Fjord Horse: Breed Profile

The Fjord horse, sometimes called the Norwegian Fjord Horse, has a distinctive appearance. This compact, hardy, mild-mannered horse may be small, but it’s strong enough to carry adults. The Fjord is a great choice for disciplines like dressage and driving, and if you’re looking for an equine partner who’s happy to go to work and who isn’t easily spooked, you’ll find it in this unique breed.

Fjord History and Origins

The Fjord has a rich history spanning thousands of years, making it one of the oldest horse breeds still in existence today. It may be related to the Przewalski horse, the primitive wild horse that once roamed across Asia. More than 4,000 years ago, the earliest Fjord ancestors were domesticated in Norway. These horses served on Norwegian farms for thousands of years, and the Vikings even rode them into war.

Though the Fjord has existed for thousands of years, it’s been selectively and carefully bred, so it’s a largely pure breed with little influence from other horse breeds. The breed remains highly prized in Norway for its historical significance and its many contributions to Norwegian’s lives.

Fjord Size

Fjords are small and compact, typically standing between 13.2 and 14.2 hands high, though the breed standard doesn’t have a height limit. These horses usually weigh between 900 and 1,000 pounds. While they may be small, they’re powerful and can easily carry adults.

Breeding and Uses

Fjords are carefully bred to retain the breed’s integrity and are used for both riding and driving. They’re sometimes used for lower-level dressage and cross-country schooling and competition. The breed has good endurance and makes a great trail mount. Because of its patient nature and calm demeanor, this breed is a preferred riding lesson and therapeutic riding lesson mount.

Colors and Markings

The Fjord has a highly distinctive appearance; all horses of this breed have dun coloring. Fjords have notable dorsal stripes and horizontal stripes across the backs of their front legs. Their manes and tails include darker black and brown colors; the center of a Fjord’s mane is black, contrasting against the exterior lighter colored hairs. Fjords’ manes are cut short so that they stand straight up. Many Fjords also have lighter colored muzzle and belly hair.

While all Fjords are dun, five different dun shades are recognized: Brown dun, red dun, grey, white dun, and yellow dun. As a result, their coats can vary from a light chestnut to cream to grey and red-brownish shades.