DEEP CREEK FARM
Description of Norwegian Fjord (From Fjord Horse International (FHI))
Background and Distribution
The Fjordhorse, one of Norway’s three native breeds, is also one of the
world’s oldest and purest breeds. Breeding took place mainly in the west of
Norway so that the breed was also known as "Vestlandshesten" (the horse of the
western country).
Little is known about the origin of the breed. There are many similarities such
as color and primitive markings between the feral Przewalski horse and the
Fjord. The Fjord is rather like the European wild horse, the Tarpan, now extinct
in its natural state. However, the Fjord Horse does not descend from the
Przewalski Horse, as the Przewalski has 66 chromosomes, and the Fjord and Tarpan
64.
It is most likely that the horse came to Norway from the east. There seem to
have been wild horses in the south of Sweden and in Denmark since the last ice
age. Archaeological excavations reveal that the horse was domesticated in the
Bronze Age, circa 1200 BC. Viking burial grounds show that man had bred the
horse for about 2000 years and it appears that the Fjord Horse is a descendant
of the earliest horses in Norway. Through the ages there has been a great deal
of contact between Norway, Iceland and the British Isles, and horses from these
lands across the sea have surely influenced the development of the breed.
Today the Fjord is to be found throughout Norway, but the majority is bred in
the West. There is a widespread interest in the breed and a considerable number
of Fjords are bred both in Europe and in the USA and Canada. According to the
conference of Rio and the EU regulations for animal breeding, Norway is the
“Mother country of the Fjord Horse”. Regarding to this fact Norges Fjordhestlag
and Norsk Hestesenter strengthened their responsibility for the breed and
started specific international promotion of the Fjord Horse..
Description of the Fjord Horse
The general appearance of the Fjord Horse shall be strongly built, hardy, well
proportioned and athletic, a horse with great presence and charm. The horse
shall be co-operative, dependable, willing, and calm in most situations and have
natural, well-balanced movements. The Fjord shall be a versatile riding, driving
and draught horse. The conformation of the Fjord should assure that he moves
equally well in difficult terrain as on the flat.
With these qualities the Fjord Horse should be easy to handle and suitable for
family use, and in different activities as in riding schools, competitions and
for leisure.
Colors and markings:
The five accepted colors are brown dun, uls (white) dun, grey, red dun and
yellow dun. It is important that the so-called primitive markings are
appreciated and preserved.
A star is only accepted on a mare. Other visible markings are not accepted
The Fjord is easy to feed, strong, tough but docile, with a capacity for working
long hours, day after day under difficult conditions. This together with its
versatility made the Fjord Horse very suitable for work on the small farms in
the West Country long before mechanization began.
Versatility is a key word when describing the Fjordhorse. Traditionally the
Fjord has been used on the farm, moving timber as well as being used as a
packhorse, or pulling the flight or the farm wagon. His good temperament, sure
footedness and adaptability are a great advantage in the rugged country of the
West. Many farmers also hired out their horses to tourists and the local priest
or the doctor drove with their two-wheel carriage pulled by a Fjord Horse to
their duties around the parish.
In later years the Fjord became a popular leisure and family horse. The Fjord of
today is bred for both riding and driving and is capable of performing well in
driving and endurance riding and can also perform adequately in elementary
dressage and cross-country jumping classes. The Fjord is used extensively in
riding schools and riding for the disabled.
The tourist industry along the West Country fjords of Norway has always used the
Fjordhorse as an important means of transport and as a good representative for
Norwegian culture with a today status of a national symbol. So the Fjordhorse
was also represented in the Winter Olympics at Lillehammer in 1994 and with the
two other Norwegian native breeds, the Døle horse and the Northlands horse
safely drove many winning competitors and celebrities to the different
activities. During the summers the Fjordhorse was and is carrying and driving
many tourists back and forth to waterfalls and glaciers.