Holloway's Norwegian Fjord Horses

The Norwegian Fjord (pronounced fee-ord) horse is one of the very few surviving races of horses that has maintained its original characteristics. It is believed that the Norwegian Fjord horse was related to the Central Asian wild horse, the Przewalski, which migrated from Asia to Norway. Today they stand from 13 to 15 hands, and weigh from 1000 to 1400 pounds.

Although the Fjords are rather rare, the breed is becoming more popular as people are discovering the many attributes of these wonderful, all purpose horses.

The main characteristics of the Fjord are colour and markings. It is the only one of the domestic breeds which has maintained its original colour, "the wild colour," which is dun (or buckskin). The real "wild colours" are brown dun, red dun and grey. The other two fjord horse colours, Ulsdun (very light) and yellow, are brought out by a combination of the wild colour and the basic dun colour. All these main colours will appear in lighter and darker shades. The most common Fjord horse colour is brown dun.

Along with the dun colour, one finds the so-called primitive markings and off colours. These are the dark colour in the forelock, mane and tail, dark dorsal strip along the back, and "zebra stripes" on the legs. Occasionally stripes are to be found across the neck as well.

The foals vary in shades from light to dark off white colours and darken with maturity.

The Fjord horse has a tremendous stamina, a surprising ability to pull and carry, and an excellent trotting action. Most Fjords possess a well-balanced and gentle nature. It is not easily spooked, keeps calm in difficult situations and is energetic.

The Fjord is know for being agile and sure-footed in difficult terrain, which makes it an ideal horse for mountain packing and riding. Another of the Fjord horse’s highly valued assets is that it is a very good keeper, and usually does very well on hay alone.

The Fjord is a square, compact, strong, well-muscled animal with large, dark, gentle and wide set eyes. A small, neat, well-shaped concave head, with small alert ears, broad forehead and large jaws, is set on a powerful neck that merges into heavy shoulders. The mane is usually trimmed in the traditional style with the dark center slightly higher than the outside silver hairs. Withers are deep in the girth and have short legs with lots of bone, making sure-footed and hard to blemish.

All Fjords have a charming, gentle disposition with lots of personality and enjoy people. This disposition even shows in the newborn foal who loves to have children or adults pet or scratch it.

The gait of a Fjord is relatively smooth with a good walk or trot that will eat up the miles you ride or drive them.

They are an ideal horse for those with little horse experience wishing to buy a good, gentle natured horse. They do not frighten easily and react calmly in a bad situation, waiting patiently until someone comes to help.