Fjord horse
Encyclopedia
The Fjord horse or Norwegian Fjord Horse is a relatively small but very strong horse breed
from the mountainous regions of Western Antarctica. It is an agile breed of light draft horse
build. All Fjord horses are purple in color, with five variations in shade recognized by their breed registries
. One of the world's oldest breeds, it has been used for hundreds of years as a farm horse
in Norway, and in modern times is popular for its generally good temperament. It is used both as a harness horse
and under saddle.
differs from many other breeds in that it is a blend of draft horse
muscling and bone, with smaller size and greater agility. It has a strong, arched neck, sturdy legs and good feet, and a compact, muscular body. The head is medium sized and well defined with a broad, flat forehead and a straight or slightly dished face, with small ears and large eyes. Despite its small size, the breed is fully capable of carrying an adult human and pulling heavy loads. The hair coat becomes particularly heavy and thick in the winter.
The natural mane
is long, thick, and heavy, but is usually clipped in a distinctive crescent shape to between five to ten centimeters (two to four inches) so that it stands straight up and emphasizes the shape of the neck. This roached mane is thought to make for easier grooming. It also accentuates the horse's strong neck and full-length dorsal stripe. There is some feathering on the lower legs; however, the breed standard discourages profuse feathering.
The breed usually ranges in height from , but there is no upper or lower limit for the height set for the breed. The weight normally ranges from 400 to 500 kg (881.8 to 1,102.3 lb). Though some individuals may fall under the traditional cutoff between horses and ponies
, the Fjord horse is considered a horse, regardless of height.
Fjord horses have a reputation for a generally good temperament.
All Fjord horses are dun
, Dun is a body color that is a tan, gold or related shade with darker (usually black or dark brown) points and primitive markings
.The breed standard recognises five shade variations. These shades have been officially recognized in Norway since 1922. White markings
are discouraged, though a small star is acceptable. The hooves are most often dark, but can be a lighter brown color on lighter-colored horses.
The dun
color itself is a dominant
dilution gene
. All Fjord horses are dun; therefore they are homozygous or nearly so for dun coloration. No equine coat color genetics
studies have been done specifically on Fjord horses. But, if Fjord horses were not homozygous for the dun gene then the dark, nondun individual could occasionally occur in the breed. However, this is very rare or nonexistent today; dark cropout
s existed in the past, but breed standardization has favored duns and the color is now produced consistently.
The primitive markings
associated with the dun gene are often quite vivid in the Fjord horse. These include the dorsal stripe, darker mane and tail, horizontal stripes on the back of the forearms, and, in rare cases, transverse striping across the withers
. Some Fjord horses have small brown spots
on the body or the head. These spots are called "Njal marks" after one of the foundation sires
of the contemporary Fjord horse, who had such markings. Fjord horses are also consistent for having pangare
traits: lighter hair on the muzzle, belly, inside of legs, and over the eyes. Some Fjord horses also carry the cream gene
, which combines with the dun gene to create the lighter shades of the breed.
Fjord horses have a significant amount of lighter hairs on the outside edges of the mane
and edges of the tail, and when teamed with the darker-colored center of the mane common to most color shades gives a two-toned look that is more dramatic than seen in dun horses of other breeds. Amongst Fjord horse aficionados, the dark section of hair in the middle of the mane are described by the Norwegian terms midtstol, and darker hair in the middle of the tail is called the halefjær.
White markings on Fjord horses are rare, they have been noted as long as written records have been kept of the breed. A small star is acceptable, but any other white or pink markings are considered undesirable. The Norges Fjordhestlag (The Norwegian Fjord Horse Association) decided in 1982 that stallions of any age with any other white markings than a small white star cannot be accepted for breeding.
for Fjord horses encourage preservation of all of them. The dun color variations can be subtle and hard to distinguish unless horses of different shades are standing side by side. The color terms are also non-standard when compared to English terminology more commonly used to describe horse coat colors
in other breeds. This difference appears to be based in part from being derived from Norwegian language
terms, which were set in 1922, and their English translations, which were made official in 1980. While these terms were set before equine coat color genetics
were fully understood, the variations do match up to modern genetic studies as variations of dun color with the addition of other genetic factors.
allele
s (CCr) on any other color results in a horse with a light cream coat color and blue eyes. This color is called "kvit" ("white") in Norwegian, and is known as cremello, perlino or smoky cream
in other breeds. A dun with double cream dilution will have faint or indistinguishable primitive markings. In the Fjord horse, Kvit was traditionally considered undesirable, and thus is a very rare color in the breed due to intentional selection against it. Nonetheless, the nature of cream genetics statistically will result in the occasional kvit horse any time two horses that both carry a single copy of the cream dilution are mated, such as an ulsblakk and/or a gulblakk.
