About 175 foals were registered that year.īlack, bay, chestnut, and sorrel are the predominate colours, but there are also duns, dapple grey, and palominos. The Døle Horse population as of the year 2000 was about 4,000. They cause less damage to the forest floor and require narrower roads in general than tractors and logging rigs. Døle and Fjord horses are in some parts of Norway still used in forestry for thinning out and transporting logs over short distances. The Døle Horse continues to be appreciated for the versatility and distinctive character of breed. Its confirmation and disposition are a result of this. This created a desire to have a horse that carried itself in a refined manner. They were also used by their owners to pull light carts or carriages. The Døle Horse was primarily used for farming or logging. The shows held today are three-day events. These stallion shows are still held in the Lillehammer area to this day and are still held by the Ministry of Agriculture. The first official horse show was held by the Ministry of Agriculture in Lillehammer in 1857. As early as the 1850’s the breed type was established. In his writings from the 1530’s, Archbishop Olaus Magnus mentioned the breed. This horse is an all around breed also known as Gudbrandsdal Dølahest or the East Country Horse denoting the area in Norway where the breed was originally developed. The Døle Horse is the largest of the four native breeds of horses in Norway.