HISTORY OF THE FJORD HORSE
Way back in time, it is believed that a large scale migration of animals took place
when most of Europe was conjoined. The Fjord Horse will almost certainly have
been one such migrator. It bears a considerable resemblance to the original wild
horse. which was named after its discoverer, Colonel N. Przevalski who
discovered it in the 19th century. The Fjord certainly has similar colour and
markings to its wild ancestor although it is usually taller.
INFLUENCE
Just as people who live in isolated areas are influenced through the generations
by nature, so too is the Fjord Horse. These isolated conditions have prevented
this ‘yellow horse’ from outcrossing with other equines for perhaps centuries
which is why it has retained its original wild colour characteristics which are
certainly present in other breeds but not dominant as in the Fjord Horse.
VIKINGS
The Fjord Horse was extensively used by the Vikings as a war horse and also as
an all purpose pack animal. The Fjord has been recognised in the Viking
runstone carvings in Norway, many of which depict fights between stallions.
This was perhaps the Viking way of selecting the strongest and fittest stallions to
carry on the genes which were vital for strength and durability for the many
tasks the Fjord was expected to perform.
ORIGINS
Its origins are believed to be in Western Norway which is noted for its rough,
mountainous terrain. More recent records show that the most important
breeding areas in Norway were Rogaland, Hordaland, Sogn og Fjordane and
More og Romsdal. Breeders in those areas formed what was known as the
Breeders Guild which The Norwegian State subsidised in order for breeders to
have quality stallions available to them for the important breeding programme
necessary to produce animals of good quality which were able to withstand the
rigours of working in the harsh terrain in all weathers. The amount that was
paid in by the Norwegian breeders was dependant on the quality of the stallion
available to them at any one time. Almost all of the breeders were members of
this Guild and the great majority of foals produced each year had a Guild
stallion as their sire.
MUSCULAR
Today, the Fjord Horse is to found throughout Scandinavia where it has been
and still is, asked to perform tasks that would be beyond the capabilities of many
other breeds today. It is extremely sure footed and will negotiate the most
treacherous paths even when heavily laden. This sure footed trait is in part due
to the very powerful muscular system in its neck and shoulder. This was
developed because it was equally important or in some cases, essential for the
Fjord to carry its load up steep inclines as well as to be capable of pulling the
load and vehicle behind it.
MOUNTAINS
The Fjord is still to be found in remote areas , especially in its native Norway
where it is difficult for motor vehicles or modern machinery to operate. The
Fjord is prized as an important member of the family in these mountainous
districts where the Fjord still partakes in the day to day tasks just as it always
has.
PROFESSOR
Until relatively recent times, The Fjord was still being used as a pack horse for
the Norwegian Army where it could negotiate steep inclines and hazardous paths
where machines could not go.
The German professor Hans Lowe, once said after observing a show with a
Fjord packhorse class in Bergen in 1958 ‘I do not think that any other horse
would be able to give such a good performance’.
NORWAY
Norway is of course the home of the Fjord Horse and the Mother Stud Book
Country or Cradle of the Race as it is known in European Commission language.
The task of ensuring that breed Societies such as ours continue to uphold the
correct, traditional breeding standards and quality of the Fjord Horse and of
ensuring that we all maintain proper records, falls to NORSK HESTESENTER
in Starum, Norway.
Norsk Hestesenter is the Norwegian Government Ministry of Agriculture
appointed Stud Book Authority for the Fjord Horse.
Tore Kvam, Norsk Hestesenter’s Breeding Advisor, has this highly important
task to perform and it is the duty of every Fjord Horse Association in Europe,
and perhaps the World, to give him and his Office every assistance in this
mighty project.
DENMARK
During the first half of the 19th Century, the Danish Association of Smallholders
Societies mounted an extensive lookout for suitable draught animals for its many
small farms scattered throughout the country.
The Association imported and tried many different breeds of horse & pony from
as many different countries.
The Fjord Horse proved to be by far the most outstanding, useful and versatile
of the small breeds. The Danes preferred the Fjord because it could be used on
both large and small farms and could carry out the work of the larger breeds
without carrying the unecessary extra bulk and therefore extra wear on the
land that the larger breeds caused.
IMPORTS
So, an importation programme got under way and thousands of Fjord Horses
were brought into Denmark from Norway and were soon to be seen carrying out
their daily tasks in farms scattered the length and breadth of Denmark.
GERMANY
The Germans too were quick to realise the potential of the hardy and versatile
Fjord Horse. This was first seen in the Northern Districts of Germany where,
because of the ever increasing popularity of the Fjord amongst the smallholders,
the Government of Lower Saxony imported a number of Fjord stallions for
breeding.
Over the years, there were some good stallions in the possession of private
breeders in Germany. One example was the stallion Hannibal who descended
from the stallion Hans from the Overgaard Stud. This stallion attained First
Prize and gold medal at Aalborg. Another example was Beate who attained
First Prize at Lemvig.
POPULAR
Thus, early breeding in Germany produced some good quality stock which
resulted in the German farmers and smallholders prizing the Fjord over and
above other horse imports, notably those from Eastern Europe.
The popularity of the Fjord soon spread to Eastern Germany where they also
imported good stallions for breeding.