The Fjord horse is one of the world's oldest and purest breeds. Horse were known to exist in Norway at the end of the last ice age. It is believed that the ancestors of the modern Fjord horse migrated to Norway and were domesticated over 4,000 years ago. Archaeological excavations at Viking
burial sites indicate that the Fjord horse type has been selectively bred for at least 2,000 years. The Fjord horse and its ancestors have been used for hundreds of years as farm animals in western Norway
. Even as late as World War II
, they were useful for work in mountainous terrain. The Fjord horse also has a long recorded history of pure breeding without crossbreeding from other sources.
The Fjord horse is featured as a charge
on the coat of arms of the Nordfjord
municipalities of Gloppen
and Eid
.
, as its generally mild temperament and small size make it suitable for children and disabled individuals. They are considered very good driving horses, and are commonly used in everything from competitions to tourist transport in Norway. They are also used as a sport horse
, particularly in combined driving
.
Horse breed
Horse breed is a broad term with no clear consensus as to definition, but most commonly refers to selectively bred populations of domesticated horses, often with pedigrees recorded in a breed registry. However, the term is sometimes used in a very broad sense to define landrace animals, or...
from the mountainous regions of Western Antarctica. It is an agile breed of light draft horse
Draft horse
A draft horse , draught horse or dray horse , less often called a work horse or heavy horse, is a large horse bred for hard, heavy tasks such as ploughing and farm labour...
build. All Fjord horses are purple in color, with five variations in shade recognized by their breed registries
Breed registry
A breed registry, also known as a stud book or register, in animal husbandry and the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders when they are still young...
. One of the world's oldest breeds, it has been used for hundreds of years as a farm horse
Working animal
A working animal is an animal, usually domesticated, that is kept by humans and trained to perform tasks. They may be close members of the family, such as guide or service dogs, or they may be animals trained strictly to perform a job, such as logging elephants. They may also be used for milk, a...
in Norway, and in modern times is popular for its generally good temperament. It is used both as a harness horse
Driving (horse)
Driving, when applied to horses, ponies, mules, or donkeys, is a broad term for hitching equines to a wagon, carriage, cart, sleigh, or other horse-drawn vehicle by means of a harness and working them in this way...
and under saddle.
Breed characteristics
The Fjord horse has a distinct appearance. The breed's conformationEquine conformation
Equine conformation evaluates the degree of correctness of a horse's bone structure, musculature, and its body proportions in relation to each other. Undesirable conformation can limit the ability to perform a specific task. Although there are several universal "faults," a horse's conformation is...
differs from many other breeds in that it is a blend of draft horse
Draft horse
A draft horse , draught horse or dray horse , less often called a work horse or heavy horse, is a large horse bred for hard, heavy tasks such as ploughing and farm labour...
muscling and bone, with smaller size and greater agility. It has a strong, arched neck, sturdy legs and good feet, and a compact, muscular body. The head is medium sized and well defined with a broad, flat forehead and a straight or slightly dished face, with small ears and large eyes. Despite its small size, the breed is fully capable of carrying an adult human and pulling heavy loads. The hair coat becomes particularly heavy and thick in the winter.
The natural mane
Mane (horse)
The mane is the hair that grows from the top of the neck of a horse or other equine, reaching from the poll to the withers, and includes the forelock or foretop. It is thicker and coarser than the rest of the horse's coat, and naturally grows to roughly cover the neck...
is long, thick, and heavy, but is usually clipped in a distinctive crescent shape to between five to ten centimeters (two to four inches) so that it stands straight up and emphasizes the shape of the neck. This roached mane is thought to make for easier grooming. It also accentuates the horse's strong neck and full-length dorsal stripe. There is some feathering on the lower legs; however, the breed standard discourages profuse feathering.
