Haflinger is smart enough to learn all the wrong things we accidentally teach them as well as all the right.
5. Only a Haflinger would believe that they are ten times bigger, faster, and better than a Belgian.
4. Only a Haflinger will come cantering over to see you after you have been gone for a week.
3. Only a Haflinger can get their riders to laugh so hard that they fall off from at the halt.
2. Only a Haflinger can bring about their owner's need of anotherÖ and anotherÖ and just one more???
And the number one thing that only Haflinger horses can do?
1. Only a Haflinger can be so cute, so smart, eat so well, perform so well, have so much personality, and be such a Haflinger that it makes their owners happy every time they see them.
Contest #2
Congratulations to Debby Gundrum for her winning essay on "What makes the Haflinger unique among horse breeds?"
Have you ever looked into
someone's eyes trying to figure out what they are thinking?
Looking for the depth of emotion they portray....anticipating
their next move...or just trying to understand who they are? Have
you ever felt that someone was looking at you that way? sizing
you up....trying to understand you?
I had that experience with a very good friend of mine. He stands
13H3" with a flowing white mane and expressive eyes. The
first time it unnerved me a bit as I had never had that
experience before with a member of the equine world and I have
had horses ....many horses...for over 30 years now.
I simply walked into the pasture lot one day and as per usual was
approached by my Haflinger. This time he did not walk all the way
up to me though. He stopped about 6 feet from me and looked me
straight in the eyes. I stood transfixed as he gazed at me,
searching my soul, touching my heart.
Such a warm and thinking breed. They assess before they react. We
have seen that many times. They face their fears rather than flee
from them. They are more devoted than any horse I have known.
They will give you their heart but at a price, you must first
give them yours. You cannot MAKE them do anything....you must
ask. You cannot train them....you must teach. They need to
understand and then they will do for you willingly and with zest.
Make no mistake, if you are not up to the challenge and willing
to go the distance, they may not be the breed for you. But if you
are, you will never have a better friend in your life.
Debby received a picture book (text in German) about Haflingers, published in 1981 in Germany and originally published in 1975 in Italy and Switzerland about Haflingers
Translation: "Free Horses in the Mountains"
"A free herd of horses in the unique world of the mountain Alps. A book about the life, environment, behavior and wild games of the Haflinger horse with 100 masterful color photos of their poetry, beauty and loving playfulness. Photographed by Tomas Micek and introduction by Hans-Heinrich Isenbart with a foundation description of the characteristics and advantage of this fascinating race of horses."
Results of first Haflinger Horses website contest 6/03---Congratulations to B.K. England for her winning essay on creating a Haflinger coloring book for
"Introducing the
Haflinger to the World". She received a vintage Otto
Schweisgut book "Haflinger: A Horse Captures the Hearts of
the World"
I'd like to create a promotional Haflinger coloring book...not a
new idea, but this one would be unique! I would contact some of
my many wonderful equine artist friends, some nationally known,
all talented, and ask each one to create a page or two. The
possibilities are endless: dear Ashly with his vaulters, street
scene in Austria with team and wagon, children and gentle
Haflinger, etc., etc. As the artists learn more about their
subject, they will fall in love with the artistic possibilities
and more beautiful Haflinger art will be created! More Haflinger
art at more art shows = more folks will see and ask about them.
Thousands of people see the art at the Expos, Draft Horse
Classic, etc., and Haflinger pictures especially capture
interest. The artists' contact information would be in the back
of the book, so they would be happy to have that out in more
places, and all have mailing lists of horse-loving clients. So
many equine artists have horses, another marketing area....how
can they resist such subjects!? Of course a page of breed history
and information would be included. Perhaps a Haflinger person
could help with printing...hopefully not as expensive in this
computer age as it once was. Books could be sold, given at shows
or to farm visitors, etc., and with artist permission, some of
the artwork used on t-shirts, etc. I'm sure Equine Vision art
magazine would be interested in doing a story on this
project....more publicity!
The equine art field is huge and growing, a great area we can tap
into, and from this project could come widening circles of
awareness of our very special, colorful horses. If just one
picture is worth a thousand words, imagine the possibilities!
B.K. England, California bkequiart@jps.net
Website: http://home.jps.net/~bkequiart
Watch this site for regular Haflinger Horses contests.
