Since the last ice age, people have seen Scandinavian horse breeds on land.
The agricultural industry, horse shows, and recreational riding have all made use of a wide variety of Scandinavian horse breeds.
Because of their generally peaceful demeanor, most of them make wonderful friends.
In this article, we will investigate the history of the horse breeds that are the most well-known in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, as well as the different Scandinavian horse breeds.
History of Scandinavian Horse Breeds
In the 1700s, immigrants carried them across to Scandinavia from other parts of the world. The horses spent the majority of their time working on farms.
Almost immediately after that, Coldblood Trotters rose to prominence as harness racing horses during World War II, when gas was in short supply.
In today’s modern times, you can spot the Scandinavian Coldblood Trotter outside of the nations in which People initially found it.
Some breeds have gained widespread popularity in many parts of the world. Because of their calm and friendly demeanour, Scandinavian horse breeds make excellent companion animals for people. You will discover that they benefit almost every facet of our life.
List of 10 Scandinavian Horse Breeds
1. Swedish Ardennes
The Ardennes draft horses are the ancestors of the Swedish Ardennes horse breed, which was developed in Sweden. These Scandinavian horse breeds have never been utilized for any kind of military endeavour.
People decided that its size and strength made it unsuitable for use in battle for any reason. During the 19th century, equestrians bred the horse specifically for use in agricultural settings.
The average height of this Nordic horse breed is 14 hands (56 inches). However, they have the potential to reach 16 hands (64 inches).
It tips the scales at between 360 and 500 kilograms (between 800 and 1100 pounds), with an average weight of 400 kilograms.
The capacity of the Swedish Ardennes to run for long distances is what brings them the greatest fame.
Those who have not seen horses of this breed running before may think they were floating around the ground on their hooves because their running gait is so smooth.
Long-livers are the name given to this kind of horse. Their life expectancy can reach up to thirty years. When converted to human years, this represents a guy who is 88 years old when measured in horse years.
The body is tight and quite sturdy. The head is little, and the eyes are similarly tiny. The neck is short and has a robust profile.
The legs are feathered and short on this creature. Black, chestnut, and bay are the most common colours. Intelligent and mild-mannered best describe the Swedish Ardennes horse.
In the 1700s, immigrants to Scandinavia were responsible for introducing the cold blood trotters native to Scandinavia.
2. Scandinavian Coldblood Trotter
There is a breed of draft horse known as the Scandinavian Coldblood Trotter. The Friesian, Clydesdale, and Shire horse breeds all contributed to the development of the Scandinavian Coldblood Trotter.
In the 1700s, immigrants carried them across to Scandinavia from other parts of the world. These horses spent more time working on farms.
Almost immediately after that, Coldblood Trotters rose to prominence as harness racing horses during World War II, when gas was in short supply.
Because the breed’s bloodlines are starting to expand across Europe and the United States, You can now find the Scandinavian Coldblood Trotter outside its originated country.
In most cases, Coldblood Trotters are chestnut, bay, or black in colour. The breed’s registration allows for white markings on the horse’s face and legs.
It takes an average of 15.1 hands for a Nordic Coldblood Trotter to reach its full height (60.4 inches). The height of the horse’s withers is rather impressive (main ridge along the upper back).
A Scandinavian Coldblood Trotter’s average weight is between 2,000 and 3,000 pounds (454-544 kilograms). They have the perfect proportions, with long necks that are ever-so-slightly arched and deeply cut chests.
A Scandinavian Coldblood Trotter has a well-sculpted skull and huge eyes. They have relatively small ears positioned high on their heads and sufficient space between each eye.
The disposition of these Scandinavian horse breeds can change depending on whether or not it is useful for work or competition.
In general, these equines possess high levels of intelligence, good manners, and a willingness to work. This is helpful information for equestrians searching for horses to compete in long-distance races and participate in endurance rides.
3. Fjord Horse
The Fjord Horse is said to have originated in the mountainous and coastal regions of Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
This horse thrives in climates with colder temperatures and is identifiable by its stocky shape and lively temperament.