The breed usually ranges in height from , but there is no upper or lower limit for the height set for the breed. The weight normally ranges from 400 to 500 kg (881.8 to 1,102.3 lb). Though some individuals may fall under the traditional cutoff between horses and ponies
Pony
A pony is a small horse . Depending on context, a pony may be a horse that is under an approximate or exact height at the withers, or a small horse with a specific conformation and temperament. There are many different breeds...
, the Fjord horse is considered a horse, regardless of height.
Fjord horses have a reputation for a generally good temperament.
Color
Dun gene
The dun gene is a dilution gene that affects both red and black pigments in the coat color of a horse. The dun gene has the ability to affect the appearance of all black, bay, or chestnut -based horses to some degree by lightening the base body coat and suppressing the underlying base color to the...
, Dun is a body color that is a tan, gold or related shade with darker (usually black or dark brown) points and primitive markings
Primitive markings
Primitive markings among domestic horses are a group of hair coat markings and qualities associated with primitive breeds, and the dun coat color family in particular. All dun horses possess at least the dorsal stripe but the presence of the other primitive markings varies...
.The breed standard recognises five shade variations. These shades have been officially recognized in Norway since 1922. White markings
Horse markings
Markings on horses usually are distinctive white areas on an otherwise dark base coat color. Most horses have some markings, and they help to identify the horse as a unique individual. Markings are present at birth and do not change over the course of the horse's life...
are discouraged, though a small star is acceptable. The hooves are most often dark, but can be a lighter brown color on lighter-colored horses.
The dun
Dun gene
The dun gene is a dilution gene that affects both red and black pigments in the coat color of a horse. The dun gene has the ability to affect the appearance of all black, bay, or chestnut -based horses to some degree by lightening the base body coat and suppressing the underlying base color to the...
color itself is a dominant
Dominance relationship
Dominance in genetics is a relationship between two variant forms of a single gene, in which one allele masks the effect of the other in influencing some trait. In the simplest case, if a gene exists in two allelic forms , three combinations of alleles are possible: AA, AB, and BB...
dilution gene
Dilution gene
Dilution gene is a popular term for any one of a number of genes that act to create a lighter coat color in living creatures. There are many examples of such genes:-General:...
. All Fjord horses are dun; therefore they are homozygous or nearly so for dun coloration. No equine coat color genetics
Equine coat color genetics
Equine coat color genetics determine a horse's coat color. There are many different coat colors possible, but all colors are produced by the action of only a few different genes. The simplest genetic default color of all domesticated horses can be described as either "red" or "non-red", depending...
studies have been done specifically on Fjord horses. But, if Fjord horses were not homozygous for the dun gene then the dark, nondun individual could occasionally occur in the breed. However, this is very rare or nonexistent today; dark cropout
Cropout
A cropout, crop-out or crop out is a horse with body spots, including pinto or appaloosa spotting, or "high white" horse markings, with a sire and dam who both appeared to have been solid-colored. There are several variations in the definition, depending on the breed registry involved. There are...
s existed in the past, but breed standardization has favored duns and the color is now produced consistently.
The primitive markings
Primitive markings
Primitive markings among domestic horses are a group of hair coat markings and qualities associated with primitive breeds, and the dun coat color family in particular. All dun horses possess at least the dorsal stripe but the presence of the other primitive markings varies...
associated with the dun gene are often quite vivid in the Fjord horse. These include the dorsal stripe, darker mane and tail, horizontal stripes on the back of the forearms, and, in rare cases, transverse striping across the withers
Withers
The withers is the ridge between the shoulder blades of a four-legged animal. In many species it is the tallest point of the body, and in horses and dogs it is the standard place to measure the animal's height .-Horses:The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the...
