One of the oldest breeds in existence, the Norwegian Fjord is easy to recognize with its characteristic dun color, dorsal stripe, primitive markings, and flaxen mane trimmed in an upright crescent. It’s no wonder these horses have been intentionally bred for thousands of years: they are powerful, hardy, graceful and versatile; perfect for driving.
ARDETH OBENAUF • Shelbyville, Tenn. Horse: MHF Lena
About Ardeth: I started driving almost 15 years ago, and I was hooked. These days, I compete in combined and pleasure driving, and drive at home on my farm just for fun. I also use my horse and carriage to raise money for charity.
About Lena: I bought Lena 10 years ago when she was 3. I owned her dam (NFH Jayne), and when I was offered the opportunity to buy Lena, I took it.
What have been the highlights of your driving career? We compete at CDEs at the Intermediate level. Moving up was a struggle, but meeting the challenge has been very rewarding. Every phase of the competition is more demanding, and I have had to learn about conditioning a heavily muscled pony for the longer distances and demands of the marathon.
What else do you do with Lena? She has had training in dressage and hunter/jumpers. She is a cute jumper, trail rides and gives pony rides to children.
What is your favorite thing about the breed? Lena is truly bombproof. I could tell story after story of times when she has stoically stood her ground in the face of scary things.
What is your best driving-related memory with Lena? When Lena was 4 and still somewhat green, she stood in for her mother at a driving demonstration at a county fair. I thought we’d be trotting around a ring. Instead we were on a racetrack with races going on. We had to walk through a crowd of people with dogs on leashes, kids in strollers and carnival rides. It was chaos, but Lena never balked.
Why does Lena make a good driving horse? She is very easy to train, brave and calm. Despite her quiet demeanor, she is willing to put on the speed when asked for it.
Get to know more driving breeds. Back to Driven to Succeed >>
This article originally appeared in the October 2013 issue of Horse Illustrated. Click here to subscribe!
Horse Illustrated is the magazine for people who are passionate about horses. Each issue offers advice on horse health and care, plus user-friendly training tips for both English and western riders and engaging lifestyle features for horse lovers.
Nice.
Whether you’re drawn to their size, strength, or gentle nature, the biggest horses in the…
The Akhal-Teke horse—pronounced like “apple” with a K instead of the P’s, and “techie”—is one…
Like many of the great breeds that have come from the Americas, the Peruvian Horse…
The western performance horse industry is growing like wildfire, with new followers not only zeroing…
Each year, hurricanes, wildfires, and severe storms force thousands across the country to evacuate their homes. When preparing for a…
Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the…
The crisp New England autumn air was filled with excitement as Equine Affaire returned to the Eastern States Exposition in…
Things have gone quiet now in Toronto at the Canadian National Exhibition grounds on the waterfront of Lake Ontario after…
It was late on a Saturday when the photo popped up on my phone. It was a laceration at the…
Equine ulcers are a significant concern for many horse owners. Ulcers can affect all types of horses and have a…