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The Colours of the Norwegian Fjordhorse

Information presented by Tor Nestaas at the 1996 International Breeder's Conference

The Fjordhorse has several different sorts of dun colour. This is the same kind of colour as the wild horse of Central Asia, the Przewalski, and the Tarpan, the European wild horse. This kind of colour is also called wild colour.

The basic wild colours are brown dun, red (chestnut) dun and grey. In addition, uls dun and yellow dun are genuine colours of the breed. At the annual general meeting of Norges Fjordhestlag in 1980, it was agreed upon and decided that these five colours shall be acknowledged as the genuine and typical colours of the Fjordhorse. This decision is also supported by scientific facts.

In some countries, there is confusion as to what genuine and accepted colours of the Fjordhorse are, and what the correct terms should be. In the breed’s motherland, Norway, there has through the years been established fixed names of the different colours. These names have been official since 1922. It would undoubtedly be an advantage if these Norwegian terms could be used in all countries where there are Fjordhorses, either directly or by adjusting the different countries own terms to the Norwegian terms.

Brown Dun

Brown Dun

The brown dun (“brunblakk” in Norwegian) is the most common colour. It can be found in lighter or darker shades. The colour of the body is pale yellow-brownish, and can vary from cream yellow to nearly brown. The “midtstol” (the darker stripe of hair in the middle of the mane), dorsal stripe and “halefjær” (darker hair in the middle of the tail) are black, or dark brown. The light coloured horses have white forelocks and white hairs on the mane’s outside. On darker individuals, these hairs are also darker.

Red Dun

Red Dun

The red (chestnut) dun’s (“rødblakk”) body-colour is pale red-yellowish, and can also be seen in lighter or darker shades. In some cases, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a brown or a red dun. On the red duns, the “midtstol”, dorsal stripe and “halefjær” are red or red-brownish, always darker than the colour of the body, but never black. Mane and tail are mostly very light or yellowish. On the lighter shades of red duns, the forelock, mane and tail can be completely white. When they are foaled, the red duns can have white hooves, but the hooves will darken as they grow older.

Grey

Grey

The greys (“grå”) have a body-colour which can vary from light silver grey to dark slate grey. “Midtstol”, dorsal stripe and “halefjær” are darker than the main colour. Forelock and muzzle area are dark in contrast to the brown and red duns who mostly have a light forelock and muzzle area. On the darkest individuals, the mane and tail can be very dark. If one had used the same pattern in naming this colour as in the naming of the others, grey should be called black dun, but this term has never been used.

Uls (White) Dun

Uls (White) Dun

Uls dun (“ulsblakk”) is a variety of the brown dun colour caused by a factor which reduces the production of pigment, so-called diluted colour. The colour of the body is almost white or yellowish-white. “Midtstol”, dorsal stripe and “halefjær” are black or grey. Mane and tail has a lighter shade than the body.

Yellow Dun

Yellow Dun

Yellow dun (“gulblakk”) is the rarest of the Fjordhorse colours. It is a variety of red dun caused by the same factor as mentioned under uls dun. The colour of the body is yellowish-white. “Midtstol”, dorsal stripe and “halefjær” are darker yellowish than the colour of the body. Forelock, mane and tail can be completely white, and on such individuals the dorsal stripe can be indistinct.

These pictures show all five colours of the Fjord horse together:

From left to right: uls dun, brown dun, yellow dun, red dun, and grey.

From left to right: uls dun, brown dun, yellow dun, red dun, and grey.

From left to right: grey, red dun, yellow dun, brown dun, and uls dun.

From left to right: grey, red dun, yellow dun, brown dun, and uls dun.

Primitive Markings

An important part of the description and identification of a Fjordhorse, are the so-called primitive markings. These are the dark midsection in the forelock, mane (“midstol”) and tail (“halefjær” = tailfeathers), a dark dorsal stripe (“ål” = eel stripe) and dark horizontal stripes on the legs (zebrastripes), especially on the forelegs. Some individuals can also have one or more dark stripes across the withers (“grep” = grip). The last marking is very seldom seen. Some individuals can have small brown spots on their body, for instance on their thigh or cheek. The last one is called “Njåls-merke” (Mark of Njål) after the founder of the modern Fjordhorse, the stallion Njål 166 who had such spots on his cheeks.

As mentioned in the preceding description of the colours, the colour of these markings differs according to the main body colour. On a red or yellow dun horse with a monochrome forelock, mane and tail, the dorsal stripe can be indistinct and the horse may not have the zebrastripes at all. On very light shades of brown dun, the zebrastripes can be very weak, or lacking.

The zebrastripes have the same colour as the “midstol” and the other markings, but are often of a lighter shade. They are most prominent in the horse’s summer coat. Foals lack zebrastripes when they are foaled, but the stripes will appear by the first shedding of the foal-coat. The stripes are most prominent and in greatest numbers on the forelegs. In some cases, the zebrastripes are lacking on the greys and uls duns. On these, the legs can be of the same colour as the body, or they can be dark up to the knees and hocks.

Other Markings

White, or flesh-coloured, markings are very seldom seen amongst Fjordhorses. By study of the Stud Book, and also according to other sources, one can establish as a fact that a white star on the forehead has existed as far back as we have written records. White and flesh-coloured markings are inherited in a recessive way. That means that the genes can be carried hidden, and that both parents must have these genes if the offspring shall get visible markings.

The famous stallion Rosendalsborken I-8, foaled in 1863, had a sire of whom it is recorded that he had a white star. The same marking was borne by the stallion Håkon 60, foaled in 1877, of whom it is said that he was a beautiful horse and very typical for the breed. So one can not state that a white star on the forehead is not typical for the breed. Other white or flesh-coloured markings are undesirable. At the annual general meeting of Norges Fjordhestlag in 1982, it was agreed upon and decided that stallions or colts with other visible markings than a small white star, can not be licensed or awarded a rosette.

