Dole horses generally stand at 14.1 to 15.3 hands (57 to 63 inches, 145 to 160 cm) high,[4] weigh 1,190 to 1,390 pounds (540 to 630 kg), and are usually bay, black, or chestnut.

Gray is present in the population, as is the cream gene, meaning palomino, buckskin and smoky black occurs.

[1] Double dilute individuals are considered undesirable in the stud book due to now-disproven associations with albinism.

[11] Dole horses closely resemble the British Fell and Dales ponies, which developed from the same ancestral stock.

[2][12] When presented for grading and studbook inspection, the heavy-type Dole Gudbrandsdals are tested for pulling power and trotting.

Although the Dole horse is one of the smallest draft breeds, it shows great pulling power, and is also hardy and agile.

It is likely that the Dole is in part a descendant of the Friesian, as the two breeds are similar in conformation, and the Frisian people were known traders in the area between 400 and 800 AD.

Odin (son of Partisan), was a stallion of Thoroughbred (some sources say Norfolk Trotter[1][2]) breeding, imported to Norway in 1834.

A stallion named Brimen 825 was used by breeders to maintain and improve some horses of the heavier Dole type for draft uses.

[1][4][12] In the 19th century, harness racing began to rise in popularity in Norway and breeders looked to create a horse suitable for that sport.

[4][5] Interest in the Dole Gudbrandsdal continued through World War II, and the horses were used heavily during Norway's occupation by Germany.

[1] When the Dole and North Swedish breeds are crossed, they produce a lighter-weight horse with more forward gaits that is often used for harness racing.