Dole-Trotter-or-Dole-Gudbrandsdal history

The Dole Gudbrandsdal originated in the Gudbrandsdal valley in Norway. The Dole Gudbradsdal was a strong, quick-moving packhorse bred in the mountain valleys. This horse is similar to the Fell and Dale ponies and can be traced back to the same prehistoric wild stock. The Dole Gudbrandsdal were good packhorses which carried goods over Norway’s overland trade route which ran through the Gudbrandsdal Valley in central Norway and connected the Oslo region with the North Sea Coast. These horses had the build but not the massive proportions of the draft horse. When interests grew in equestrian sports such as harness racing in the 19th century crosses to the English Thoroughbred stallions, Odin, were made to produce a lighter horse with a longer trot, but still retained the powerful thrust of the hind legs. All modern Dole pedigrees today can be traced back to Odin and his grandson, Balder 4. To keep the horse powerful for farming and agricultural work the Norwegian breeder also breed through the stallion, Brimen 825. This breed was much in demand up until after the Second World War when everything started to be mechanized. The interest in the Dole Gudbrandsdal horses pretty much waned until 1962 when a state-breeding center was established. Today the breed of Dole Gudbrandsdal horse most often bred is the lighter type. The average height of the Dole Gudbrandsdal is 15 hh.