The Fjord horse is one of the oldest horse breeds in the world – and Nordfjord is the place where you can get closest to it. Nordfjordeid is called the Fjord horse’s Mecca, with horse traditions stretching all the way back to 1886.
It is one of three original Norwegian horse breeds, and is regarded as Norway’s national horse. The Fjord horse is easy to recognize and has many primitive traits that we only find in the wild horse, the Przewalski’s horse. Examples include a dark stripe along the back and dark transverse stripes on the legs. The Fjord horse also stands out with its characteristic upright mane.
The Fjord horse was bred in Western Norway and was called the Westland horse for many years. The landscape in Western Norway is characterized by long fjords and steep mountains, and historically people depended on having a horse that could reliably make its way through the rough terrain. In addition to being important for transport, the Fjord horse was an ideal farm horse on the small and hard-to-work farms, as it is small, strong, enduring, and easy to feed.
The Fjord horse is, among other things, described as a robust, strong, thrifty, good-natured, willing, and reliable horse. These qualities mean that today it is a versatile family and leisure horse. The Fjord horse suits both beginners and those with more horse experience. It is a great first horse for the youngest, but also good for those who prefer the competition arena. The Fjord horse is also widely used in therapeutic riding and tourism due to its calm temperament.
Today, the Fjord horse is considered endangered in Norway due to too few foals being born per year. In Norway there are about 5,000 registered Fjord horses, but there are large populations in other countries such as Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and the USA.
The Norwegian Fjord Horse Center is a center of expertise for the Fjord horse, providing information and advisory services for all matters related to this uniquely Norwegian horse. One of its main tasks is to promote breeding and use of the Fjord horse.
The Norwegian Fjord Horse Center was established in 1989 and is located in Nordfjordeid. Nordfjordeid is called the Fjord horse’s Mecca, and the village is known for long and strong horse traditions.
Horse shows have been held in Nordfjordeid since 1886, and every year people from all over the world come to experience the traditional stallion show on the first weekend in May.
If you would like to experience Norwegian nature, the Fjord horse is a safe and steady companion. Because the Fjord horse is calm, kind, and moves well in rough terrain, it is great for anyone who wants to go for a ride, regardless of prior riding experience.
