THE FJORD HORSE

The Fjord Horse is a versatile “all purpose” horse renowned for it gentleness of temperament, willingness to work, stamina and vigour.

Height:  

Not exceeding 14.2 hands high, and not usually under 13hh.

Colour:  

This breed characteristic is so obvious that the Fjord Horse is immediately recognisable. Its special features are it’s dun colouration; the stiff, trimmed bi-coloured mane and the dorsal or eel stripe which runs from the forelock to the tip of its tail. There are six colour variations:

a.  Brown Dun: light brown, brown and dark brown dun, black dorsal strip; light mane and tail

b.  Red Dun: light red, red and dark red dun; not a very strongly marked reddish brown dorsal stripe, mane and tail have a reddish tint

c.  Light Dun: light with black

d.  Yellow Dun: light with a reddish brown dorsal stripe

e.  Grey Dun: ranging from light to very dark grey, black dorsal stripe

f.   White Dun: white all over with a faint yellowish dorsal stripe.

In addition to the dorsal stripe, other markings include horizontal (zebra) stripes on legs, dark legs below the knee and sometimes dark stripes across the wither. Hairs around the muzzle may be white, or varying shades of dun. White stars are permitted on the forehead, but not encouraged.

Head:  

The head may be large but never common, with a broad flat forehead and a straight or slightly concave profile. The eyes are large and dark with a gently expression. The nostrils are large. The jowls are well rounded and strong. The ears are of small to medium size and set well apart.

The neck tends to be shorter than in other breeds but is well muscled with sufficient suppleness and blends into a deep chest and a sloping shoulder.

Body:  

The Fjord Horse has a compact body with a deep girth and well sprung ribs. The withers tend to be rounded - not clearly defined. The back is medium in length with a strong coupling. The loin is broad and strong. The croup is well muscled and well rounded to the tail.

Limbs:  

The legs should be straight, conformationally correct, and possess substantial bone. The bones are flat and clean, never coarse. The size of the bone is important to body type (i.e. a heavier cannon bone on a large, heavier Fjord Horse) and the joints are proportionally large and well defined. Pasterns are sloping and of moderate length. Fore-arm and gaskin are well muscled, inside and out.

Hooves: Are ample in size, dark and strong with a wide heel. Fjord Horses have especially hard hooves and may be shown unshod.

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