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The Fascinating History of Scandinavian Horses

Tor Kjølberg

September 9, 2021

The Fascinating History of Scandinavian Horses

Scandinavian horses have been spotted on the land since the last ice age. Various horse breeds have been used in farming, showing, and pleasure riding. Most of them make excellent companions because of their calm nature. In this article, we’ll explore the history of the most popular horse breeds from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Learn more about the fascinating history of Scandinavian horses

Here’s a list of Scandinavian horse breeds that you should know about.

1. Swedish Ardennes
The Swedish Ardennes is a breed that is descended from the Ardennes draft horses. This horse breed has never been used for military purposes. Because it was deemed too small and weak to be of any use in war. The horse was bred in the 19th century for agricultural purposes.

This Scandinavian horse breed stands at 14 hands (56 inches) high but can grow up to 16 hands (64 inches). It weighs between 800-1100 pounds (360-500 kilograms) with an average weight of 900 pounds (400 kilograms).

The Swedish Ardennes is most known for their ability as an endurance runner. This horse breed’s running gait is so smooth that those who first saw them thought they were floating across the ground touching down on hooves!

Such horses are known as long-livers. Their lifespan goes up to 30 years. If compare horse years to human years this is equal to an 88-year-old man. The body is compact and hardy. The head is small with little eyes. The neck is thick and short. The legs are short and have feathering. The common colors are black, chestnut, and bay. The Swedish Ardennes is intelligent and good-tempered.

2. Scandinavian Coldblood Trotter
The Scandinavian Coldblood Trotter is a draft horse breed. Scandinavian Coldblood Trotters are descendants of the Friesian, Clydesdale, and Shire breeds. They were brought over by immigrants to Scandinavia in the 1700s. These horses were primarily used for farm work. Soon after, Coldblood Trotters became popular as harness racing horses during WWII when gas was limited.

Today, you can see the Scandinavian Coldblood Trotter outside their native countries. As the breed’s bloodlines have been exported throughout Europe and North America. Coldblood Trotters are usually bay, chestnut, or black. White markings on the face and legs are allowed by the breed’s registry.

The average height of the Scandinavian Coldblood Trotter is 15.1 hands (60.4 inches). The horse stands high at the withers (main ridge along the upper back). Scandinavian Coldblood Trotters typically weigh between 1000 and 1200 pounds (454-544 kilograms). They’re well proportioned with a long neck that’s slightly arched and deep through the chest. The head of a Scandinavian Coldblood Trotter is well chiseled with large eyes. Their small ears are set high on the skull and good width between each eye.

The Scandinavian horse breed’s temperament can vary based on their use in work or sport. Generally, these horses are intelligent, well-mannered, and willing to work. That’s beneficial for equestrians who’re looking for horses for long-distance races and endurance rides.

3. Fjord Horse
The Fjord Horse was developed in the mountains and coastal areas across Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland. This cold-climate horse is known for its heavy build as well as an active temperament.

Fjord horses have been used to plow fields. They were first domesticated over 4,000 years ago. Nowadays, these Scandinavian horses are still utilized for farm work. But mostly, you’ll see a Fjord Horse being ridden during sports events. These include dressage competitions and long-distance races like the Nordkapp ride (an endurance race from Paris to Northern Cape).

The Fjord Horse is defined by the thick winter coat. It covers the horse’s short legs with strong joints and good bone structure underneath it all. Fjords also come with broad backs and chests. Their bodies are compact and strong. All Fjord horses are of a dun color.

Fjord horses have an average height of 14 hands (56 inches) but can grow to 16 hands (64 inches) high. The average weight of the Fjord Horse is 880 to 1100 pounds (400-500 kilograms).

Being a hard worker with good instincts for farm work, the Fjord Horse is quite versatile. These Scandinavian horses enjoy human interaction and attention from their owners. Such horses are gentle, playful, and docile.

4. Dole Trotter
The Dole Trotter is a Scandinavian horse breed from Norway. The Dole Trotter was developed in the 19th century. Local Nordic breeds were bred with Oriental horses such as Hackneys and Arabian Horses. This draft horse breed was used as a pack horse and for agricultural purposes. The breed is known for its ability to work under harsh conditions and pull heavy weight.

The breed’s characteristics include strength, speed, agility, endurance, and intelligence. Dole Trotter is a versatile horse breed. It makes the horse suitable for harness racing and riding sports. The Dole Trotter took part in the creation of the North Swedish Horse. The goal was to develop a lighter horse that is suitable for harness racing.

