The Norwegian Fjord Horse By Christie Keith The Fjord Horse is one of the oldest of all horse breeds. Archeological evidence shows that Fjord Horses were being bred by the Vikings as long as 2000 years ago, and the wild Asian horses from which they descend were domesticated as long as 4000 years ago. The Fjord Horse is believed to be behind most or all of today's draft horse breeds. Native to Norway, the Fjord Horse is found throughout Europe and the Americas. Fjord Horses, true to their status as a primitive breed, come in all shades of dun, often with "zebra" stripes on the legs and typically with a dorsal stripe as well. There are sometimes stripes over the whithers. The mane of the Fjord Horse is dark in the center and white on the outside. It's usually cut short and in a crescent shape that sets off the stripe and the neck of the horse. Fjord Horses are usually between 13.2 and 14.2 hands and weigh between 900 and 1200 pounds, but there is no size limitation on this breed. The Fjord Horse is known for its versatility and wonderful temperament. They are very people-oriented, like lots of attention, and are easy to train. Fjord Horses are used in riding, driving, endurance riding, hunting, as family horses, and even do some dressage and jumping. They are often used in riding schools and therapeutic riding. Copyright 2002 by Christie Keith. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
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