The Fjord horses have always been useful for plowing fields and other agricultural work. People first brought them into captivity more than four thousand years ago.
Even in modern times, these Scandinavian horse breeds are still valuable for agricultural settings. Most of the time, you will see equestrians riding a Fjord Horse at a sporting event.
Competitions in dressage and long-distance rides like the Nordkapp ride are examples of these events (an endurance race from Paris to the Northern Cape).
The dense winter coat is a defining characteristic of the Fjord Horse. It has sturdy joints and a decent bone structure below it all, which helps it cover the horse’s short legs.
The backs and chests of fjords are typically somewhat broad. Their bodies are tight and incredibly powerful. Every single Fjord horse has a dun coat coloration.
The typical height of a Fjord horse is 14 hands (56 inches). However, they have the potential to reach a height of 16 hands (64 inches). The Fjord Horse weighs between 480 and 1000 kg on average (400-500 kilograms).
The Fjord Horse is a very adaptable breed because it is a strong worker and has good instincts for farm labour.
These horses are native to Scandinavia and thrive in the company of humans and the care they receive from their owners. These Scandinavian horse breeds are calm, kind, and obedient. They enjoy playing.
4. Dole Trotter
The Dole Trotter is a Scandinavian horse breed native to Norway. During the 19th century, People bred the Dole Trotter.
Horses from other parts of the world, such as Arabians and Hackneys, were used for crossbreeding with native Nordic types.
This draft horse was traditionally utilized in the agricultural industry and as a pack animal. The breed is well-known for its capacity to perform well in challenging environments and to haul significant loads.
The breed is known for its strength, speed, agility, endurance, and intelligence, among other desirable qualities.
The Dole Trotter is a very adaptable breed of horse. It enables the horse to participate in riding sports as well as harness racing.
The Dole Trotter partially influenced the development of the North Swedish Horse. The objective was to breed a smaller, lighter horse that would be more suited for harness racing.
Regarding the conformation, the head has a straight profile line and is devoid of any dished face, much like an Arabian, but the face is more petite.
The length of the neck is proportional to the body, and while it is thick at the base, it is of a medium length (which differs from other Scandinavian breeds). There are featherings on the lower legs.
Dole Trotters typically range from 14.1 to 15.3 hands in height (57 to 63 inches). The weight might be between 1190 and 1390 pounds (540 to 630 kilograms). Dole Trotters are highly bright and interesting horses.
5. Danish Warmblood
In Denmark, People developed the Danish Warmblood during the latter part of the 19th century and early 20th century.
It was created by mating European stallions with Danish mares during the breeding process. Dressage, show jumping, combined driving, eventing, and endurance riding are some disciplines that use this breed.
The body of the Danish Warmblood is sturdy and square-built, and it stands an average of 15 hands in height (60 inches). The typical weight range is between 880 and 1100 pounds (400-500 kilograms).
The head may be flat or have a very slight concavity on the profile, and it has large eyes. These Scandinavian horse breeds have thick necks and do not have any crest on them.
The Danish Warmblood possesses a deep chest, shoulders that slope downward at an angle, and overall good bone quality.
Particularly in its legs, which are devoid of any featherings whatsoever. However, the limbs have a rather robust appearance due to thick skin folds called boxy warts found around their knees and above their cannon bones.
In Denmark and Sweden, the Danish Warmblood is the most common horse breed. It is very famous for its level-headed demeanour and dynamic nature.
These Scandinavian horse breeds are also simple to instruct. Black, bay, chestnut, and brown are examples of some of the standard colours.
6. Gotland Pony
The Gotland Pony is a breed of horse that originates in Sweden and is descents from the Tarpan horses. They are indigenous to the forested region of Gotland, which is why people refer to them as Rus.
Even though horses have been present on Gotland for 4,000 to 5,000 years, the earliest official reference to Gotland ponies dates back to the 13th century. The local farmers in the area relied on the ponies for their draft labour throughout the 19th century.