As for the conformation, the head has a straight profile line without any dished face similar to the Arabians but smaller. The neck is of medium length proportionate to the body while being thick at the base (which differs from other Scandinavian breeds). The lower legs have feathering.

The average height of a Dole Trotter is 14.1 to 15.3 hands (57 to 63 inches). The weight ranges from 1190 to 1390 pounds (540 to 630 kilograms). Dole Trotters are quite intelligent and curious horses.

You may also like to read: Dances With Wolves in Norway

5. Danish Warmblood
The Danish Warmblood was developed in Denmark during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was bred by crossing European stallions and Danish mares. The breed is used for dressage, show jumping, combined driving, eventing, and endurance riding.

The Danish Warmblood has a strong square-built body with an average height of 15 hands (60 inches). The average weight is 880 to 1100 pounds (400-500 kilograms).

The head is straight or slightly concave on the profile with big eyes. The horse bears a thick neck without any crest at all. The Danish Warmblood features short sloping shoulders and a deep chest along with good bone quality. Especially in its legs which are free from featherings. However, the limbs appear quite bulky due to fleshy skin folds called boxy warts found around their knees above the cannon bones.

The Danish Warmblood is the most popular in Denmark and Sweden. It’s known for its calm temperament and high spirit. Such a breed is easily trained. The common colors include black, bay, chestnut, and brown.

You may also like to read: Scandinavian Elk

The Fascinating History of Scandinavian Horses – The Final Word
Horses are fascinating creatures, and no one knows them better than the people of Scandinavia. The cultural heritage includes not only the Dala horse from Dalarna. The history of Scandinavian horses goes back centuries before most other breeds were even discovered. The equines have been used for farming, transportation, war, and companionship.

Some of the breeds are well-known all over the world. Due to their excellent temperament, Scandinavian horses are top-notch companions for humans. You’ll find them advantageous in most aspects of our lives.

The Fascinating History of Scandinavian Horses, written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by David Garcia. David considers himself a huge fan of equestrian sports. Being born in a family of farmers, he was literally living at the ranch. His first riding experience was when David was six. He was so fascinated with the grace and intelligence of horses so he decided to plunge into equestrianism deeply. Thus, he’s been participating in a range of horse races and shows where he often grabs medal positions.

David believes that we could be better by sharing our experiences. That is why he founded Horsezz – a blog that is dedicated to equestrian sports.

Feature image (on top): Horses on a meadow in summer. Photo by Nilsgh / Pixabay

Scandinavian Dill

Tor Kjølberg

September 8, 2021

Dill is the ultimate Nordic herb adding a special fresh and typically northern taste to almost every dish made with fish, shellfish, lamb and vegetables. Learn more about Scandinavian dill.

Scandinavian dill cannot be replaced with anything else. If you must, you can try a mix of fennel, parsley and tarragon, but it will not be the same, though still good. Dill seeds are not a successful substitute as they are more like caraway.

How it grows
Dill is an annual and a very easy herb to grow, particularly in partial shade. Sow it in a shallow drill from April onwards, water well, then thin to 5cm. You can pitch the soft leaves, or wait for the flowers, lime green and lovely, which are a herb in their own right, with a stronger, more caraway-like taste.

Culinary uses
Dill is a prolific umbellifer, used for pickles, pickled fish, gravad fish, in mild spring stews with veal or lamb, and served with all kinds of fresh fish. It is perfect for boiling fish and shellfish and for marinating all kinds of vegetables. Spring or summer cabbage is lovely with dill.

Lamb stew with loads of dill
In this recipe, the dill penetrates the whole dish with a wonderfully, fresh green taste that Scandinavians love. You can add delicate spring vegetables, such as peas, spring cabbage, new carrots or asparagus, but it’s better to eat the vegetables on the side. In winter, you could add a root vegetable, such as scorzonera or salsify, parsley, or even celery.

If you ask your butcher to bone the lamb for you, make sure you ask to keep the bones.

