When we talk about Equestrian sports, you probably think about the Kentucky Derby in the United States, the Epsom Derby in the UK, or the Melbourne Cup in Australia. Norway isn’t your typical destination for equestrian sports, right?

But just because Norway doesn’t have any big horse racing events, it doesn’t mean that there is no trace of equestrian sports in this Scandinavian country.

In fact, Norway is home to a different form of equestrian sports. We are talking about competitive show jumping trail rides and even horse racing on snow.

Let’s learn more about what Norway has to offer in terms of equestrian sports, and who knows, maybe it will be your next prime destination for some horse action.

What’s the Horse History In Norway?

Norwegians aren’t new to horses. In fact, horses were domesticated in these areas thousands of years ago. In the old days, horses were essential for transportation, farming, and, yes, even Viking raids.

Another interesting fact is that the Norwegian Fjord horse is one of the world’s oldest and purest breeds and has been the country’s national treasure for over 4,000 years. We are talking about a horse breed that is sturdy, versatile, and quite good for rural life.

Okay, they might not be the ideal horse racing breed (it has really short legs), but it is a breed that was adapted to the climate and geographic location.

But that is back in the day, how about now? Are horses still used in Norway? – Yes, even though Norwegians now have advanced machinery for agriculture and horses are no longer used for transportation, they still managed to find their way into society in equestrian sports.

This is quite a popular pastime activity in the area, and although there aren’t many big-name races here, people still have a blast at local horse races just because they are fun to watch!

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Let’s talk stats. According to the Norwegian Equestrian Federation (Norges Rytterforbund), there are over 70,000 registered equestrians in Norway.

This might not sound like a lot, especially if we compare it to other countries like the United States, but Norway has a population of 5.5 million people, and what’s so special about this country is that it has one of the highest rates of horse ownership per capita in Europe.

There are around 110,000 horses in Norway, and over 600 clubs across the country, offering anything from riding lessons to competitive training.

Now, the fun part – equestrian events. Although there are no big horse racing events like the Grand Prix de Paris in France, there are around 1,500 equestrian events each year, and although most of them are local shows, there are a few that may catch the eye of international competitors.

Maybe you won’t need a complex horse betting system to crack these small races in Norway, but that doesn’t mean that the races are not fun.

So, yes, Norway might not be the ultimate horse racing destination, but this doesn’t mean that equestrian sports have completely disappeared here.

Show Jumping

The most popular equestrian event in Norway is show jumping. We are talking about a country that produced some of the world-class riders in this category, like Geir and Victoria Gulliksen, who have competed at the highest levels of the sport.

But why show jumping?

Well, Norwegian riders have access to top-notch facilities and coaches for this discipline. Plus, the Norwegian government provides funding for equestrian sports, especially for show jumping since it is a discipline with the longest history in the region.

Lastly, since show jumping has been around for quite some time in Norway, there is a big passionate community for this equestrian sport.

And we can see their passion for show jumping through stats. Norway’s show jumping team qualified for the 2021 Olympics, which shows their growing presence on the international stage.

Dressage and Eventing

We can already spot a trend here. It seems like Norwegians don’t like to go at 40 mph when riding a horse. After all, their most popular disciplines are show jumping dressage and eventing, which focus more on precision and human-horse bond than actual speed.

But just because riders don’t blast through the track, it doesn’t mean that dressage and eventing are easy. In fact, creating a bond and remembering complex movements that the rider performs with the horse is quite difficult, maybe even more difficult than thoroughbred horse racing.

Why? Well, you cannot show up to an event and pick a horse. You need to establish a connection with that horse and build your relationship for a couple of months and sometimes years.

Leisure Riding

Lastly, we have leisure riding, which isn’t actually a sport but more of an activity that is quite popular in Norway. The idea here is simple, go to the countryside, rent a horse, and ride through the incredible nature and relax.

Norway is a country with stunning landscapes that change instantly. You have rolling hills, dense forests, and big open areas. And the best way to explore Norway is on a horse, without a doubt.

So, Norwegians might not have big international success in equestrian sports, especially not in the most popular ones like horse racing, but they don’t seem to really care. They love football and handball, and they are happy. Equestrian sports are seen here as a relaxing activity, and that’s not a bad thing.