Norwegian fjord horse

The Norwegian fjord horse originally comes from western Norway, and is one of the oldest and purest breeds of horse in the world. Norwegians have bred horses since the Viking Age, and today’s Norwegian fjord horse is probably descended from these horses.

Western Norway has bare agricultural and forest areas with predominantly mountainous terrain. Because of the tough conditions of the Norwegian mountain terrain, the Norwegian fjord horse has developed into a very strong, hardy horse with an incredible sense of balance.

A strong but agile horse

The Norwegian fjord horse has a height at the withers of 135–150 cm. It is mobile and agile despite its strong build and is unusually sure-footed, enabling it to make its way across any terrain. The Norwegian fjord horse has a calm temperament, but is nevertheless lively and outgoing.

The horse’s colour is called ‘dun’, with variations from dark brown to white. The breed is characterised by its close-cropped mane, which is cut into a curved shape and stands straight up. Another feature of the Norwegian fjord horse is the long dark stripe that runs from its forehead and along its back to its tail. This stripe is called an eel.

From agriculture to dressage

The Norwegian fjord horse was originally mostly used in agriculture and forestry, but in recent years it has also been used as a competition horse in dressage, show jumping and driving.