1 neck of lamb or large shoulder or leg, boned (approx. weight 1.5kg, including the bones).
1 large onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves
1 bouquet garni, consisting of the green parts of 1 leek, 2 celery sticks, the stalks from the dill (see below) and 1 sprig of fresh thyme.
Butter for frying
Salt and one teaspoon whole black peppercorns
200ml white wine or cider
A little plain flour for coating

to finish
200ml whipping cream
1 tablespoon cornflour
2 large bunches of dill, chopped

Serves 4

Scandinavian dill, written by Tor Kjolberg

Feature photo (on top): Flowering dill. Solhatt.no

Why More People Should Be Eating the Nordic Diet

Tor Kjølberg

September 6, 2021

Why More People Should Be Eating the Nordic Diet

It seems like a new “fad diet” comes around every year, making thousands of people change the way they approach food. Some are better than others, but many of them completely cut out certain food groups or focus on ingredients that might make you lose weight but aren’t necessarily good for your body. Find out why more people should be eating the Nordic diet.

The goal of any diet plan should be health. If you want to lose weight, it’s about eating fewer calories. But, you shouldn’t focus on weight loss at the expense of your overall wellness.

That’s why it’s always better to make a dietary lifestyle change, rather than jump on fad diet bandwagons. The Nordic diet is a perfect example of that. The countries of Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Greenland follow a delicious diet that doesn’t deprive you of things you’ll love to eat.

If you want to take charge of your health, it starts with your diet. Instead of cutting out food groups or doing something extreme, let’s take a look at the Nordic diet and how it can help you reach your health goals.

What Does the Nordic Diet Look Like?
When most people hear the word “diet” they automatically think of cutting things out. That isn’t necessarily true. Your diet is simply what you eat every day. For Scandinavians, that consists of a variety of healthy, nutrient-dense staples like:

Whole-grain cereals
Berries and other fruits
Fatty fish
Legumes

More important than the specific ingredients is the approach to eating. The Nordic diet is based on whatever is seasonal in Scandinavia, so what is available changes regularly. It’s a great way to keep the diet “fresh” and to keep it from getting boring.

It’s less about cutting things out and more about making smarter choices
There are some foods that you’ll eat often on this diet, like the ones listed above. Others are to be eaten in moderation, and some are to be eaten rarely. Because the Nordic diet focuses mostly on seafood and legumes as sources of protein, red meat is rarely eaten. Does that mean you’ll never be able to enjoy a steak again? No. It does mean, however, that it shouldn’t be a staple in your diet if you go this route.

Things like eggs, yogurt, and cheese can all be eaten in moderation on a Nordic diet. So, as you can see, it’s less about cutting things out and more about making smarter choices for your body.

What Are the Benefits?
One of the biggest benefits of the Nordic diet is that it provides your body with the nutrients it needs. It’s estimated that 92% of the population has at least one vitamin deficiency. While taking supplements can help, it’s recommended that most nutrients come from the food you eat.

The Nordic diet is rich in vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin E. It can help to reduce your risk of infection, improve your skin health, and protect most of the cells in your body. High levels of Vitamin E are found in foods like spinach and greens, as well as many fruits.

Other researched benefits of this diet include a reduced risk of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Because of the focus on fruits, vegetables, and herbs, it can even improve your vein health and lessen the risk or discomfort of varicose veins.

Foods rich in vitamins and minerals
When you’re eating foods rich in vitamins and minerals, you’re likely to feel better physically and mentally. Making the switch to a Scandinavian-based diet can improve your overall health and well-being, and you can experience everything from more energy to a better mood.

How to Make More Scandinavian Swaps
It can be difficult to give up your current diet and make a complete switch to something new. Doing so might discourage you from sticking with the newer diet. So, don’t feel as though you have to dive head-first into the Nordic diet while giving up everything you already love.

Instead, try to incorporate more Scandinavian ways of cooking and eating into your regular diet. Swap out things slowly, and you’ll quickly find out what your new favorite dishes are, which ingredients you favor, and what’s easiest to cook. With a slower transition, you’re more likely to make lasting healthy habits instead of falling victim to a fad diet.

Not sure how to get started? Try preparing some Scandanavian vegetables with your meals and using them to swap out other sides. Some of the most common veggies eaten in Scandinavia include:

Leafy greens
Beetroot
Red cabbage
Cucumbers

If your traditional sides include things like french fries and potato chips, making swaps for these (or other) vegetables can make a big difference. Eventually, you might crave those unhealthy foods less as your body gets used to foods that are richer in nutrients.

The Nordic diet is a way of changing your eating habits to look and feel your best. With so many health benefits, it’s a great way to improve your overall well-being without having to go to extremes.

Why More People Should Be Eating the Nordic Diet written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Ainsley Lawrence. Ainsley is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest. She is interested in better living through technology and education. She is frequently lost in a good book.

Feature image (on top) Photo by Cecilia Par / Unsplash