ZINNIA (Felix X MVF Soleia) was the 3d foal out of our foundation mare, MVF SOLEIA, a Grabb grandaughter and one of the mares imported by Phil Pritchard in ‘the great lift” from Norway in 1988.  SOLEIA, now living on a retirement lease with Linda and Pat Fry on Prince Edward Island, is a classical, ‘old style’ mare, the alpha mare in our original herd.  With a powerful neck ,short back and large hooves with lots of feathering and super movement.  When asked for a free trot, she is breathtaking, with a long stride and beautiful lift.   All her offspring have been lovely movers. 

As she has grown, ZINNIA is a sportier mare but very much like her wonderful mother in temperment.  She was  amazingly friendly and fearless from the start. The proverbial "first to greet you" foal, she has matured into a calm and reliable mare who has just produced her first offspring, HAMLET.  Born very light in colour, her coat  has darkened to a rich gold, she is very solid under saddle and light  in harness.  Her movement is lovely - With an overall score of 82 at her Evaluation in 2009, she scored 8.5 and 9 on her walk and trot.   When Bob van Bon (then head of the Dutch studbook) was here to judge the 2003 Ontario Fjord show, he and long-time breeder Carol Rivoire (Beaver Dam Farm, NS) were both very impressed with her potential.  So were we, and that is why we have kept her as one of three mares we use for breeding on the farm.