The Extent of the Colours

The different kinds of dun colours have varied in numbers within the population of Fjordhorses through the times. Among the earliest registered Fjordhorses in the Norwegian Stud Book, the uls dun was the dominant variety of colour. This colour was also called “borket”. Uls dun came in disrepute because at the time, no one knew how the different colours were inherited. So uls dun was bred to uls dun, and that resulted some times in white and walleyed foals. The brown dun colour later became increasingly popular, especially the lighter shades, and it is now the dominating colour.

The extension of the colours can also be caused by the fact that the colour of the most popular and most used stallions, was brown dun. On the other hand, these stallions could also be more popular because of their colour. Changing opinions of what is thought to be fashionable has also been a strong factor. At the present, there is interest in preserving all the five dun colours.

Regarding the stallions, there had undoubtedly been a “colour selection” prior to being prepared for a show. Stallion owners would perhaps not present a horse for evaluation if they felt he had the “wrong” colour. This occurred especially in earlier times, when for instance red dun was not so popular. The division of colours of registered mares gives a more reliable picture of the real division of colours in the whole population.

Division of Colours in % of Registered Fjord Stallions

Years Number Brown Dun Red Dun Grey Uls Dun Yellow Dun Unknown
1857-79 102 27.4 1.0 48.0 23.6
1900-09 179 65.9 0.6 3.4 19.6 10.5
1930-39 252 89.7 0.4 1.6 8.3
1960-69 95 95.8 4.2
1990-92 41 85.4 2.4 9.8 2.4

Division of Colours in % of Registered Fjord Mares

Years Number Brown Dun Red Dun Grey Uls Dun Yellow Dun Unknown
1860-79 62 30.7 4.8 1.6 46.8 16.1
1900-09 512 62.7 2.9 3.7 20.9 0.2 9.6
1930-39 4363 83.6 4.2 1.7 9.5 0.5 0.5
1965-70 539 90.5 4.6 1.7 2.6 0.6
1980-85 714 88.2 5.6 3.7 2.1 0.4


                  

12 Responses to “The Colours of the Norwegian Fjordhorse”

  1. A Fjord Horse on ABC’s The Bachelor | Fjord Horses for Dressage, Sport, and Pleasure wrote:

    […] How can it be a Fjord when it doesn’t have the traditional golden colour that you normally associate with a Fjord? Well, Fjords actually come in five shades of dun, and Devon is a grey. You can see all five of the colours here. […]

  2. Wendy Bauwens wrote:

    Greetings!!! You have a WONDERFUL website! I am on the NFHR BOD. As the director of promotions, I have been asked to rewrite the Fjord page for Wickpedia. We are also looking to resubmit pictures. In my search for examples of the Fjord colors, I have yet to find such fine examples as you have on your page. Would you be willing to let us use your colors of the Fjord pictures on the Wickpedia page? If so, I would need the pictures emailed directly to me with a release for use. The pictures and release then go to Wickpedia along with the other photos and releases. You would, of course, receive photo credit.

    Thanks, in advance, for your consideration.
    Sincerely,
    Wendy Bauwens

  3. anonymus wrote:

    Greetings,

    Im just missing 1 collor named ‘kvit’
    This type of collor is te cremello version of the fjord-horse and extreme rare in there spieces.

    Europe counts less 0,001% of the horses with this collor.

  4. dena lee wrote:

    I am purchasing a Fjord colt. He has a white star and both back legs have short white socks. His front hooves are black and the back hooves are white. He has the strip down his back and the blackish color in the middle of his mane and tail. I am wondering how common this is. He is very light colored , almost white. I would appreciate any information you have on this . Thanks Dena Lee

  5. Lori Albrough wrote:

    Hi Dena, A light shade of brown dun is very common. White markings, other than a small white star, are not typical of the breed and not considered desirable. White feet are also not typical and not desired. If the horse is a gelding and not used for breeding, none of this matters too much 🙂

  6. Norwegian Fjords in the Rose Parade wrote:

    […] five colours of the breed were represented in this group, which included five ridden Fjords and eight driven: […]

  7. Horse Illustrated Magazine – The FJORD Factor wrote:

    […] are sections on the colours of the Fjord, Fjords in the Disney movie Frozen, and Fjords in the 2014 Rose Parade. Great job, […]

  8. Hallie wrote:

    Hi I am looking at a young fjord colt that was said to be a white dun but has no black in his mane at all dorsal is a yellowish color and his tail only has a bit of black right on the tip is it possible that he is yellow and not white? His mom is a brown dun and dad is white!? He will be color tested but I was just curious if the white duns can take a lil longer for the black to come in or if it would always be present when born hes only 8 days old

  9. Lori Albrough wrote:

    Hi Hallie, with those parents a yellow dun is possible if both sire and dam carry red recessively, but by definition there shouldn’t be any black hairs on a yellow dun. So it will be very interesting to see what the colour test comes back as. Keep us posted!

  10. Gail newport wrote:

    Would like to send pics of my mare. She is dun with stripe down back and stripes on legs. Gove me idea if she is fjord

  11. WorldPC-Games wrote:

    No equine coat colour genetics studies have been done specifically on Fjord horses. But, if Fjord horses were not homozygous for the dun gene, then a dark-coloured, non-dun individual could occasionally occur in the breed. However, this is very rare or nonexistent today; dark cropouts existed in the past, but breed standardisation has favoured duns and the colour is now produced consistently.

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