The Finnhorse
(Finnish:Suomenhevonen)
The Finnhorse is the only native breed of horse from Finland. It descended from the Native Finnish Pony once located on the Baltic coast. Later, they were crossed with warmbloods and coldbloods to develop the Finnish Universal. Today, there are four types of Finnhorse: a lightly built trotter (J), a heavier draft horse (T), a versatile riding horse (R), and a small pony-type horse (P).
Finnhorses are 14-16 hands high, strongly built with good limbs and long strong backs. Most Finnhorses are chestnut in color, often with a flaxen mane and tail, some are brown, black, or bay. Splashed white occurs rarely and is more often seen in the drafter type. Finnhorses are willing, forward-going, hardy and tough, and capable of thriving on sparse feed. They are even-tempered despite their relatively small frame. Finnhorses tend to be long-lived, very enduring and possessed of remarkable stamina. The head of the Finnhorse expresses its honesty and workman-like attitude.
The Finnhorse is one of the few multi-purpose breeds in the world. It is the fastest coldblood in the world, it is capable of pulling heavier loads than many larger draft breeds, and it is a very versatile riding horse. Finnhorses participate in dressage, showjumping, eventing and endurance competitions, as well as harness-driving and trotting races. Some have even been competing in dressage up to Prix de St. Georges-level, jumped in open 130cm classes and over 110 cm high cross-country fences. Also, Finnhorses are becoming increasingly popular family horses and riding school mounts.
Finnhorses are bred in Germany as well as Finland. The stud book in Finland is run by: Suomen Hippos ry
. The organization Suomenratsut (SUORA) works to promote the Finnhorse as riding horses.
Suomen Hippos ry can be reached at
: Suomen Hippos ry, Tulkinkuja 3, 02600 Espoo, Finland (Suomi).
If you have any questions regarding the Finnhorse, please contact me. This article is courtesy the Norse Horse Association and Registry (NHAR).
© 1997 wachuset@telegram.infi.net
http://www.oocities.org/ResearchTriangle/Lab/3773/finnhorse.html
Get your own Free Home Page
