NORWEGIAN FJORD HORSES FROM THE ARCHIVES

Years ago, in 2014, we were visiting Norway to explore the roots on Gregg's paternal side of the family.

On one of our day trips from Oslo, we came across these magnificent Norwegian Fjord Horses.

We were on our way to Drangedal. I have added maps showing where Drangedal is located....

and a closer one.

It took us a little over four hours with the stops we made. We could have taken a shorter southern route, but my dear other half realized in the planning, that we would be able to drive through the town where my sister and her family lived for a few years. My son and I visited them years before, but I couldn't really remember much of the town.  However, it was nice to see it again.

Norway is a beautiful country and wherever we went we were impressed with the incredible scenery. On one of the country roads we were thrilled to meet these lovely horses. When we stopped by their fence to admire them in the field, they ambled over, as curious about us as we were about them no doubt. 

Perhaps they thought we had apples or carrots in our pockets. I wish we had!

The two larger horses walked towards us right away.  

The smaller, darker pony stayed right where he was...

but I got a pretty good close-up of him. I am not actually sure if he is a Fjord Horse or some other breed.  

You can read all about Fjord Horses here.  It reads in part, "The Fjord horse or Norwegian Fjord Horse is a relatively small but very strong horse breed from the mountainous regions of Western Norway.  It is an agile breed of light draught horse build.  All Fjord horses are dun in color, with five variations in shade recognized in the breed standard.  One of the world's oldest breeds, it has been used for hundreds of years as a farm horse in Norway, and in modern times is popular for its generally good temperament. 

It is used both as a harness horse and under saddle. (Dun means it has the dun gene which is a dilution gene that affects both red and black pigments in the coat color of a horse.  The dun gene has the ability to affect the appearance of all black, bay or chestnut-based horses to some degree by lightening the base body coat and suppressing the underlying base color to the mane, tale, legs and "primitive markings".  You can read more about the dun gene here.) 

They had the prettiest eyes, and I have always thought horses have the most noble faces.

I could have spent a lot longer with them...

but it was time to move on.

Thanks for looking everyone, 

and I hope you all have a great day!