The Fjord Horse is a very unique and easily identifiable breed of horse that is native to western Norway. Also known as Norwegian Fjords, they are small but powerful horses with good agility and a calm disposition.

Fjord Horses have a distinct outline which is characterized by a strong, thick neck and often a concave face. They are always dark in color and have rudimentary markings, including a dorsal stripe and zebra markings on the legs. In some horses, horizontal stripes in the form of a zebra appear on the withers.

While the breed does not have specific height requirements, most Fjord horses stand between 13.1 and 14.2 hands at the withers. It is equally suitable for riding and driving, and many people consider it in all respects.

Here are ten interesting facts about Fjord Horses  :

1. The fjord horse is an ancient and pure breed

Fjord horses are considered one of the oldest horse breeds in the world. The common belief is that their ancestors migrated from Asia to Norway, where local people domesticated them about 4,000 years ago.

The Fjord Horse is also one of the purest breeds on the planet, with little influence over other breeds. The fjords are believed to be related to the primitive Przewalski’s horse, with which it shares many characteristics.

Excavations at Viking burial sites have revealed that Fjord Horses have been selectively bred for the past 2,000 years.

Before mechanization, Norwegian Fjord horses were mainly used as farm horses. The breed was used extensively in World War II and came in handy in mountainous terrain.

The breed’s toughness, strength, and maneuverability made these horses indispensable to local communities.

2. Fjord horses were once crossbred with Doles

In the 19th century, many breeders experimented with crossing Fjors horses with Norwegian Doles to improve the breed. Also known for being strong and graceful, Dole horses are slightly taller than fjords.

Read our guide on how much a horse can pull to learn more about horse power.

After a few generations, it became clear that Dole was detrimental to the breed. Certain undesirable characteristics began to appear, such as unattractive coloring and violent temper.

According to Karina Breeze, by 1907, breeders decided to remove all traces of Dole’s blood from the Fjord Horse breed.

Once the decision was made, a stallion called Najal was chosen to restore the breed. During the 12 years of his life, Najal became the founding father of the modern strait horse. All members of the breed today trace their ancestors to this prominent and influential stallion.

3. Vikings war escalates

The history of the Fjord Horses is closely related to Viking Norway. The Vikings valued these brave and strong horses and often rode them to fight. They also played an essential role in the selective breeding and improvement of these horses.

It is no surprise that Fjord Horses are a national pride in Norway. Two municipalities in Nordfjord, southwest Norway, even display the Fjord Horse on their coat of arms!

4. Norwegian Fjords have five recognized shades of dun

As of 1922, the Fjord Horse breed society recognizes five different degrees of dun in the breed. These are brown don, red don, gray don, white don, yellow don. There are also light cream colored horses with blue eyes referred to as “white” (  Norwegian kvit  ), but this color is not desirable in the breed.

Brown is the shade you’ll encounter most often in the Fjord Horse. Approximately 90% of all strait horses are brown, with the other four shades making up the remaining 10%. The breed community aims to preserve all existing shades.

Although they are often difficult to distinguish, the five shades differ in their genes. All Fjord horses carry the “dun factor,” the gene responsible for converting base coat color to dun color.

The brown don is created when the strait horse has the color of the base of the bay. On the other hand, the base color is chestnut for the red color, black for the gray color, and cream for the white color, resulting in distinct shades of don.

The Yellow Don is the recognized rarest shade of the Fjord Horse breed. Its genetic profile is similar to red, but the extra lightening factor creates this light shade. Yellow coats often have white tails and tails, and their rudimentary markings are usually faint.

5. White marks are undesirable in the breed

White markings are typical of most horse breeds, but not Fjords. The official breed standard considers any horse with white markings other than a small star to be unacceptable for breeding.

White Marking Horse breeders have opposed the white markings for centuries to create a consistent look for the breed. The Little White Star was only acceptable because one of the foundation stallions also had one.

6. Fjord horses are strong for their size

Despite their small size, gorges are considered horses, not ponies. Its unique shape combines the muscles and bones of a traction horse with a compact build and greater agility.

Fjord horses are surprisingly strong for their size and will carry an adult human easily. They are also known for being confident and reliable over rough terrain.

7. Strait horses have a uniform hairstyle

You are probably familiar with the mores classic Fjord Horses. This breed of horse has a naturally long and thick mane that can become high maintenance if left untrimmed.

To make grooming easier and emphasize the neck arch, Fjord Horse owners traditionally clip the horse’s sticks 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm) long.

This design causes the man to stand upright, giving the horses a true “Viking” appearance. Since the outer edges of the mane are a shade lighter than the darker middle, some owners have cut these hairs shorter to emphasize the contrast between the two colors.

8. Fjords are folk healing horses

The various characteristics of the Fjord Horse make it ideal for equine-assisted therapy. Their excellent demeanor and consistently calm demeanor make them safe to be near vulnerable individuals.

Furthermore, Fjord Horses have a naturally swaying back and are comfortable to ride, which is another reason why they are a popular choice for riding schools and equine therapy centers. Their gentle and gentle nature also makes the Fjord a suitable horse for children.

In Norway, Fjord Horses often transport tourists in carriages or compete in shared driving. There is nothing these talented little horses will not do, be it English or Western riding, driving or natural dressage.

9. Most fjord horses live long lives

In this aspect, the fjords are similar to the Haflinger breed. They have a high average lifespan and will do well into their 30s.

Karina Breeze mentions a Fjord Horse called Gjest which, despite being over thirty years old, is still active in his local breeding programme.

With good care and a healthy lifestyle, Fjord Horses have the potential to stay with us for a very long time.

10. A ‘good’ strait horse must get at least 70/100

The breed community shows Fjord Horses score between 0-100 with regard to their formation and performance.

Fjord horses with a minimum score of 70 are considered acceptable. Horses rated 80 or higher are ideal.