There has been a significant influence from horse breeds hailing from Norway. The country’s capable, hardy breeds all have different purposes, holding skill sets in several areas. You might notice how muscular and stocky these breeds can be. They are excellent workers with formidable strength—despite the fact that some of them are relatively small. Let’s take a look at these beauties to appreciate all Norway has to offer the equine world.
The 4 Norwegian Horse Breeds
- Norwegian Coldblood Trotter
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A post shared by Tuss – Hundfotograf (@tussochtass)
The gorgeous Norwegian Coldblood Trotter is a splendid mix of muscle and elegance. History The Norwegian Coldblood Trotter is a developed horse breed that takes the heavy body of other coldblooded breeds, combining them with lighter, nimble horses. They are closely related to the Norsk Kaldblodstraver and the Svensk Kaldblodstraver. Behavior & Temperament These horses make terrific selections for riders because they have good manners and modest temperaments. They mesh very well with human companions and love being active. Physical Traits These horses are compact and capable, boasting lean muscles and broad heads. They have extreme strength and endurance. A Norwegian Coldblood Trotter stands roughly 15 hands high. Training These horses pair well for riders interested in racing or general riding. Their personality and their body type make them excellent candidates for agility tasks. Diet These horses need a diet that is full of commercial grain, hay, and fresh grasses. They also need plenty of fresh water. Health The Norwegian Coldblood Trotter can suffer from ocular cartilage conversion.
Northlands Horse Image Credit: Nimloth250, Wikimedia Commons The Northlands Horse is also known as the Nordlandshest or Lyngshest. History The Northland Horse breed began in Lyngen, Norway, in the 1960s—and it would get its name given by breeders in 1968. It holds the title for the smallest of all Norwegian horse breeds. Early on, Vikings used these horses for work and travel. Behavior & Temperament Northland Horses are well-liked by owners because of their versatility and even temperaments. Being easy to handle and resilient, they make outstanding workers and companions. Training The Northland Horse has a strong desire to work—and they do well with light loads. It isn’t hard to teach your Northland Horse a new task—and they’re very food motivated, so bring snacks. Physical Traits Northlands Horses are small but stocky, measuring between 12 and 14 hands tall. They can be quite a few different colors, including bay, brown, chestnut, black, palomino, buckskin, dappled silver, and gray. Diet These horses have the same dietary requirements as most equines. They need lots of fresh grasses, commercial grain, and bountiful hay each day. They also greatly benefit from naturally grazing. Health There are no notable health issues that plague this breed specifically.
Fjord Horse Image Credit: congerdesign, Pixabay Hailing from the Norway mountains, this small but sturdy horse is a celebrity. History The Norwegian Fjord Horse is a compact little cutie with a long work history. Even though these horses are tiny—they aren’t ponies. It is a widespread belief that these horses are related to the Przewalski, which is a wild Asian horse breed. These horses are sure-footed in all sorts of terrain, making them valuable for all sorts of situations still today. Behavior & Temperament Fjord Horses have docile temperaments—not getting anxious or excited easily. They are relatively slow-paced in the pasture, but they can be very zippy when warranted. Training Fjords are very versatile, making them highly trainable for a variety of tasks. These horses are equally great for first-time and young riders since they are gentle, understanding novice mistakes. They do well when competing, being fabulous at pulling, logging, packing, and hitching. Physical Traits Fjord Horses are very thicky, muscly equines that are shorter in height. On average, they’re only about 13 to 14 hands high. Fjord coat colors are typically bay dun—but they can also be gray, white dun, and yellow dun. Diet Like all horses, Fjord Horses need a well-rounded diet of healthy calories, carbs, fats, vitamins, and minerals. They benefit greatly from grazing natural grasses, but if they spend most of their time in the stall—offer lots of fresh hay. Health Fjord Horses are typically very healthy with no known issues specific to the breed.
Norwegian Dole Horse
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A post shared by Nina Holthe (@stall_gronli)
The Norwegian Dole Horse is a massive draft horse—taking the title for the largest equine in Norway. History Dole Horses, or Dolehest, spent most of their awake hours working hard on the farm. They can pull just about anything, being muscular, capable horses with a strong desire to move. In 1872, the Dole started going two different ways in terms of breeding. One side of the coin created a sleeker horse with a steady gait—they were a racehorse type. The other maintained the workload side of things, faring better in physically strenuous environments. Behavior & Temperament The hardy Dolehest tends to be relaxed and comfortable in most situations. They might not be the cuddliest of all horse breeds, but they do listen and learn well. Like many other draft breeds, you could call these guys gentle giants, as they are soft and warm—pleasing to be around. Training The Dolehest has a terrific work ethic and tends to be highly receptive to direction. They soak in knowledge easily, so training should be a cinch. Physical Traits The Dolehest is a smaller draft breed but is still the largest in its homeland. These horses are muscular but agile—making excellent work and competition equines. They stand 14.5 to 15.5 hands tall. Their coats might be brown, black, grey, chestnut, buckskin, dun, and palomino. Diet Dolehests are herbivores that benefit from grazing fresh grasses, eating grain-based food, and snacking on fresh fruits and veggies. Because of their muscle power, they need lots of food to replenish the calories they burn. Health Dolehests are typically very healthy horses with no known health issues.
Summary These four horses bring something unique to the table—there is no doubt. For years, they have helped humans out in so many ways. From farm work to leisure rides, these equines have made life easier and more enjoyable. Plus, Norwegian horses have a solid reputation for being extremely healthy. Perhaps, you have had the pleasure of working with one of these gorgeous horses. Which one was your favorite of all?
