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Origin of the Døle Horse

The Døle Horse is the largest of the Norwegian native breeds. This breed, an all around breed, has been called the Gudbrandsdals Horse and the East Country Horse, denoting the area where the breed was originally developed. In 1947 the name Dølehest was officially recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture.

As early as the eighteen seventies the breed type was established - the heavier type was preferred. Veil Balder 4 is considered to be the foundation stallion of the breed.

He was the first state owned stallion to run with mares in the mountain summer pastures of Heimdalen and Sikkilsdalen between 1862 and 1869.

The mares still run in the mountain pastures with a stallion from mid June to the end of August. Sometimes the weather turns bad and the foals are born in a snow storm. There is also the possibility of attack by bears as was the case in the late 1990's. The stallion fought off the bear but was clawed on the hip. He circled the mares and foals and chased the bear around the outside.