The feisty Norwegian Fjord is our September Breed of the Month on YourDressage! Did you know that dressage riders who choose a registered Fjord as their dressage mount are eligible for special awards through the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards program? The Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry and the Norwegian Fjord Horse Alliance Inc. are participating organizations!
By Amanda Swenson
The moment I met Paska, I fell in love. I don’t know if it was kismet, or something else, but I knew instantly that she was the perfect horse for me.
I had always wanted a Fjord, and Paska – or Paska Louise, as we call her – fell into my lap in May 2020. She was just a month old, and we were in the beginning stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. I wasn’t looking for a young horse, and certainly not a weanling, but Paska was the horse I needed. Fjords are not a common breed in the United States, and she practically showed up on my doorstep… Well, sort of. She was actually a few hours away.
Paska is now six years old, and full of a big, dynamic personality. I have a running joke that she has three PhDs. One in mischief-making (translation: getting into trouble; opening gates or even taking them off her lean-to; being an all-around menace), one in stand-up comedy (translation: if she can make someone laugh to get out of work, she will fully lean into that), and a third in psychology (translation: she’s a Houdini and all-around escape artist).
I’ve met a handful of Fjords, and they have all been very loving, sociable horses that enjoy “helping.” Even if their version of “helping” results in causing more problems. Sometimes I’ll clean out Paska’s grooming tote, and if she is around, she will assist by taking her brushes out and relocating them for me!
I, on the other hand, am a real PhD candidate at North Dakota State University, where I study Rhetoric, Writing, and Culture, and predominantly teach writing courses. I would love to incorporate horses into my work in some capacity. In addition to having epilepsy and two rheumatological disorders of my own to manage, I am also a caretaker for my mom. In 2021, not long after Paska came into our lives, my mom was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Since then, Paska has become a great source of comfort and joy.
Paska is special in many ways, and when she came into my life, I quickly realized how much my mom and I had needed her. As I often say, Paska is a funny kid, but she’s also perceptive. Horses, by nature, are perceptive and thoughtful. They often ask us to implement a level of communication and patience that we don’t have or often struggle with. I don’t think Fjord horses are stubborn; they need time to think and process information.
Paska is my first Fjord; however, I had encountered a few Fjord horses before Paska, which is why I wanted one. I liked their social, loving personality. Several people gave me advice about the breed, including perpetuating the stereotype that they are slow and stubborn. They can be pushy and lean into pressure, which are behaviors that, of course, need to be corrected.
But Fjords are like mules. They need to think about what they are being asked and understand the “why.” Other Fjord owners and trainers told me that Fjords already know the correct answer, and we need to get on their page—the right page!
Many of my own values and beliefs about horses as a whole changed because Paska requires a steady, patient hand. Fjords get bored with too much repetition. I thought I was patient, but horses, especially non-traditional breeds, can highlight glaring holes in our beliefs.
Fjords are a wonderful breed because they are so versatile. When I lived in Louisiana, I took dressage lessons and enjoyed trail riding. At the time, I mostly rode hotter breeds, such as my beloved Peruvian Paso Finos and Arabians.
Fjords are their own special breed, but they do remind me of Arabians in that they choose their person and form very strong social bonds. Even if Paska isn’t successful at something I ask of her, she tries with all her heart. Like mules, however, Fjords have a strong core memory. Personally, I like this about the breed, it makes teaching them an adventure. It’s like having a conversation with your pony! It also means that you should always be on your toes, though!
I want to conclude with two specific stories about Paska that highlight the joys of her breed.
I have enjoyed several lessons, including dressage lessons, with Paska. I took her to her first show, and I could tell she was nervous. She didn’t know what to think of the other horses, the loud music coming from the speakers, and the commotion. But I talked to her, and apart from a few unbalanced bucks, we had a good time. She was level-headed and didn’t whinny in response to other panicked horses. When she saw me walk around the trailer, she immediately sighed and calmed down.
My mom is in a wheelchair, so I’ve worked with Paska to ensure she is comfortable around mobility aids. I’ve led Paska around in my mom’s wheelchair, desensitizing her to these items, teaching her that she needs to respect them but not react to them. My mom can no longer ride, so I bring Paska to our house to visit. Paska and my mom will spend the afternoons gardening together. 2
There are some things a trainer can’t teach a horse; things that are purely intuitive and instinctual. I’ve worked with Paska to follow me and others, but somehow, Paska knows my mom is special. Paska understands to stay within distance for my mom to love on her, or to brush flies off her belly, without crowding her. Unlike her dependence on me, Paska seems to grasp—in her unique horsey way—that my mom needs extra special care and love, and that she’s the only one who can provide it.
