The Development of Fjord Horses

The Fjord, or Norwegian Fjord horse, is a small compact horse originating from western Norway. It is thought to be an ancient breed, and in appearance resembles the Asiatic wild horses familiar from cave paintings. Extremely strong for its size, it was used both for battle and agriculture over the centuries and is now a popular modern day riding horse. Despite standing only 14.2 hands high (56 inches), the Fjord is normally referred to as a horse rather than a pony due to its stocky, muscular physique.

  1. History of the Fjord

    • Many people believe that the Fjord has been domesticated for more than 4,000 years. It was certainly used by Vikings and appears in paintings and art from that period. The horses were used as pack ponies and war horses as well as taking part in "horse fights" where stallions were encouraged to fight each other. As the Viking era came to an end, the Fjords were used in agriculture. Fjord horses were introduced into other countries by Viking raids and many European breeds probably have some Fjord in their ancestry. In 1890, Fjords were officially imported into Britain to help improve breeding stock for the Highland pony.

    Conformation and Physique

    • The modern Fjord horse still looks almost identical to its ancestors, retaining the same physique and coloring. It bears the hallmarks of the primitive horse in its distinctive coloring and markings and in the shape of its head and neck. The head should have a broad, flat forehead tapering to a smaller muzzle and the profile of the nose should be straight rather than concave. The ears are short and set wide apart and the neck should be thick and well-muscled, rising to a defined crest. Overall, the horse should have a stocky, muscular appearance with a good depth of body and comparatively short legs.

    Coloring and Appearance

    • The Fjord is always the same color, a sandy brown known as "dun," although there are several variations. The mane and tail are attractive and unusual, being mostly black hair but bordered with silvery white hair. There is a dorsal stripe of black hair running along the ridge of the spine, and often "zebra bars" on the upper legs. These are diagonal black markings seen on zebra and other forms of primitive horse. The Fjord has a coarse, upright mane, again characteristic of its primitive origins. Traditionally, this is "hogged" or cut off at a couple of inches long, exposing the black hair at the crest of the neck.

    The Fjord in the U.S.

    • The first Fjord horse is thought to have arrived in the U.S. in the late 19th Century. However, it was not until the 1950s and '60s that much of the breeding stock was imported and a small number of enthusiasts began to breed the Fjord in earnest. The first breed show was held in 1983 and the U.S. breed society, the Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry, now has thousands of registered horses. The horses are extremely hardy and have calm, biddable temperaments, which has led to their popularity across the U.S. as riding and driving horses.