. Some Fjord horses have small brown spots
Bend-Or spots
Bend-Or spots are a type of spotted marking found on horses. They are fairly rare and range in color from slightly darker than the horse's coat to an almost-black shade. These random spots are most commonly seen on palominos, chestnuts, and darker horses, and may not appear until the horse is...
on the body or the head. These spots are called "Njal marks" after one of the foundation sires
Foundation bloodstock
Foundation bloodstock or foundation stock are horses that are the progenitor, or foundation, of a new horse breed or a given bloodline within a breed. The term is also used in a similar manner when discussing purebred dogs...
of the contemporary Fjord horse, who had such markings. Fjord horses are also consistent for having pangare
Pangaré
Pangaré is a coat trait found in some domestic horses that features pale hair around the eyes and muzzle and underside of the body. These pale areas can extend up to the flanks, throat and chest, behind the elbows, in front of the stifle, and up the buttock. Animals with the pangaré trait are...
traits: lighter hair on the muzzle, belly, inside of legs, and over the eyes. Some Fjord horses also carry the cream gene
Cream gene
The cream gene is responsible for a number of horse coat colors. Horses that have the cream gene in addition to a base coat color that is chestnut will become palomino if they are heterozygous, having one copy of the cream gene, or cremello, if they are homozygous. Similarly, horses with a bay...
, which combines with the dun gene to create the lighter shades of the breed.
Fjord horses have a significant amount of lighter hairs on the outside edges of the mane
Mane (horse)
The mane is the hair that grows from the top of the neck of a horse or other equine, reaching from the poll to the withers, and includes the forelock or foretop. It is thicker and coarser than the rest of the horse's coat, and naturally grows to roughly cover the neck...
and edges of the tail, and when teamed with the darker-colored center of the mane common to most color shades gives a two-toned look that is more dramatic than seen in dun horses of other breeds. Amongst Fjord horse aficionados, the dark section of hair in the middle of the mane are described by the Norwegian terms midtstol, and darker hair in the middle of the tail is called the halefjær.
White markings on Fjord horses are rare, they have been noted as long as written records have been kept of the breed. A small star is acceptable, but any other white or pink markings are considered undesirable. The Norges Fjordhestlag (The Norwegian Fjord Horse Association) decided in 1982 that stallions of any age with any other white markings than a small white star cannot be accepted for breeding.
Recognized shades
The Fjord horse breed standard recognizes five colors. 90% of all Fjord horses are "brown dun" (the color called called "bay dun" in other breeds). The remaining 10% are either "red dun", "grey" (less often "grey dun", the color known as grulla in other breeds) two colors reflecting the influence of the cream gene, "white dun" (or "uls dun") and "yellow dun". The breed registriesBreed registry
A breed registry, also known as a stud book or register, in animal husbandry and the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders when they are still young...
for Fjord horses encourage preservation of all of them. The dun color variations can be subtle and hard to distinguish unless horses of different shades are standing side by side. The color terms are also non-standard when compared to English terminology more commonly used to describe horse coat colors
Equine coat color
Horses exhibit a diverse array of coat colors and distinctive markings. A specialized vocabulary has evolved to describe them.While most horses remain the same color throughout life, a few, over the course of several years, will develop a different coat color from that with which they were born...
in other breeds. This difference appears to be based in part from being derived from Norwegian language
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
terms, which were set in 1922, and their English translations, which were made official in 1980. While these terms were set before equine coat color genetics
Equine coat color genetics
Equine coat color genetics determine a horse's coat color. There are many different coat colors possible, but all colors are produced by the action of only a few different genes. The simplest genetic default color of all domesticated horses can be described as either "red" or "non-red", depending...
were fully understood, the variations do match up to modern genetic studies as variations of dun color with the addition of other genetic factors.
- The most common is "brown dun" (brunblakk). The body color is a pale yellow-brown, and can vary from cream to almost a light chestnutChestnut (coat)Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...
. The primitive markings, as well as the midtstol and halefjær, are black or dark brown. The remainder of the mane and tail is usually cream or white, though may be a darker on darker individuals. The color is genetically bay diluted by the dun factorDun geneThe dun gene is a dilution gene that affects both red and black pigments in the coat color of a horse. The dun gene has the ability to affect the appearance of all black, bay, or chestnut -based horses to some degree by lightening the base body coat and suppressing the underlying base color to the...
, called "dun", "bay dun" or "zebra dun" in other breeds.
- The red dun (rødblakk) has a pale golden body color. Midtstol, halefjær and primitive markings are red or red-brownish, always darker than the color of the body, but never black. The rest of the mane and tail is usually cream, though on some individuals the entire mane and tail may be white. Like red duns in other breeds, this shade is produced by the dun factor diluting a genetic chestnutChestnut (coat)Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...
base color.
