THE ART OF BREEDING breed including its history, the conditions NORWEGIAN FJORD HORSES? under which it developed, the uses for which TURNS OUT IT’S A SCIENCE! it was developed, the preferences of the people who developed it, and the vision they By Dan Watanabe hold for its future. This is what is The Fjord Breed is a relatively small, responsible for the character of the breed or closed population, currently estimated to be “breed type”, those combined traits and around 80,000 in number worldwide, 7,000- qualities that set a breed apart from every 9,000 of which are estimated to reside in other. North America1. Due to these factors, Because the Fjord Horse has always breeding Norwegian Fjord Horses presents been regarded as a versatile animal, a range some interesting opportunities, but also of “type” exists within the breed and some some interesting challenges. It has been said would even suggest there are multiple that line breeding should be practiced by acceptable types of Fjord horses. In my only the most expert of breeders. Due to the opinion, however, this leads to ambiguity size of the population, that it is a closed both in breeding and with respect to the population, and that the degree of character of the breed as more extreme relatedness of the current population is individuals of similar type are often paired, likely somewhere between 6 and 8 percent2, further intensifying their similarities, or at all breeding of Fjord Horses is effectively the very least, making it that much harder to line breeding. breed back toward center in successive Of course, not everyone can be an generations. expert... not enough Fjords would be bred to Without a strong breed character, one perpetuate the breed. Yet, in order to might argue that you really don't have a successfully steward the breed forward so breed, yet that breed must also remain that future generations can enjoy Fjord functional for its intended purposes, Horses as we have, it is imperative that we otherwise the breed does not really have a breed as thoughtfully as possible. The use. With this in mind, a vision for an ideal following describes a methodology and Fjord Horse and thus a breeding goal can resources that can help you to make emerge, one that exhibits a functional type successful matches. of conformation that allows for the highest Educate Yourself About Breed Character degree of versatility and works to preserve and the Breed Standard the character of the breed. Breeding implies selection, and more Of course, some of those extremes specifically, selection toward a particular are needed in order to accomplish this, so ideal. In the breeding of purebred animals, having a range of individuals within the this further narrows the image to that of a breed is quite necessary. Some might even shared ideal, or “breed standard”. To that choose to breed more extreme Fjords for end, our breeding decisions must be made suitability in particular markets, but I feel from a foundation of knowledge about the that this should be done by choice and never out of ignorance. 1 As published in Fjordhesten I Noreg (2005) by Since Norway is the Mother Country Hans Kolbein Dahle, Former Chairperson, Fjord of the Fjord Horse and, as per the Horse International. North American numbers are Commission of the European Union, the adjusted for recent registrations. 2 Based on research presented before FHI General Convention on Biodiversity, and Fjord Assembly 2010 based on 7 generation study of Horse International, “has the ultimate the Norwegian Studbook responsibility for the breed and its Educate yourself about Functional character”, it is a great place to begin Conformation as it relates to Breed “looking” at the breed character and type Type/Breed Character that is both exhibited and desired. Learn in what ways breed character Thanks to the internet, “looking” dictates the conformation required for does not mean that you have to physically functionality. For example, Fjords should go there, although I highly recommend it as have powerfully built front ends. While this it will only help solidify your understanding means heavier features in the front end than of the Fjord Horse, its history, and ultimately many other breeds, all horses should still be what is desired for the character of the able to flex at the poll in order to work “on breed. the bit” and still should exhibit overall The Norges Fjordhestlag website can balance. In the case of the Fjord, this means be accessed at www.fjordhest.no. In the the neck must be attached higher at the second column you can click on Gå til withers and be longer over the top line and bildearkivet her. This will take you to the particularly the poll, in order to both photo archive. You can also use the maintain functionality and exhibit good “Hingstekatelogen” link on the left menu to breed character. take you to the current year's catalog of Additionally, in order for balance to approved stallions. You will see a map of be maintained, the ideal Fjord must therefore Norway and will need to select “Vis alle have a well developed hindquarter to match hingster i katalogen” to get the complete and a strong coupling that allows the two catalog. In the case of the hingstekatelog, halves to work together, efficiently look for stallions that have high scores for