At the winterfair, Rørosmartnan, I met these two ladies who are from one of the groups who travel to the winter market by horse and sleigh. They are from Dalarna in Sweden and travelled for ten days. I asked them if the experience was ok, or if it was too cold. They didn’t tell me anything about cold. Only about the beauty of the travel. Like the sunrise on the last day, when they were crossing a frozen lake, the light was pink and light blue, and the whole lanscape was sparkling with ice crystals. Including the horses.
I also met some horses. This is Sogna Blæsen, a 14 year old dole horse stallion (dølahest), a norwegian working horse. The horse have travelled to the mountain market from the coast for the last six years and I asked the owner if the horse liked the journey. The answer: the horse felt like a king travelling with a lot of other horses with sleighs. There are more photos in my photo gallery from Rørosmartnan 2013.
Bente Haarstad Photography 
Beautiful clothing! I guess the dress on the left is traditional, but is it a dress for a special reason?
And the horse! I have never seen one with the mane hanging down in his face like that. A king indeed.
LikeLike
Both dresses are traditional, but one is wearing an old jacket on top. These are from the middle part of Sweden (the one to the left from Rättvik), and was used for daily work.The ladies told me there there have been continuity for old costumes in Sweden, they have never been out of use. Most traditional costumes in Norway are reconstructions of old garments.Nobody use these kind of dress for daily life any more. But the horse people more or less use the old kind of dress, both for travelling and their five days in Røros.
LikeLike
this is a fantastic post! the woman are beautiful with their sweet smiles and colorful clothing. the horse is amazing! what character! z
LikeLike
Hi Bente.
Great story and pictures that exudes a historic environment.
Hanna
LikeLike
Way cool experience! I’m glad you enjoyed talking to them!
LikeLike
Thanks for a very interesting ‘post’. Great images to go with the story…..an experience shared!
LikeLike
. . . nice pictures . . . but, to me, they look like regular people. And a nice-looking horse.
LikeLike
The spirit of the two women glows in their smiles and their response to your question about the cold: “They didn’t tell me anything about cold. Only about the beauty of the travel. Like the sunrise on the last day, when they were crossing a frozen lake, the light was pink and light blue, and the whole landscape was sparkling with ice crystals. Including the horses.” Such a shining mind of winter.
LikeLike
I will never tire of your pictures..One I am going to paint- If you set up a lodge I would love to visit. Have you heard of couch surfing!! ??
Kathryn
LikeLike
Great photos Bente. Love the ladies and the horse. What a wonderful story.
LikeLike
Fabulous post Bente! Lovely pictures. 🙂
LikeLike
What a hair of the horse! Cool!
LikeLike
Just beautiful! That horse is a king!
LikeLike
Again a wonderful series Bente
LikeLike
The horse seems to have a very small head or is it just the angle the photo was taken from?
LikeLike
beautiful horse.
LikeLike
Since a few years we have some Dole Horses here in Germany as well – I love them 🙂
LikeLike
What a hair and color of the horse, amazing… 🙂
Excellent captured photos… 🙂
LikeLike
The life of these people seems to be simple but very rich. Pretty girls!
LikeLike
Just Beautiful 🙂
LikeLike
I think they have a hard but rich live and they love it!
LikeLike
Such a magnificent horse! Love the costume.
LikeLike
Beautiful photos and interesting narrative!
LikeLike
Great post as usual! The horse is wonderful and the answers from the girls were as expected! Thats the spirit and the feeling of natural people of the North! I’m so glad they still have it – especially as they are young.
LikeLike
As always, you picture creates a powerful effect and it’s gift your story that makes it all embracing. I love the horse pic.
LikeLike
¡Viva Noruega! Todas las fotos son preciosas pero la ultima es maravillosa, ¡qué ojos tiene, qué pelo!
LikeLike
Panie mają piękne stroje 🙂
Koń… jest śliczny!
Pozdrawiam serdecznie 🙂
LikeLike
Dzięki za miły komentarz. Thanks for your kind comment.
LikeLike
Words don’t do justice to this post. The girls, the horse, the lifestyle is beyond my imagining. Thanks so much for sharing this.
LikeLike
What an unique costume I like them It must have a old history
LikeLike
Oh dear Bente, how lovely horse, I loved these photographs. Thanks you, love, nia
LikeLike
What a beautiful stallion you got to meet Bente. Thank you so much for sharing these lovely photos.