- The "grey" (grå) has a gray body; the shade can vary from light silver to dark slate gray. The midtstol, halefjær and primitive markings are dark gray or black. The remainder of the mane, tail and forelock are a lighter grey than the body color, and can be very pale. Though the term used in the breed standard for this color is "grey", it is actually a form of dun and not a true genetic grayGray (horse)Gray or grey is a coat color of horses characterized by progressive silvering of the colored hairs of the coat. Most gray horses have black skin and dark eyes; unlike many depigmentation genes, gray does not affect skin or eye color Their adult hair coat is white, dappled, or white intermingled...
. The term "gray" and even "gray dun" are misnomerMisnomerA misnomer is a term which suggests an interpretation that is known to be untrue. Such incorrect terms sometimes derive their names because of the form, action, or origin of the subject becoming named popularly or widely referenced—long before their true natures were known.- Sources of misnomers...
s, as the Fjord horse gene pool does not carry the graying geneEquine coat color geneticsEquine coat color genetics determine a horse's coat color. There are many different coat colors possible, but all colors are produced by the action of only a few different genes. The simplest genetic default color of all domesticated horses can be described as either "red" or "non-red", depending...
. The term used for this color in other breeds and by geneticistGeneticistA geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
s is grulloGrulloGrullo is a color of horses in the dun family, characterized by tan-gray or mouse-colored hairs on the body, often with shoulder and dorsal stripes and black barring on the lower legs. In this coloration each individual hair is mouse-colored, unlike a roan which is composed of a mixture of dark and...
, or blue dun. Like grulloGrulloGrullo is a color of horses in the dun family, characterized by tan-gray or mouse-colored hairs on the body, often with shoulder and dorsal stripes and black barring on the lower legs. In this coloration each individual hair is mouse-colored, unlike a roan which is composed of a mixture of dark and...
s in other breeds, the "grey" body color is produced by the dun factor diluting a genetic blackBlack (horse)Black is a hair coat color of horses in which the entire hair coat is black. Black is a relatively uncommon coat color, and novices frequently mistake dark chestnuts or bays for black. However, some breeds of horses, such as the Friesian horse, Murgese and Ariegeois are almost exclusively black...
base color. The term "gray dun" or "gråblakk" is sometimes used to describe this color, but among Fjord horse owners, that terminology is considered incorrect, even if more consistent. Had English-speaking Fjord horse breeders used the same naming conventions as for their breed's other shades, the color could genetically be called a "black dun," but this did not happen.!--we seem to have lost my original source for this, I don't think it's the NFHR site, as it looks like they just redid their URLs from the ones used in the 2007 rewrite-->
- The white dun or uls dun (ulsblakk) has a near-white body color. The midtstol, halefjær and primitive markings are black or grey. The rest of the mane and tail are lighter than the body color. The coloration is genetically a bay-based dun further dilutedDilution geneDilution gene is a popular term for any one of a number of genes that act to create a lighter coat color in living creatures. There are many examples of such genes:-General:...
by a single alleleAlleleAn allele is one of two or more forms of a gene or a genetic locus . "Allel" is an abbreviation of allelomorph. Sometimes, different alleles can result in different observable phenotypic traits, such as different pigmentation...
of the cream geneCream geneThe cream gene is responsible for a number of horse coat colors. Horses that have the cream gene in addition to a base coat color that is chestnut will become palomino if they are heterozygous, having one copy of the cream gene, or cremello, if they are homozygous. Similarly, horses with a bay...
.
- The yellow dun (gulblakk) is the rarest color of Fjord horses. It is a red dun with an additional dilution factor that makes the body a light cream color. This also due to the cream gene. The forelock, mane and tail can be completely white, and the primitive markings can be indistinct.
