RT Gandalf was foaled at Rolling Thunder Ranch in Florissant, CO, where he spent his first year on a large mountain pasture with a year-older buddy. I first saw him when I went to the ranch which was hosting an NFHR Judges/Evaluators Seminar. It was the classic "love at first sight"! While I had been judging Fjord horses for 10 years I had yet to own one. After seeing the best in Norway, and much of the best in the US, I KNEW what I wanted, and I didn't have many hopes that I would ever find one to match my hopes. I negotiated the purchase in the car on the way back to the airport after the seminar.
But fate tried to intervene. Riktig, the senior stallion at Rolling Thunder, had to be put down due to a nasty fracture, leaving the ranch with breeding season and no stallion. The owner thought about keeping Gandalf to fill Riktig's place, but knew if she did so she would still miss a breeding season due to his age. Finally she decided to let me have him. Taffy Plaisted brought Gandalf from Colorado as far as Blue Earth, MN (thank you, Taffy!), where I picked Gandalf up. Of course, as the Blue Earth Fjord horse show was taking place there, I had to put him in a halter class. Poor Gandalf got off the trailer and went into the show ring with a new handler. We had an exciting class, but ended up second, with some wonderful comments from judge Karen Cabic about his quality and his dynamic movement.
Gandalf was bred by the late (and deeply mourned) Julie Will of Old Hickory Farm in New York State. I will always be grateful to Julie for making the breeding that gave me my stallion.
Gandalf was started as a riding horse late in his two year old year, when I began getting on him bareback with a sidepull and going for walk-jog trail rides on him. He is still my trail buddy -- he will go anywhere he is asked to go. I ride him out with mares and geldings, and have been able to trot and canter almost stirrup-to-stirrup with a friend on her gelding.
Gandalf has been shown very lightly, as I have had two major knee surgeries in the past four years. With this very light showing Gandalf has brought home some wonderful wins. He has been Grand Champion Halter horse at a large multi-breed show; he has won the Northern Michigan Open Futurity (when he stood over the high-scoring horse at the Michigan Trakhener evaulation!).
His sire, MVF Erlend, has been shown extensively and has many wins and an enviable record. Erlend is a Gold Medal winner witht he NFHR. I first met Erlend as a three-year old when I was judging the Fjord Horse Show at South Woodstock, Vermont. Erlend was a spectacular youngster who has matured into a very special stallion. You can learn more about Erlend at: www.elltel.net/kffjord. Peg Knutsen, Erlend's owner, was so impressed with Gandalf that she purchased Gandalf's dam, Kariella (by Karibu), sight unseen, to cross again with Erlend. The resulting filly, Yuli, is Gandalf's full sister, who is named (in Norwegian) after Julie Will.
When I was in Norway for the youngstock shows and the stallions show in 1999 I fell in love with an utterly gorgeous grey Fjord mare, Råds Luna. Not only was Luna literally the most beautiful Fjord mare I had ever seen, but she had been bred to Smedsmo Gråen, a son of Lisegråen. I been quite taken by Lisegråen as a five year old, and had been given the opportunity to drive him on the country roads in the 'Eid area while he was doing his station test for the stallion evaluation. When I saw Smedsmo Gråen as a yearling I tried without success to buy him. So finding that Luna was bred to him I knew I had to have her! At first her owners were not considering selling her, but after three months I got the phone call I was hoping for, and Luna came to us here in America. Luna's pedigree is very complementary to Gandalf's, as is her filly, Annedahl. We now have good a start on our breeding herd.
Gandalf's first foal is DunDarling TaTonka (out of Luna). Tonka now belongs to Rich and Nancy Hotovy's Upper Forty Fjords. His second foal, Blue, was born in April of 2006. He was purchased by Dawn and Tyler Schlickman of Lazy Valley Ranch, Chana, IL.
Gandalf is a great horse to have around. He lives in the same barn as the mares and babies, all with half-doors. I can lead mares past his stall every morning with no fuss. I can take visitors into his stall or field with no worries, as Gandalf is a kind gentleman who loves people. When we weaned Tonka we turned him out with Gandalf so Gandalf would have a companion and Tonka would have a role model. They have a great time playing in the field together.
Breeding fees:
His stud fee for the 2007 season is $ 800.00 ($600.00 to mares he has previously bred), with half due on breeding and the balance due when the mare is checked safe in foal. AI shipping is available, but incurs additional charges. Visiting mare care is $10.00/day with a box stall and turnout. All mares are requested to have a veterinary reproductive fitness exam before breeding.