LikeLike
Such beautiful women and the horse is simply amazing!
LikeLike
Beautiful images, Bente. I love the photos of the horse and like someone else asked, is it usual to have the mane hanging down the horse’s face like that – I’ve never seen this on our horses in Australia. Perhaps these horses are bred to have longer hair & manes for the winter cold.
LikeLike
It’s always such a privilege to explore your world through posts like this Bente – congratulations 🙂
LikeLike
What a beautiful post, Bente, both the photos and your words. The horse is amazing -I’ve never seen such a long mane!
LikeLike
As always beautiful work my friend!!
LikeLike
That last shot is just outstanding! Love it all!
LikeLike
Fabulous post. The photos are amazing. TFS.
Florence x
LikeLike
I can only imagine how wonderful and thrilling it would be to travel over the snow by horse and sleigh for ten days! The sparkling landscape must have been awe-inspiring…
LikeLike
Hi Bente
Very beautiful photos of an historical trip on sleigh.Nice colored cloths and amazing horses.
LikeLike
That horse does look like royalty. A beautiful creature. This is a wonderful series, Bente.
LikeLike
I’ve always been fascinated by these cultures, being a horse person myself… And these images of yours are just MAGNIFICENT! So beautiful. Thanks so very much for sharing!!!!
LikeLike
hello feygirl! I keep trying to get onto your blog but it always gets blocked with my virus protection….not sure if this is my computer being extra specially weird? Anyway we seem to share similar loves…
LikeLike
Oh no! I’ve never heard this issue from anyone else… Blame it on Mercury, hah. 🙂
Have you tried to follow, and it’s still causing an issue?
LikeLike
ever charming beauty Sir! Sincerely D
LikeLike
Not a Sir . . . made the same mistake myself.
LikeLike
😉
LikeLike
Love them all but the last is my favorite!
LikeLike
I’m in love with the girl that is holding my heart in her hands 🙂 hahahaha… I’m just trying to be funny 🙂
LikeLike
Had to be a stallion with that neck – all muscle! Lovely. 🙂
LikeLike
Everything is beautiful Bente! The 14 year old horse is gorgeous and so loved! He is a king 🙂
LikeLike
I love that horse and love those photos! … I would imagine the horses in Norway grow some pretty heavy winter coats!
LikeLike
Il se dégage une chaleur de tes photos malgré le froid de l’hiver. J’aime beaucoup.
Val
LikeLike
A horse with tremendous charisma and character!
LikeLike
ok little me also leaving a note. . . Bente, what a beautifull post ! it should be in a magazine!
LikeLike
Bente, what gorgeous pictures! My father and family are from Copenhagen and one great-aunt is still alive who lives in Tromso. I’ve never been to Norway and think now I must go. Lovely photography!!
LikeLike
Go to Tromso! The northern Norway is marvelous!! And that small city is wonderful. You could start with ferry from Copenhagen-Oslo and then train to Trondheim or Bodo…and plane the rest.
LikeLike
Bente, I need to bring one of your horses to Fort Yukon. We have none – imagine growing up without ever seeing a real horse! I could import a sleigh, too, and give rides all winter. It would be a popular taxi service. But alas, I have no idea how to care for a horse in such a climate. Are they kept in barns?
LikeLike
Kept in the stable during night, yes. I see some “grazing” in the fields even at 20 below zero, but I think most of them are inside when it is that cold and they are not working. You need horses that can stand this climate, and they grow fur during winter. Like the the horses from Norway and Iceland (which was originally norwegian). or you could do with a reindeer? 😉
LikeLike
Lovely shots. I own a couple horses. I think we call these horses Friesians here, though they could be just very similar to Friesians. I love them. They are like big labrador puppies. So gentle.
LikeLike
Lucky you to have friesians! I don’t know them very well but a cousin of mine have a friesian and he is a real beauty. The are sort of more elegant and noble than the Norwegian kind of hores..
LikeLike
Amazing photos.
LikeLike
Fantastiskt fina bilder! Vad härligt att de inte ville prata om kylan utan om upplevelsen och skönhet! 😀
Klem og alt godt til dae!
LikeLike
Anyone who loves horses is a friend of mine.
LikeLike