A short history
Along with the Gotland Pony, the North Swedish is Sweden's only native breed of horse. It can be traced back in history as a Swedish or possibly Scandinavian native breed.
As a result of varying conditions and circumstances in this lengthy country, the native breed figured in several local herds that have formed the basis for today's
North Swedish horse.
These herds contained individual horses of varying sizes.
The native horses in the county Jämtland and Hälsingland were a little larger and heavier than other provincial horses.
The threat to native horses
During the 19th century, territory once exclusive to the native horse was for various reasons increasingly encroached upon by other
breeds. During the war on the continent at the start of the 1800's, thoroughbred horses had proved to be the better fighting
horses. It became fashionable to refine the native breeds. This concept also reached Sweden and native stock here became more and more affected by the thoroughbred stallions stationed from Strömsholm up as far as Norrland.
The next blow to the native breed's existence had a more down-to-earth background. The agricultural reforms of the 1800's (Laga skiftesreformen) were the starting signal for a speedy improvement in efficiency and the development of agriculture in Sweden.
They also meant the introduction of larger and heavier equipment both on the land and in the forest. Equipment that, as general consensus had it, the native breed of horse had neither the size nor the muscle-power to cope with.
Breeders' eyes were drawn towards Central Europe and England where the large heavy horses were to be found - a type of horse very impressive to the breeders of Sweden.
Imported stallions of different breeds virtually flooded into the country during the second half of the 19th century and these were crossed with the Swedish native breed on a very random basis.
Before long these powerful coldbloods had squeezed out the native breed in the southern parts of the country and continued to spread further and further north.
The rebuilding of the breed
This "cross-breeding madness" became a serious threat to the entire Swedish native stock. Certain individuals with foresight recognised the approaching danger at the 11th
hour, and using as-yet unspoiled examples of the native breed started work on reconstructing the race. At the forefront of this mission to purify the native breed was the breeders' association Södra Dalarnes Horses' Friends, founded in 1894 and led by veterinary professor Wilhelm Hallander.
The first thing the association did was to introduce the name "North Swedish Horse", which became official in the year 1900. As the breeding-epoch had caused a shortage of the native breed in Sweden, Norwegian close relative the Gudbrandsdals horse
(now known as the Døle horse) was brought in to aid in the rebuilding of the North Swedish breed. A very important milestone on the path to resurrecting the breed was the opening of The Institute for Stallion Breeding (Hingstuppfödningsanstalten) Wången, Jämtland in 1903.
Every autumn they bought in up to twenty of the best colts to be found in the land, and the establishment quickly became the heart of the Swedish
stallion-pool, stationed throughout the country.
Due to a political decision and despite massive North Swedish protests, breeding at Wången was brought to a halt in 1996.
It is thanks not only to the Wången stallions but also to private breeding, plus knowledgeable and passionate foal-owners and purposeful breeding
work, that today's North Swedish Horse has developed so successfully.
Characteristics
The North Swedish working horse is a middle-sized coldblood. The average height of the stud book registered mare is circa 153cm, the stallion circa 157cm. There is significant variation in
size, especially amongst mares. The head is of middling size with a straight profile and broad, well-muscled cheeks give the head a wedge-shaped
appearance. The muscular neck is of average length. The back is long but well muscled. The shoulders are well placed and sloping - most appropriate for a draft horse, and the chest is most often broad.
The legs are well proportioned, with broad joints and strong tendons. Tissue quality is excellent. Movement is energetic and rhythmic.
Colours
Acceptable colours are brown, blackish-brown, yellowish black, black, chestnut, buckskin, palomino, smoky and grey. In the latter case however only where descent is verifiable back to the Norwegian so-called
"blue horses". Markings on the head and legs are acceptable.
Strict controls and tough testing behind today's North Swedish horse
There can hardly be another breed of horse on the planet that has been as thoroughly and completely tried and tested as the North Swedish horse has. Along with the state's Inspection (Premiering)
veterinarians' health checks ever since the breed's establishment, regular x-ray examinations have been made of the stallions' hoof-cartilage since as far back as the 1950's.
Pulling tests were introduced for the North Swedish horse almost 40 years before they became obligatory. Since the 1950's, the working-abilities of both sexes have been tested at yearly 'horse
meets' across the country. Bit by bit the breed's temperament has been improved upon. All of this has led to today's energetic, hardy, easy-to-rear, durable, fertile, calm and trustworthy North Swedish horse.
Stud book research
The breed stud book is the foundation of any rational breeding programme. Volume 1 of the North Swedish stud book came out in 1915.
Before that, there was limited stud book research through the efforts of certain local interests. The breed stud book has appeared every year since 1931. The editorial duties have been characterised by
continuity. Rättvik's then district veterinarian, later Professor, Karl Eriksson was appointed stud book secretary when The Association of North Swedish Horses took over publication of the stud book after The Institute for Stallion
Breeding, Wången, had done so for several years. Karl Eriksson started his run there in 1931 with volume 6. He edited no less than 30 volumes in the years to come.
His last volume was to be number 35, published in 1960, the same year as his death. His successor, Professor Sven Dyrendahl, oversaw publication of over 40 volumes in succession, that is numbers 36-75 between the years 1961-1999. The stud book editor from volume 76 onwards is:
Foal registration/ Horse pass
The Breeding Association of North Swedish Horses, FNH, introduced foal registration in 1992.
Registration is a condition for entering a horse for inspection (premiering).
Work has long been underway to introduce a horse pass for all horses and such a scheme has been put into practice from the year 2005
onwards. The registrar is Annika Ytterberg, address as above.
Changes in society - a challenge
The North Swedish horse was originally used primarily in forestry and agriculture as well as within the military. As the mechanisation of farm and timberwork became more and more widespread and the army cut down on its use of
horses, the need for working horses decreased drastically.
Demand sank and prices diminished. As a result, fewer horses were paired and there was a drop in the number of foals born. This led to a narrower gene pool and the spectre of inbreeding raised its
head.
According to a Master's Degree paper from spring of 2002, (Ulrika Tjälldén, The Swedish Biodiversity Centre, Uppsala) the risk today is not critical. There is however a tendency to increased inbreeding in both mares and stallions and extra attention must be paid to prevent such a development.
The versatile North Swedish
The multi faceted North Swedish horse is of great culture-historical value and the possibilities for its use are many - something that more and more people are
discovering.
The North Swedish is a good all round horse and is very well suited to all sorts of driving - on everyday and ceremonial occasions
alike. She performs well, too, as a riding horse in all the disciplines, such as jumping, dressage, gymkhana and Western Riding from novice up to intermediate
level. Widely known for her sure footing, the North Swedish can handle any terrain and thus is perfect for riding and cross-country
tours. She is also strong and copes well with heavier riders. This great range combined with a positive temperament makes her very suitable as a riding school horse and for riding for the
handicapped.
There are, then, a multitude of reasons for acquiring a North Swedish, a very practical horse for
riding, jumping and driving. The pictures in this brochure show the North Swedish horse's great versatility and diversity.
The Breeding Association of the North Swedish Horses, FNH