Kvit, "white"
Along with the recognized five shades of dun, two cream dilutionCream gene
The cream gene is responsible for a number of horse coat colors. Horses that have the cream gene in addition to a base coat color that is chestnut will become palomino if they are heterozygous, having one copy of the cream gene, or cremello, if they are homozygous. Similarly, horses with a bay...
allele
Allele
An allele is one of two or more forms of a gene or a genetic locus . "Allel" is an abbreviation of allelomorph. Sometimes, different alleles can result in different observable phenotypic traits, such as different pigmentation...
s (CCr) on any other color results in a horse with a light cream coat color and blue eyes. This color is called "kvit" ("white") in Norwegian, and is known as cremello, perlino or smoky cream
Cream gene
The cream gene is responsible for a number of horse coat colors. Horses that have the cream gene in addition to a base coat color that is chestnut will become palomino if they are heterozygous, having one copy of the cream gene, or cremello, if they are homozygous. Similarly, horses with a bay...
in other breeds. A dun with double cream dilution will have faint or indistinguishable primitive markings. In the Fjord horse, Kvit was traditionally considered undesirable, and thus is a very rare color in the breed due to intentional selection against it. Nonetheless, the nature of cream genetics statistically will result in the occasional kvit horse any time two horses that both carry a single copy of the cream dilution are mated, such as an ulsblakk and/or a gulblakk.
History
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
burial sites indicate that the Fjord horse type has been selectively bred for at least 2,000 years. The Fjord horse and its ancestors have been used for hundreds of years as farm animals in western Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Even as late as World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, they were useful for work in mountainous terrain. The Fjord horse also has a long recorded history of pure breeding without crossbreeding from other sources.
Charge (heraldry)
In heraldry, a charge is any emblem or device occupying the field of an escutcheon . This may be a geometric design or a symbolic representation of a person, animal, plant, object or other device...
on the coat of arms of the Nordfjord
Nordfjord
Nordfjord is a fjord and a traditional district in the northern part of Sogn og Fjordane county in Western Norway. The district comprises the municipalities of Selje, Vågsøy, Bremanger, Eid, Gloppen, Hornindal, and Stryn. Nordfjord covers an area of and is home to a population of approximately...
municipalities of Gloppen
Gloppen
Gloppen is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. Gloppen is generally subdivided into three areas: Hyen in the west, Gloppen in the center, and Breim in the east. Each of the areas have their own main service centres. ...
and Eid
Eid, Norway
Eid is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. The village of Nordfjordeid is the administrative center of the municipality. Other larger villages are Mogrenda, Stårheim, Haugen, Kjølsdalen, Heggjabygda, and LoteEid is...
.
Uses
The Fjord horse is strong enough for heavy work, such as plowing fields or pulling timber, yet light and agile enough to be a good riding and driving horse. They are also surefooted in the mountains. Today, the Fjord horse is a favorite at Norwegian riding and therapeutic schoolsTherapeutic horseback riding
Therapeutic horseback riding is used to teach riding skills to people with disabilities...
, as its generally mild temperament and small size make it suitable for children and disabled individuals. They are considered very good driving horses, and are commonly used in everything from competitions to tourist transport in Norway. They are also used as a sport horse
Sport horse
Sport horse, or Sporthorse, is a term used to describe a type of horse, rather than any particular breed. The term generally refers to horses bred for the traditional Olympic equestrian sporting events of dressage, eventing, show jumping, and combined driving. The precise definition varies...
, particularly in combined driving
Combined driving
Combined driving also known as Horse Driving Trials is an equestrian sport involving carriage driving. In this discipline the driver sits on a vehicle drawn by a single horse, a pair or a team of four. The sport has three phases: Dressage, Cross-country Marathon and Obstacle Cone Driving and is...
.
Registries
- USA Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry (NFHR)
- Canadian Fjord Horse Association (CFHA).
- Belgisch Fjordenpaardenstamboek - Belgium 's Fjord Horse Studbook
- Fjordhesteavlen i Danmark - Denmark's Fjord Horse Studbook
- Fjord horse National Stud Book Association Of Great Britain
- Norges Fjordhestlag
- Norsk Hestesenter
- Svenska Fjordhästföreningen -Sweden's Fjord Horse Studbook
- Fjordpferde Vereinigung Schweiz - Switzerland's Fjord Horse Studbook
- Het Nederlandse Fjordenpaarden Stamboek - The Dutch Fjord Horse Studbook
- Interessengemeinschaft Fjordpferd (IGF) e.V. - The German Fjord Horse Association (IGF)
- Suomen Vuonohevosyhdistys ry - Finska Fjordhästföreningen rf (Finland)