The data referring to 152 Fjord horses registered in the following stud-books: Vol. 1 of Fjord Horse Studbook [1962], National Register of Small Horses [1995] and Register of Ponies and Small Horses, Vol. 2, were analysed. Average dimensions of a present-day Fjord horse herd in Poland are as follows: mares 140.23–179.85–19.08 cm, and stallions 139.00–171.23–19.44 cm. Biometric parameters of present Fjord horse herd are in contrast to the breeding efforts assumed at the initial stage of breeding these horses in Poland when the principal purpose was to increase their weight and boniness. Present-day Fjord mares are characterised by mean chest circumference index typical for horses of the draught type, whereas boniness index is within the range appropriate for general utility horses. Opposite relationships are being observed in stallions. Average mare classification score significantly increased in 2002 as compared with initial herd evaluation (1962), which is a favourable phenomenon. On the other hand, an alarming decrease of average classification score was observed in stallions. In further breeding work, therefore, an attention should be paid to the correctness of conformation traits and the proper type of Fjord stallions to prevent further reduction of classification score and aim at obtaining conformation index values characteristic for a specific utility type.

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