Norwegian Fjord ponies are living reminder of Orkney's Viking past
By Gillian Wylie
(From The Orcadian dated August 29, 2002)

It seems unlikely that ponies like these have been seen in Orkney for centuries – perhaps even since Viking times.

But now, two Norwegian Fjord horses quietly graze a field in Birsay, unaware that they are among only 60 of their kind in the country.

The gentle temperament of these rare Fjord horses makes them lovely family ponies. Eight-year-old Alanna Swanney is mounted on newest arrival, the retired mare, Maple Karina, while her brother Calvin (10) sits astride Karina’s son, seven-year-old gelding, Asgard Norvik. (www.orkneyphotographic.co.uk)

Bearing a striking resemblance to the ancient Prewalski, or Asiatic horse of the Ice Age, the ponies belong to Hilary Swanney of Runa in Twatt, who bought the seven-year-old gelding, Asgard Norvik, for her children, two years ago.

The other pony – a much more recent arrival – is Norvik’s mother, Maple Karina, who has been retired to Orkney as a companion for her son, after twenty years as a successful driving pony and brood mare in the most exhalted of equine circles.

Norwegian Fjord horses have been bred by the Norse people for 4,000 years, and are genetically closest to the Prewalski – though not directly descended from them. Like the Prewalski, the Fjord has a uniform dun coat colour, with a dark eel stripe along its back. Sometimes they have zebra stripes on the hind legs.

Like other primitive equines, the mane tends to stick up, and is traditionally clipped in a crescent shape from poll to withers (top of the head to shoulders). Horses with their manes clipped like this appear on rune stone carvings of the Vikings which can be seen in Norway. These “Viking horses” were used in the popular sport of horse fighting – sometimes to the death.

Although their history in Orkney is apparently obscure, it is known that Fjord horses were brought to the Western Isles of Scotland by raiders from Hordaland in 1150. Indeed, among the “Lewis chessmen” (100 chess pieces found in Lewis in 1831) is a Viking, mounted on a Fjord horse.

In practical terms, the Fjord’s ancient bloodstock makes them a hardy, easy-to-keep breed.

This was one of the attractions for Hilary, who said that she had always wanted a Fjord horse.

“They’ve got such gentle natures and they’re very hardy,” she said. “I wanted to have a safe family pony. Fjords have lovely temperaments and winter well in unfriendly Orkney conditions.”

The glory days – Maple Karina was one of a pair competing at major equine events between 1982 and 1986 with the Hon Mrs Janet Kidd. Mrs Kidd and her navigator and time keeper, Rachael Carpenter, are pictured here competing at Hickstead Driving Derby, with her Fjords, in the early 1980s.

Norvik, she bought simply for enjoyment, and for her children to ride. Karina was sent to her, thanks to David Stewart, president of Fjord Horse Registry of Scotland, when Norvik’s previous companion pony passed away.

Mr Stewart said that Maple Karina is in retirement after a long and successful career as one of the country’s best Fjord mares.

He explained some of her background: “She was imported from Denmark in 1982 by Lord Beaverbrook’s daughter, The Hon Mrs Janet Kidd, for use as a three-day-event carriage driving pony for her world famous Maple Stud at Ewhurst in Surrey. Following Mrs Kidd’s retirement in 1986, Maple Karina was sold to Lord Glentanar’s daughter, The Hon Mrs Jean Bruce, for use as a brood mare at her Glen Tanar Stud in Aboyne, before being sold to the Asgard Stud in Fyvie in the 1990s.”

Back in the 1920s, he added, Lord Glentanar and His Grace the Second Duke of Westminster had introduced the first documented Fjord horses to Scotland – and the UK – for breeding in Aberdeenshire and Sutherland. There have been Fjord horses at Glen Tanar Estate in Aberdeenshire ever since.

This year, the Fjord Horse Registry of Scotland’s biannual breed show will be held at The Haughs, Glentanar, on September 7.

Mr Stewart continued: “Maple Karina has produced several foals since arriving in Scotland and is now enjoying a well deserved retirement with her son, Asgard Norvik. It is believed that Maple Karina and Asgard Norvik are the first Fjord horses to arrive on Orkney since Viking times.”