transmitting the energy from back to front type (8-10). It is the first of the five scores and providing good suspension listed followed by body and musculature, characteristics that protect the horse and legs, movement, and “overall”. Note the rider when applicable. similarities and differences. To see differences in functional If you are a little intimidated by conformation, look at other national Norwegian, don't hesitate to use websites for Fjord Horses to see how the www.translate.google.com or a similar breed is different and how those changes internet translator to help out. This is not might help to better suit it for particular always perfect, but is often close enough to uses. Identify the ways in which these give you an idea of what you are reading. changes are supportive of breed character, One problem of note with this resource is and ways in which they deviate from breed that the Norwegian word for mare, “hoppe” character. gets translated to “jumps” in English. Also, look at other breeds, their At the CFHA website, conformation, and their suitability for www.cfha.org, you can find a partial breed particular disciplines to see how their standard as published by Fjord Horse conformation relates. To see it all in motion, International (www.fjhi.org) or in Section I you can find a tremendous variety of videos of the CFHA/NFHR Evaluation Handbook, on the internet, everything from backyard available for download at www.nfhr.com, rides to Olympic Gold Medal Performances. you can find the full version. Choose from Determine the strengths and weaknesses “evaluations” on the drop down menu to the of your mare/stallion left. It is from this document that the FHI Based on what you know, list the version was adapted. strengths and weaknesses of your Fjord. Ask others their opinion and, if possible, You can look up pedigrees of take your Fjord to an Evaluation so that you Canadian registered Fjords at www.clrc.ca. can get even more opinions from those with NFHR registered Fjords can be looked up at particularly good knowledge of the breed. www.nfhr.com/ponyweb. There is even a Once you have objectively made “hypothetical mating” feature that can help observations as to your Fjord’s strengths and you to look at the pedigree of a hypothetical weaknesses, prioritize your goals for the cross. mating, based on changes you would like to Finally, if you are feeling see in the next generation compared with adventurous and want to go back even your Fjord's breed character and functional further into the Norwegian studbook you can conformation. Don't forget to look at go to www.nhest.no. strengths and weaknesses in your Fjord's Evaluation results are another tool pedigree as these can most certainly affect that can be used to help determine the the outcome of a breeding. qualities of individuals. Use the numbers to Select a suitable mate for your direct you to information about specific mare/stallion qualities. Do not rely on numbers solely, Look at the individuals. Look at as breeding is not simply a matter of offspring they have produced and the horses accounting. If you breed strictly “by the they have produced them with. Determine numbers”, don't be surprised if the results do the traits they tend to produce to see if they not measure up to your expectations. As will be a suitable match. You might even such, get commentary whenever possible. look at their pedigrees and try to determine Translate it or have it translated if necessary. where traits have come from and what traits Finally, consult with an expert to get have been passed strongly through the recommendations. The Fjord Horse generations. Community is full of great people so don't Also look to see if there are any be afraid to call or email someone out of the mutual relatives. This can sometimes be blue that you think can help you pick a good responsible for “throwbacks”, offspring that match for your Fjord. more strongly exhibit traits of an ancestor Test your theories! than even its own parents. While the actual breeding will last a Check the pedigrees for inbreeding matter of seconds, you will now have 11 potential. Current recommendations and the long months to wait to see whether your current rules for registration in Canada state theories about a cross hold, or if you missed that the same horse should not appear more something in your research. If it worked as than once in the first three (3) generations of you hoped, now you have a few more years a pedigree. Of course, to really know what to wait until you can try for yet another you might get, you will have to go back generation. If it didn't work quite as many more generations. You might even run planned, now you can look back at the inbreeding coefficients for both the mare pedigrees to explain where your theories and stallion to see which pedigree is stronger went awry. Breeding is not an exact science, (more inbred) and thus, likely to be more at least not any more than any other science, influential in the breeding. There are on-line but it is not as some say, a crap shoot. If you calculators that you can type pedigrees into do your homework and follow a thorough, that can help with this. By the way, at systematic methodology, I think you will be 12.5% an individual is, genetically speaking, happy. its own first cousin!