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My life with Fjord horses began in 1980 when I read an article about Fjords in the "Small Farmers Journal". I was in the process of moving to a vacant 100-acre farm. I had used horses to skid logs for one log house and I wanted to build again on the new farm, plus do some organic farming.
Ralph, my first Fjord, arrived that September and by the end of November I was living in my new log farmhouse.
Ralph paved the way to a very interesting life. He was a great horse.
Successful in the show ring, he brought home many championships. He inspired me to purchase 15 other Fjords over the next 23 years. Through Ralph I met my wife and made many lasting friendships in the Fjord horse world. My interest in Fjords took me to Europe on numerous occasions, visiting horse farms in Norway, Holland, France and Switzerland (and to the purchase of breeding stallions from these countries).
 In 1987 I found my first stallion, Hostar, in Holland and began breeding Fjords. Since that time, I've also imported Marnix (from Holland), Felix (from Norway) and most recently Prydarson (from Norway). Prydarson arrived at the farm in 2001.
I've successfully competed Fjords at the "all breed" shows. The Fjords Haakon & Donder were Canadian Driving Pair Champions under my reinmanship. At the Fjord shows all the stallions I imported were Grand Champions. Prydarson, my most recent import, is also a Grand Champion stallion as well as having received the highest score ever in the NFHR evaluation program with a score of 87.
 The Fjord Horse is a wonderful breed. Fjord owners have fun working and playing with these horses. I am presently training as an evaluator in the hope of keeping this traditional breed strong.
Old Ralph passed away at Christmas 2002 at the age of 31. He is remembered here at Butternut Farm as my Fjord inspiration and as a great horse.
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