Some History of Horses in Norway
by Anneli Sundkvist
-----Original Message-----
From: Anneli Sundkvist [mailto:anneli.sundkvist@arkeologi.uu.se]
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 3:36 AM
To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com
Subject: Re: the REAL history of the Fjord horse
This message is from: "Anneli Sundkvist" <anneli.sundkvist@arkeologi.uu.se>
I actually don't know very much about Norwegian history (the post
Viking/Medieval written records), but I have an intrest in the formation of
horse breeds in general and some knowledge of Norwegain arcaheology.
So, how old is the fjordhorse?
Actually, it depends. When it comes to farmbreeds, one can very seldom find
a startingdate;o) and the birth of these breeds are shrouded in the mist of
no written records. The fjordhorse is a typical old Scandinavian farmbreed,
bred by farmers in western Norway for generations and centuries. But when
did the stock of western Norwegian farmers became what we know as the
fjordhorse and where is the border between what we think is a typical
fjordhorse and what we think is not? These are difficult questions and to
answer them I should need to do some research, but mabye other people on the
list have better knowledge of the records?
I've red a book abourt the transport system in Norway in the 18th and 19th
centuries and under the section about the horse breeds involved, it is
written that the fjord horse became famous as a light cart horse, used to
transport people (toursits, travellers) in the mountains during this era.
Also there are numerous pictures in Norway - paintings on pieces of
furniture, depictions etc - dating back to the 18th century, showing typical
fjord-like (mostly dun) horses in different situations. They are riding
horses, farm horses, cart horses and they carry things on mountain roads.
There are also fjordhorses in the royal stalbles of europe in the 17th
century. A Swedish queen had her own stud of fjords outside Stockholm (it is
in the city nowadays) and Bent Branderup, who has made som research about
the collections of horses in the royal stables in the barouqe era, has told
me that there were fjords in many stables. I there was a team of four
stallions given by the Danish royal family (Norway was a part of Denmark) to
the court in Wienna, and that this team was followed by a sculpture of it,
which has been preserved. I will go to a clinic with BB next weekend, so I
will ask him about it.
When it comes to older records, I don't think there is a single breed that
has been UNCHANGED since the Viking Period, not even the Icelandic horse,
though many Icelandic owners think they have the "true viking horse". We
know from DNA-studies that our fjordhorses are related to horses that were
present in Scandinavia in the Iron Age, but the whole idea to divide horses
into breeds like we do it is later stuff (apart from some examples, like
Arabians).
So, the real story of the fjordhorse can be concluded as: more research need
to be done, but we have a horse that dates back to prehistoric time and that
has been used for many different things, bred for generations by Norwegian
farmers but also has found its way into the royal stables.
Now, a question: for some time I have thoughts about writing a book about
old Scandinavian or Nordic horse breeds (in English): the fjord, the Swedish
Gotland pony, the Danish Frederiksborg and Knabstrupper (not very old, but),
the Doele/North Swedish horse, the Nordlandshorse, extinct breeds..
The problem is that there are a lot of work involved of course, BUT would
there be a market for such a book? Opinions are welcome! I don't think such
a book would sell in Scandinavia, people seems to be intrested in ONE breed,
if they buy any breed books at all. As I said...your opinions, please!
I must also tell you that Cider now has to share me with a black 5 yo doele
mare! She is registred in Sweden, but her pedigree is 75% Norwegian, so she
is to be characterised as doele (the NorthSwedish horse and the doele are
the same breed but have different names on the different sides of the
border). Her name is Livia.
Regards
Anneli
**********************************************
Anneli Sundkvist
Dept. of Archaeology & Ancient History
St Eriks Torg 5
753 10 Uppsala
+46-18-4712082
