A Dala horse (Dalahäst) is a traditional, hand-carved and painted wooden statuette of a horse, originating from the Swedish province of Dalarna, known for its distinctive folk art style with bright colors, especially red, and painted saddle and bridle, serving as an iconic symbol of Sweden and a popular souvenir. Originally simple toys carved by woodsmen during long winters, they evolved into a significant handicraft and an important part of Swedish cultural identity, representing strength, faithfulness, and good luck.
The Dala Horse has a sentimental, warm place in the hearts of many Scandinavians. Even today, the Swedish wooden horse represents qualities, such as strength, faithfulness, wisdom, and dignity. In rustic culture, if a farm had a horse it was a great help in supporting the family.
Handcrafted with precision and care, these wooden horses showcase the traditional artistry of skilled craftsmen from the Dalarna region. As genuine artifacts, they embody a sense of authenticity that resonates with collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Traditionally, Dala horses are painted red and lovingly decorated with a painted saddle and bridle. They come in all colours and sizes, from clear varnish to pink, in the national colours of Sweden or in individual designs for special occasions.
The rarest horse colors often involve specific, rare genetic modifiers like silver dapple, pearl, or champagne, creating unique diluted shades or patterns, with silver dapple pinto being exceptionally rare. Truly white horses (with pink skin) are also very rare, as are unique combinations like the Pintaloosa (pinto + leopard Appaloosa), while certain breed-specific colors, like the Black Forest horse's distinct chestnut with silver mane, are rare because only one color is registered for the breed.
The "1-2-3 Rule" for horses is a vital guideline for monitoring newborn foals and their mothers in the critical first few hours: the foal should stand within 1 hour, nurse within 2 hours, and the mare should pass the placenta (afterbirth) within 3 hours; any delays signal a potential emergency requiring immediate veterinary attention, as these milestones ensure the foal receives crucial colostrum and the mare avoids serious complications.
What is a Dala horse? Its perhaps Sweden's best known icon, a bluntly rounded, tail-free horse that is thought to have been first whittled out of wood by the fire during long cold Scandinavian nights.
Narrator: Depending on the stallion, horse semen is one of the most expensive liquids on the planet. Matson: So, we collected about 80 mils, and this is gonna be worth in excess of $100,000. Narrator: That means that a gallon of this horse's semen is worth $4.7 million.
They're totally Swedish. This beautifully painted horse has become one of the symbols of Sweden. The original Dala horse (Dalahäst) has been around for many centuries and was created by Swedish woodcarvers in the Dalarna (Dalecarlia) province near Mora, Sweden.
The Material & Carving * Hand-Carved Only: A true Dala horse must be hand- carved from a single block of soft pine wood. * 🚫 Red Flag: If it's plastic, resin, or appears to be perfectly machine-cut with no minor imperfections, it's not authentic.
pulse plural noun. Some large dried seeds which can be cooked and eaten are called pulses, for example the seeds of peas, beans, and lentils. /dala, dAla, daala, dāl, dal, dAl, daal/
It has also become a South African slang word for "making a plan", "getting it done" or "doing it your way" which is very apt for what we do here at Dala, and what we encourage artists and crafters to do too.
The most common cause of death in horses is colic, which refers to abdominal pain and is a leading cause for horses aged 1 to 20 years old, while old age and related gastrointestinal issues become the primary reason for horses over 20 years old, alongside lameness. Other significant causes include lameness (especially chronic laminitis), various digestive system failures (impaction, rupture, tumors), and specific infectious diseases.
Even without complications, tail alteration is cruel because it changes the way a horse can use his tail and sometimes prevents him from using it at all. Tail function is important to equine well-being.
Mating isn't inherently painful for healthy mares in heat, but it can be uncomfortable or painful if there are underlying issues like ovarian cysts, infections, or anatomical problems (like pneumovagina), or simply due to forceful movements, leading to symptoms like crankiness, colic-like signs, or even physical injuries, so monitoring and veterinary consultation are key for mare well-being.
A 20-year-old horse is roughly equivalent to a 60-year-old human, entering their senior years, though the exact conversion varies slightly with different calculation methods, with some suggesting it could range from 60 to 62 human years. Horses age faster in their first few years, then slow down, but a 20-year-old horse is well into the senior stage of life, similar to middle-aged to older adults in humans.
