An NFHA Member Travels to Norway for the Stallion Show

Stallion Show Nordfjordeid 2025

Lisa Otten, Oakdale Farm

Jul 26, 2025

As a Norwegian Fjord owner and small breeder, it has been on my bucket list to attend the Stallion Show in Nordfjordeid. This year I finally got to attend. Norway was beautiful and it was incredible to see so many stallions at once! Below are the highlights of the stallion show:

April 30^th, Wednesday morning, featured the Klasse 1b and 2ub stallions riding tests at the Norsk Hestesenter indoor arena. Two stallions participated in the 1 b Klasse and seven in the Klasse 2 ub. The stallions were ridden by two riders, owner selected, and stallion show selected. The stallions were trotted and cantered around the arena and across the diagonal in an english saddle as the judges observed.

May 1^st, Thursday morning, featured the Klasse 1 b and 2 ub stallions driving tests at the Norsk Hestesenter indoor arena and outdoors with occasional rain. The stallions were driven by two drivers, owner selected, and stallion show selected. The stallions were walked and trotted around the arena and across the diagonal in a marathon carriage with an open bridle (no blinders). Then each stallion was followed outdoors where the stallion parked on a hill upwards, then downwards, executed a figure 8, and then backed as the judges observed.

May 1^st, Thursday afternoon, began the Klasse 2 b and 3 driving tests at the Øyane show site. Three stallions participated in the Klasse 2 b, and twenty-four stallions participated in Klasse 3. Unlike Klasse 1b and 2ub the stallions in the Klasse 2 b and 3 were driving to a farm wagon vs a marathon carriage. The stallions parked on a hill upwards, then downwards, executed a figure 8, and then backed as the judges observed.

May 1^st, Thursday night, was the highlight of the day and there was standing room only for the presentation of the stallions at liberty. Each stallion was brought to the Norsk Hestesenter arena and was turned loose to move at liberty. The judges were in the ring observing and volunteers kept the stallions moving. It was incredible to see 36 Fjord stallions in an evening!

May 2^nd, Friday, featured the stallion conformation tests for all the stallions (Klasse 1a, 1b, 2 ub, 2 b, and 3) and the completion of Klasse 3 driving tests. The weather on Friday was cool and rainy. Friday was a little bit overwhelming since they had 2 rings going on and the 3 yr old driving tests. I could not watch everything. Like the NFHR evaluation system each conformation Klasse started with a parade of stallions. After the parade, each stallion was individually reviewed by the judges. The conformation test had two parts: triangle and hard pavement (asphalt). The first part the stallion was stood up for the judges to evaluate their conformation. The handler then walked the stallion on the triangle and then trotted the triangle. After completing the triangle work the handler stood up the stallion again for the judges to review. The judges would then instruct the handler to take the stallion to the area for the hard pavement test. Here the handler initially set the stallion up waiting for instruction from the judges to proceed with the hard pavement test. The judges then instructed the handler to walk straight away from the judges and walk straight back at the judges. Followed by the handler trotting straight away from the judges and then straight at judges. After this the handler and stallion were dismissed, and the judges then captured their observations and notes.

May 3rd, Saturday, the results and breeding licenses were granted. The top stallion of the show was the Klasse 1 a 8 yr old stallion Nygårds Gurven owned and bred by Sissel Marie Gurvin. He was awarded 1 premie and 1st is his class. He received 10’s for his trot and canter and named Dagens Hest (Best in Show)! The Klasse 2 ub winner was Årøy Elmer, 4 yrs old, and the Klasse 3 winner was Fjølestad Odin a 3 yr old.