Horse
Pronunciation:
fer-ə-ˈwēz
Breed Description:
The Faroese breed of horse is a riding horse originating from the Faeroe islands in Denmark. It is an ancient and exceptionally pure breed of horse. It is also known as the Faeroe Island horse or the Faeroese pony. At present, Faroese may not be exported from the Faeroe Islands. The Faroese breed of horse is well-adapted to its wet climate. In the winter, its already thick coat thickens further, and they protect their thinly covered bellies in the winter by standing constantly, even while they sleep. Faroese are usually bay, sometimes black, and rarely brown or palomino. They are never gray or skewbald. The Faroese breed of horse is considered clever and agile, and sure-footed.
Temperament:
The Faroese breed of horse has a friendly, pleasant temperament.
Height:
The Faroese breed of horse stands 11 to 12.1 hands high.
Living Conditions:
The Faroese breed of horse is quite hardy.
Origin:
The Faroese breed of horse comes from the Faeroe Islands, an isolated group of islands (17 of which are inhabited) between Iceland and the Shetland Islands in the North Atlantic. The Faroese horses resemble horses brought from Asia to Europe in about 200 B.C. Both the Celts and the Scandinavians brought horses to the Faeroe Islands, where they readily adapted to the wet climate.
The Faroese breed of horse is extremely rare; before the registry was formed in the mid-20th century, there were only five Faroese remaining. Breeding efforts have paid off since then, and there are now reputed to be at least 50 Faroese in the Faeroe Islands.