Featured Image: Šárka Jonášová, Pixabay
There has been a significant influence from horse breeds hailing from Norway. The country’s capable, hardy breeds all have different purposes, holding skill sets in several areas. You might notice how muscular and stocky these breeds can be. They are excellent workers with formidable strength—despite the fact that some of them are relatively small.
Let’s take a look at these beauties to appreciate all Norway has to offer the equine world.
The 4 Norwegian Horse Breeds
1. Norwegian Coldblood Trotter
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Tuss – Hundfotograf (@tussochtass)
The gorgeous Norwegian Coldblood Trotter is a splendid mix of muscle and elegance.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Tuss – Hundfotograf (@tussochtass)
A post shared by Tuss – Hundfotograf (@tussochtass)
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
History
The Norwegian Coldblood Trotter is a developed horse breed that takes the heavy body of other coldblooded breeds, combining them with lighter, nimble horses. They are closely related to the Norsk Kaldblodstraver and the Svensk Kaldblodstraver.
Behavior & Temperament
These horses make terrific selections for riders because they have good manners and modest temperaments. They mesh very well with human companions and love being active.
Physical Traits
These horses are compact and capable, boasting lean muscles and broad heads. They have extreme strength and endurance. A Norwegian Coldblood Trotter stands roughly 15 hands high.
Training
These horses pair well for riders interested in racing or general riding. Their personality and their body type make them excellent candidates for agility tasks.
Diet
These horses need a diet that is full of commercial grain, hay, and fresh grasses. They also need plenty of fresh water.
Health
The Norwegian Coldblood Trotter can suffer from ocular cartilage conversion.
2. Northlands Horse
The Northlands Horse is also known as the Nordlandshest or Lyngshest.
The Northland Horse breed began in Lyngen, Norway, in the 1960s—and it would get its name given by breeders in 1968. It holds the title for the smallest of all Norwegian horse breeds. Early on, Vikings used these horses for work and travel.
Northland Horses are well-liked by owners because of their versatility and even temperaments. Being easy to handle and resilient, they make outstanding workers and companions.
The Northland Horse has a strong desire to work—and they do well with light loads. It isn’t hard to teach your Northland Horse a new task—and they’re very food motivated, so bring snacks.
Northlands Horses are small but stocky, measuring between 12 and 14 hands tall. They can be quite a few different colors, including bay, brown, chestnut, black, palomino, buckskin, dappled silver, and gray.
These horses have the same dietary requirements as most equines. They need lots of fresh grasses, commercial grain, and bountiful hay each day. They also greatly benefit from naturally grazing.
There are no notable health issues that plague this breed specifically.
3. Fjord Horse
Hailing from the Norway mountains, this small but sturdy horse is a celebrity.
The Norwegian Fjord Horse is a compact little cutie with a long work history. Even though these horses are tiny—they aren’t ponies. It is a widespread belief that these horses are related to the Przewalski, which is a wild Asian horse breed.
These horses are sure-footed in all sorts of terrain, making them valuable for all sorts of situations still today.
Fjord Horses have docile temperaments—not getting anxious or excited easily. They are relatively slow-paced in the pasture, but they can be very zippy when warranted.
Fjords are very versatile, making them highly trainable for a variety of tasks. These horses are equally great for first-time and young riders since they are gentle, understanding novice mistakes. They do well when competing, being fabulous at pulling, logging, packing, and hitching.
Fjord Horses are very thicky, muscly equines that are shorter in height. On average, they’re only about 13 to 14 hands high. Fjord coat colors are typically bay dun—but they can also be gray, white dun, and yellow dun.
Like all horses, Fjord Horses need a well-rounded diet of healthy calories, carbs, fats, vitamins, and minerals. They benefit greatly from grazing natural grasses, but if they spend most of their time in the stall—offer lots of fresh hay.
Fjord Horses are typically very healthy with no known issues specific to the breed.
4. Norwegian Dole Horse
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Nina Holthe (@stall_gronli)
The Norwegian Dole Horse is a massive draft horse—taking the title for the largest equine in Norway.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Nina Holthe (@stall_gronli)
A post shared by Nina Holthe (@stall_gronli)
Dole Horses, or Dolehest, spent most of their awake hours working hard on the farm. They can pull just about anything, being muscular, capable horses with a strong desire to move. In 1872, the Dole started going two different ways in terms of breeding.
One side of the coin created a sleeker horse with a steady gait—they were a racehorse type. The other maintained the workload side of things, faring better in physically strenuous environments.
The hardy Dolehest tends to be relaxed and comfortable in most situations. They might not be the cuddliest of all horse breeds, but they do listen and learn well.
Like many other draft breeds, you could call these guys gentle giants, as they are soft and warm—pleasing to be around.
The Dolehest has a terrific work ethic and tends to be highly receptive to direction. They soak in knowledge easily, so training should be a cinch.
The Dolehest is a smaller draft breed but is still the largest in its homeland. These horses are muscular but agile—making excellent work and competition equines. They stand 14.5 to 15.5 hands tall. Their coats might be brown, black, grey, chestnut, buckskin, dun, and palomino.
Dolehests are herbivores that benefit from grazing fresh grasses, eating grain-based food, and snacking on fresh fruits and veggies. Because of their muscle power, they need lots of food to replenish the calories they burn.
Dolehests are typically very healthy horses with no known health issues.
Summary
These four horses bring something unique to the table—there is no doubt. For years, they have helped humans out in so many ways. From farm work to leisure rides, these equines have made life easier and more enjoyable. Plus, Norwegian horses have a solid reputation for being extremely healthy.
Perhaps, you have had the pleasure of working with one of these gorgeous horses. Which one was your favorite of all?
Featured Image: Šárka Jonášová, Pixabay
