Fjordmerrie

After decades on a big warmblood, I didn't expect this smaller build to feel so sturdy under saddle. He handles rocky trails without a stumble and holds up fine in freezing weather. Two months in and he's already the handiest horse on the farm.

I was worried a smaller horse wouldn't handle our rocky trails, but this mare just powers through mud and steep grades without a hint of struggle. The hardiness is no joke, and she's got the sweetest temperament for my kids to ride.

My fjord mare isn't even 14 hands but she outworks the quarter horses on our rocky trails and hauls firewood all winter without losing condition. For a breed used on Norwegian farms for centuries, the hardiness is real, not just something the breed registry advertises.