OTHER COUNTRIES
The Fjord Horse is to be seen all over the world and there are Fjord Horse
Associations in of course Norway, Denmark, our society here in Great Britain,
Sweden, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Hungary, Canada &
USA. There are also Fjord Horses in Austria, Poland, Spain, Australia, New
Zealand and Chile.
Quite a cosmopolitan breed is our Fjord Horse.
Thank you Norway.
EFFICIENT
The Fjord is said to be capable of three quarters the work of the large Shires
without the extra work and care that the Shire and its large cousins require. It is
frugal and thrifty and can survive in conditions that many other breeds would
certainly not endure. It is an economical feeder and keeps in good shape
without too much difficulty. Hundreds of years of living in rough and tough
terrain, coupled with natural selection have made it a very efficient feed
conversion ‘unit’. What goes in gets used!
CALM
The Fjord is renowned for its extraordinary calm and even temper and
consequently it can be handled by almost any member of the family, making it
the ideal family horse of today. It is to be seen all over Europe and beyond at
family shows competing and providing healthy fun for its young riders and
giving them a sense of responsibility towards other creatures. Its unselfish
nature provides an excellent learning base for youngsters. It seems to have the
ability to carry on with its work whatever that may be without rancour. These
qualities make it an ideal adult mount and it is widely used for trekking and
long distance riding.
The reader will see that we attach great importance to the inherent soundness
and even temper of the Fjord by the fact that it is mentioned many times in this
article. We are proud of these important qualities and we want to make sure we
have impressed it upon you.
The Fjord has definitely moved with the times because it is just as much
appreciated today as a family mount and sporthorse as it was as a work horse in
the past.
CREDIT
A large amount of the credit for this must go to the Scandinavian Breed
Authorities, notably those of Norway and Denmark, for selectively breeding an
elegant riding horse of good conformation, type and temperament and yet they
have most certainly retained the inherent characteristics of the breed so valued
in days gone by. This has been achieved by selective breeding WITHIN the
breed. No outside infusion of blood has been allowed in order to produce what
we know as the Fjord Horse of today.
The Fjord is very hardy, making it an economical and reasonably cost efficient
member of the family.
The Fjord is very robust, so within reason it is ideal for those with only a basic
knowledge of equine husbandry. It is an ideal horse to ‘learn on’.
The Fjord is good natured. It is unsurpassed by any other breed for its even
temperament and tractability. A very necessary trait in a family horse.
TRUSTED
The Fjord is quick to learn, easy to teach and is very trusting. No wonder it very
quickly establishes itself as a valued member of the family much as it did in the
days when smallholders and farmers relied on it for their livlehood.
It is an ideal size, measuring on average between 137cm and 147cm at the
wither. It is neither too big for children nor too small for adults and it has a
tremendous weight carrying capability being able to carry a man all day long if
necessary. Of course it must, like any equine, be kept reasonably fit for such a
task and being fit is not being fat – a trait the modern Fjord is good at due to the
lush pasture family owners tend to keep it on.
DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Fjord is a regular winner in the Danish National Driving Championships
and it has not disgraced itself in the dressage world either.
In Germany the Fjord has been particularly successful in long distance riding
competitions and many German competitors have turned to the Fjord Horse for
this discipline of endurance.
SUCCESS
Such is the success of the Fjord Horse. As the Honourable Mrs Janet Kidd, who
was a renowned Fjord Horse breeder and highly successful competitor in Great
Britain once said –
‘they would climb a tree if I asked them to’
COLOUR
The Fjord Horse colour is dun (beige) with variant shades. It is widely
considered to be the original equine colour as it is also to be found in the Central
Asiatic wild horse. There are in fact variants of this original colour and further
details can be found in our ‘Breed Standards’ which you will find if you click
here. Albino animals have also been known. The brown dun is the most
common and seemed through the years to be the most favoured by breeders in
Scandinavia. In one of the old volumes of the Norwegian Stud Book, Volume 17,
where 734 mares were entered, just over 87% of foals born were brown dun .
DISTINCTIVE
The Fjord often has a dark dorsal stripe running from the poll to the tail. This
can be varied in its intensity from not visible to a very dark hue. This dorsal
stripe is the reason that the most distinctive feature of the Fjord, the mane, is so
apparent. The mane, with its darker inner hairs, is traditionally cut in a crescent
shape which takes some little while to master. The lighter outer hairs can be
either left at the same length as the darker inner hairs or it can be cut
approximately 3 centimetres (1 inch) shorter than the inner hairs, giving the
Fjord its distinctive, striking appearance.
TIPS
We have many tips on trimming the mane correctly so ask us for further
information if you would like to know more. The mane is never referred to as
hogged. Hogged means cut/clipped down to the neck. Even though the Fjord
will grow a long mane if left untrimmed, it looks at its very best with that
beautiful traditional crescent shape, carefully coiffured as if for the showring.
INFORMATION
We have lots more information on the breed so do get in contact with us if you
would like to learn more.
Don’t forget, before you leave the site, to read our fascinating History of the
Fjord in Great Britain. See how it has managed to win the hearts of so many
people despite our Country having a prolific choice of quality pony breeds to
choose from. We call the Fjord the:
VIKING INVADER
A very welcome one.