1905-6.] Francis H. A. Marshall on the Horse in Norway. 25 
the body, in the roundness of the quarters, and in being much 
“tied-in” at the elbow, the Fjordhest of to-day is frequently 
similar to the Gudbrandsdal and other horses which belong to 
the “forest” type. 
The Fjordhest has been much intercrossed with the Gudbrandsdal 
horse, and the great majority of the ponies seen in Christiania and 
the Norwegian towns, and those usually employed to draw the 
carrioles and stolkjerre, are partly bred animals, the fjord char- 
acters generally strongly predominating. I have found no positive 
evidence, however, of fjord horses having been crossed with any 
other breed than the Gudbrandsdal ; but since, as I shall show 
later, the latter breed has from time to time received infusions 
of foreign blood, it is probable that the fjord horse has been at least 
indirectly influenced, but probably to no great extent. The ponies 
used in the sledge races, which take place in winter at Bergen and 
Yossevangen, are stated to be pure-bred (according to modern 
ideas), and only such are eligible. 
In 1844 an attempt was made by the Norwegian government 
to establish a stud of fjord horses at Hjerkin, on the Dovre fjeld, 
with the object of improving the breed by judicious selection 
but without having recourse to intercrossing with foreign blood. 
Horses were advertised for, and it was announced in the advertise- 
ment that dun-coloured (borkede) animals would be given the 
preference. Next brown (brun) horses would be considered ; and 
lastly, yellow (gul) horses with white mane and tail would be 
accepted. Great difficulty was experienced in obtaining animals 
considered sufficiently good for the purpose, and in the end the 
scheme proved a complete failure. The stud was broken up, as 
w T as also a branch establishment at Foktuen (Dovre), at the end 
of 1858. The report on the experiment states : — “It is the usual 
experience that the Fjordhest does not thrive on coming to the 
mountains ; it is without exception attacked by strangles, and 
for the first couple of years is unfit for hard work. Subsequently 
it becomes enduring and strong in proportion to its size, but the 
general opinion in these parts is that it is in every respect far 
inferior to the Gudbrandsdal horse.” *. 
The third figure represents an “Udganger” pony or Nordlands- 
* Gudbrandsdal Stud-book (Petersen). 