Around the middle of the 19th century, their population started to decline, and lots of people eventually sold many horses in countries such as England, Germany, and Belgium.
Cutting down trees in their natural habitat led to a decrease in the number of wild herds. At the turn of the 20th century, the population of Gotland ponies had dropped to a mere 150.
Farmers from Gerum and Lojst, and members of the Gotland Agricultural Society, banded together to preserve the breed.
They gave some of the horses to a stud farm in addition to fencing off an area of land that was around two hundred acres in size and allowing the horses to roam freely throughout it. On the island, there is still a herd of semi-wild animals.
Around 9,000 Gotland ponies are living across the United States of America, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland at present.
The breed is identifiable by its refined conformation, which includes expressive eyes, a straight profile, a muscular neck, a short back, and powerful legs.
Gotland ponies range in height from 11.2 to 13 hands-on average and can be found in virtually every hue, though bay and dun are the most prevalent variations.
They are exceptional at dressage, eventing, and driving, in addition to being a popular choice for youngsters as riding ponies.
7. North Swedish Horse
The Dole is the North Swedish Horse’s ancestor, a relatively new horse breed that originated in Sweden. Even though they are of a more diminutive stature overall, these Scandinavian horse breeds have a sturdy physique.
The breed’s official studbook did not get compilation until 1909, and the North Swedish Association did not begin operations until 1924.
Country Horse Day started in 1949 with the goal of registering North Swedish mares and stallions. The trotter and the draft horse are the two subtypes included in this breed.
The average height of a North Swedish horse is about 15 hands, and they only come in solid colours. North Swedish horses have exceptional stamina, endurance, and durability.
Their chests are broad, their necks are thick, their legs are short and powerful, and they have ripped bodies.
They are an adaptable breed used for various purposes, including work in agriculture and forestry, riding, and harness racing.
9. Swedish Warmblood
The Swedish Warmblood is a horse that people have developed for riding for centuries due to its athleticism and agility.
Importing horses from Spain and Friesland in the 16th century improved the native Swedish stock.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Breeders added blood from Arabian horses, Hanoverian horses, Thoroughbred horses, and Trakehner horses to Swedish military stock that was already in existence.
In 1874, the government initiated a system of examinations to standardize the many different breeds.
The Swedish Warmblood Association (ASHV) was established in 1928, and ever since the 1970s, when the Swedish military stopped using horses, they have been in charge of the breeding program.
As sport horses, they have achieved great success, competing at the highest levels, including the Olympics.
The most prevalent colours for Swedish Warmbloods are chestnut and bay, though they can come in various colours.
Their height ranges from 16 to 17 hands. These horses are incredibly athletic, with beautiful necks, powerful legs, and well-muscled bodies. Dressage, jumping, and eventing are all disciplines in which Swedish Warmbloods thrive.
10. Nordlandshest/Lyngshest
The Lygen, also known as the Nordlandshest or Lyngshest, is a breed of miniature horse native to Norway. Although researchers have a limited understanding of its history, People documented the breed in Lyngseidet in 1898. This information is the earliest available.
The 1930s marked the beginning of organized breeding, but World War II significantly reduced the breed’s population.
Until the 1960s, the breed was at risk of extinction, but its population has since recovered due to the efforts of devoted breeders.
The name “Nordlandshest” was given to the horses by local breeders in 1968. These breeders in Lyngen, who were more accustomed to calling their horses Lyngshest, gave them this moniker.
Nordlandshest and Lyngshest were recognized as valid names for the breed when breeders resolved the disagreement through a compromise.
Scandinavian horse breeds of the Nordlandshest and Lyngshest breeds typically stand between 12.3 and 13.3 hands in height and are available in a wide range of colours, including chestnut, bay, black, palomino, buckskin, and gray.
They have sturdy yet not overly heavy bodies, and they occasionally have a faint feathering on their legs. Because of their openness to new experiences and laid-back demeanour, they are excellent candidates for riding, driving, and pack work.
