Fjord horse

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Fjord

The Fjord horse (known in Norway as a fjording) is a rather short but very strong breed of horse from the mountainous regions of western Norway. It ranges from 137 to 147 centimetres (approximately 13.2 to 14.2 hands) in height and weighs from 400 to 550 kilograms (about 882 to 1210 lb), which classifies it as a pony according to international rules (though it is always called a horse in Norway). This breed is one of the world’s oldest and purest breeds. It is believed that the ancestors of the Fjord horse migrated to Norway and were domesticated over 4,000 years ago.^{[citation needed]} Archeological excavations at Viking burial sites indicate the Fjord horse has been selectively bred for 2,000 years.^{[citation needed]}

It has a strong neck, good feet, and a compact, muscular body. Despite its small size, it is fully capable of carrying an adult human and pulling heavy loads. It is always dun in color, brown dun being the most common. The Fjord also comes in three other varieties of Dun (color); grey, red, white and the extremely rare yellow. It has small brown marks over the eyes and on the checks and thighs. The ears bear dark outlines and tips. There is some "feathering" on the legs, and occasionally zebra-like dark horizontal stripes. The coat is thin and shiny in summer, but longer and furry in winter. The mane is long, thick, and heavy, but is usually clipped to between five to ten centimeters (two to four inches) so that it stands up, making grooming easier and accentuating the horse's strong neck and full-length dorsal stripe. In few other breeds does the dorsal stripe extend all the way from poll to tail. Fjords have their own unique conformation.

The fjord horse and its ancestors have been used for hundreds of years as farm animals in western Norway. The horse is strong enough for heavy work, such as plowing the fields or pulling timber, yet light and fast enough to be a good riding and driving horse.

Norwegian fjord grazing

Today, the fjord horse is a favourite at Norwegian riding and therapeutic schools, as its generally mild temperament and small size make it suitable for children and disabled individuals. It has also been used as a sport horse. Its ability to handle difficult terrain has led to achievement in show jumping and dressage where they have reached the highest levels. They are considered very good driving horses, and are commonly used in everything from competitions to tourist transport in Norway. Fjord horses were used in mountainous terrain during WWII, and in a tribute to their versitality, also served as food during the food shortages in the Netherlands in 1944-1945.