Norwegian Fjord Horse

Also Known As: Fjord Horse, Fjordhest, Fjording, Fjord


Perhaps Norway's most recognized breed, the Fjord Horse is considered a draught (draft) horse breed despite its short stature, and never called a pony. The Fjord is one of the world's oldest surviving breeds, and is known and popular world wide as a surefooted driving horse and ridden mount.


Though the breed does grow a naturally long, full mane like most horse breeds, the mane is traditionally clipped short in a crescent shape that is just 5 - 10 cm (2 - 4 inches) long so that it stands upright and shows off both the shape of the neck and the unique two-colour pattern. The Fjord mane always shows a clear, thick band of dark hairs along the dorsal stripe all the way up the neck and into the forelock (which is traditionally kept long and full), and a similar mix of dark and light hairs is also seen in the tail.


In terms of conformation, the Fjord horse is a beautiful mix of draught muscling and refined features, with a medium sized head, flat forehead and dished profile. They are strong, capable of pulling full loads and bearing the weight of an adult rider, yet they have not sacrificed any grace of movement in exchange for this strength. All Norwegian Fjord horses must pass both a riding test (similar to the lower levels of dressage) and a driving test. The breed is used in a variety of disciplines today, ranging from leisure and therapeutic mounts, farm work, English sport disciplines, saddleseat and pleasure disciplines (including western and trail), and driving. They are particularly sought after as sporthorse and combined driving competitors.


The Norwegina Fjord Horse registries around the world do not accept cross breeding, and will even revoke the registraiton of mares that have foaled a crossbred foal and subsequently deny registration of that mare's future progeny, regardless of purebred status. Due to this strict policy, Fjord crossbreds are rare (almost exclusively occurring in North America), and the Fjord is not used in the breeding of any Nordic category Riding/Sport pony breeds.


100% of the world's Norwegian Fjord Horses are dun in colour, with some cream dilution present among the population. English-speaking communities register Fjord horses using translations of the Norwegian words for their colours, rather than using the more traditional English names. Fjord horse colours are:

  • Brown Dun (brunblakk): Agouti (Bay or Brown) + Dun. This is the most common colour seen among Fjords, causing a yellow body with black or very dark brown dun markings. (This is bay dun in other breeds.)
  • Red Dun (rødblakk): Red/Chestnut + Dun. This results in a reddish body with darker (but never black) dun markings. (This is red dun in other breeds.)
  • Grey or Grey Dun (grå): Black + Dun, possibly with a single cream dilution present. This results in a sooty blue/grey body with silvery mane & tail (plus the usual dark hairs) and dun markings that are always quite black. (This is grullo in other breeds.)
  • White Dun or Uls Dun (ulsblakk): Agouti (Bay or Brown) + Dun + 1 Cream. This results in a cream coloured body with black or very dark brown dun markings. (Known as Buckskin Dun or Dunskin in other breeds.)
  • Yellow Dun (gulblakk): Red/Chestnut + Dun + 1 Cream. The rarest acceptable colour in Fjord horses, this results in a cream coloured horse with completely white light hairs in the mane and tail, and dun markings that are so faded they may or may not be completely visible. (Known as Palomino Dun, Palodun or Dunalino in other breeds.)

White (Kvit) is the term given to horses that are double cream dilutes (Cremello/ Perlino/Smoky Cream) + Dun. These horses appear almost completely white, hence the name, (the dun factor is usually indistinguishable) and often have blue eyes. This colour is prohibited in all Fjord Horse stud books / registries; thus breeders are discouraged from breeding White Dun and Yellow Dun horses with other White Dun and Yellow Dun horses due to the 50/50 chance of producing a kvit foal.


Average Height Range: 13.1 - 14.3 hh (135 - 150 cm)
The breed does not have a standard upper or lower height limit.