Will You Be Bjorn’s Valentine?
At Forward Stride, our herd does so much for our community—helping riders build confidence, supporting therapy clients, and bringing joy to everyone who walks through our barn doors. Now, they need a little love in return!
This Valentine’s season, we’re introducing you to some of our incredible horses who are looking for their special someone—aka a Herd Helper!
Ready to meet the amazing Bjorn? Keep reading!
“Bjorn is a Norwegian Fjord (pronounced “Fee-yord”). As the breed name implies, Fjords are originally from Norway and one of the oldest pure breeds. The Fjord Horse is distinguished by its unequaled dependability and calm, gentle temperament.
Bjorn plays an important part at Forward Stride. He is used for Occupational and Physical Therapy riders as well as for beginner riders who need to be led. Bjorn’s short but very sturdy build makes him ideal for these riders. He can carry a wide range of weight and his shorter stature make it easier for sidewalkers and instructors/therapists to help the client.
Bjorn knows his job and seems to love it. He takes great care of those who ride him. If a rider becomes unbalanced, Bjorn notices quickly and will stop immediately, often before the sidewalkers or instructor are aware.
Bjorn loves to have a confident, capable leader. This type of leader helps to make him feel secure and he can then concentrate on his job. If a leader isn’t confident, Bjorn will feel the need to take over the leadership role and can become a bit pushy and frustrated. He would prefer just to do his job of taking care of his rider.
Once Bjorn gets to know and trust a leader, he seems to remember that leader and is a relaxed, happy horse.
However, this doesn’t mean the leader can stop “leading”. Bjorn has been known to try to grab a little extra snack whether walking by the alfalfa bales in the aisle, the hay outside his barn, or even the hay bales in the storage shed where the cats, Tater and Tot, live. On one occasion, during a “trail ride” around the arena building and hay storage shed, the door was open at the storage shed and bales were exposed. The leader had let down her guard, so Bjorn took us on a little surprising detour so he could sample that hay. One minute we were on the gravel road outside the shed and the next, we were face to face with hay bales in the shed door. Bjorn seemed almost gleeful that he managed to get an unplanned snack.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Bjorn with many riders and I look forward to seeing him on my teaching schedule. He’s a sweet boy with a heart of gold.”
– Liz Johnson
Join the Herd & Share the Love!
These amazing horses bring so much joy and healing to our community, and they need your support to keep doing what they do best! By signing up as a Herd Helper, you’re providing them with everything they need to stay happy, healthy, and loved.
