Napsukka, the seven-time Finnish champion

Kuukauden työhevonen: Napsukka (työhevosharrastajat.net)

1st prize mare NAPSUKKA 1637-94Ta

born 22th of May 1994
s. Ilon-Pisko
d. Voipulla

Owner: Eeva-Liisa Pitkänen
Breeder: Anja Jutila Alavieskasta

She has the enthusiasm, strength and she is a humble nature, Eeva-Liisa tells about her horse.

Napsukka came to her as a five-year-old. The calm mare was not exactly trotter material, but she has proven herself perfect for plowing shows and pleasure driving. She is easy to handle and trustworthy even when around bigger crowds. She likes especially little children and greets them by neighing.

Napsukka is a four-time Finnish champion in plowing from 2008 to 2011 and also three-time-champion in logging competitions between 2008-2010. Eeva-Liisa also likes to school newly-born foals the traditional way, by tying the foal to mare’s harness while plowing -that way the foal learns to be walked and that the plow behind is not dangerous. The presence of the foal does not make the mare distracted, she knows her job.

Napsukka has five foals to date: stallion Hupsukka (2007), mare Tepsukka (2008), mare Savotan Tyttö (2009), stallion Napsaus (2010) and mare Lupsukka (2011, shown in these pictures).

Original text & photos by Kirsti Forssen

Short link to this article

The best of 2011

Suomenhevosliitto (the finnhorse union/association) held their annual meeting in Mikkeli 18th of March 2012. They awarded he best finnhorses of 2011:

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Older stallion/gelding:

gelding PIHLAJAN AARONI
Owner: Stable Aaron Rowan
Breeder: Sari Lappi
14 st. 6-2-1 86.000 EUR, Suurhollola and Satakunta-race winner, record 1.20,3

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Older mare:

I.P. VIPOTIINA
Owner: Rip Rap Team & Juvonen Seppo
Driver & trainer: Pertti Puikkonen

Trotter queen 2011 by winning or part-races, 15st 6-2-1, 94 310EUR, Suur-Hollola silver medalist

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5-year-old stallion/gelding:

stallion SÖRKÄN SÄLLI
Owner: Chef Wotkin’s Stable
Breeder: Jorma Leppänen
7 st. 4-2-1, 44.600 EUR, 5-yo Fabritius Memorial winner, 5-yo Derby winner, 1.25,0ake

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5-year-old mares:

MARTSA
Owner & breeder: Heikki Karjula
15 st 8-2-0, 35.400 EUR, Villimies 5-yo mare race winner 1.24,7 aly, 1.27,3 ke

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4-yo stallion&gelding:

gelding ELMOORI
Owner:. Juhola Mirja & Reijo
Breeder: Mirja Juhola & Irja Marsala
7 st,  6 wins, Tapiola Pikkuprinssi, 4-yo Kriterium winner, 56.400 EUR

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4-yo mare:

TÄRPÄTTI
Owner: Laitinen, Eero & Jaakko
Breeder: Kari Viitala
15 st 2-6-2, 14.920 EUR, Ilkka-race winner 1.25,5 aly

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3-yo stallion/gelding:

stallion JOKIVARREN KUNKKU
Owner: Salmi Arto & Posti Alpo
Breeder: Seppo Kivimäki & Pekka Oravisjärvi
2 st 1-1-0, 5.600 EUR, 3-yo Junnustartti winner

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3-yo mare:

VOITON TYTTÖ
Owner: Jaakko Vinkka
Breeder: Maria & Jaakko Vinkka
7 st. 2-2-1, 5.630 EUR, Varsat Vauhdissa final winner, 3-yo Junnustartti second place, 1.31,1

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Monté:

mare PILSSI
Owner: Viljo Lindeman

Breeder: Markku Pihkala
Monté Finnish champion 2011 m1.27,3

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Work horse:

mare VILPOTAR
Owner: Mässeli, Markku & Taina
Breeder: Markku Mässeli

Work horse champion 2011

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Show jumping:

stallion SIRUN OLIVER
Owner: Taina Mansikkamäki
Breeder: Jorma Leppänen
Rider: Maija-Riikka Pellikka
Show jumping champion 2011, 13 st. 5 wins, 8 places

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Dressage:

stallion CORLEONE
Owner: Talli Hermannin Nuorisoseura
Breeder: Mitja Nummenmaa ja Petra Rantala
Rider: Heidi Svanborg-Lodman
Dressage champion 2011, 14 st. 4 wins & 14 places

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Eventing:

stallion PIMUN VILSKE
Owner: Laura Jalasto
Breeder: Mira Syrjänpää

Eventing champion 2011

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Driving:

gelding HESSIN VIHTORI
Owner: Kalalahti Hannu & Leena
Breeder: Heidi Sinda
Drivers: Hannu Kalalahti / Essi Joronen

Finnish champion in finnhorses and ponies, international success, winner of an international pony class in Hungary

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Pony-sized horse:

stallion HERKKO HUANA
Owner: Sinikka Iso-Herttua
Breeder: Kristiina Keski-Jyrä

Success in pony-sized finnhorses’ dressage classes

Finnish work horse is endangered

MTT: Säilytysohjelmat eri roduilla (mtt.fi)

Säilytysohjelmat: suomenhevonen (mtt.fi)

Photo: Mari Laulumaa-Hirvonen

Finns have been keeping domestic animals for about 4 000 years. In the process of time the cows, horses, sheep, pigs and the fowl have adapted to arctic climate. These animals are often not as productive as highly selectively bred animals, and this has led to extinction of some domestic breeds, for example the Finnish pig is already extinct

Information about populations and genetic material of different species can be found in EFABIS (European Farm Animal Biodeversity Information System) database, which is connected to FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations) DAD-IS-database.

FAO:s classification for endangerement:

• Extinct
• Critically endangered: there are less than 100 breeding females or less than five breeding males or population is below 120 and less than 80% of the population is purebred.
• Endangered: there are less than 1000 breeding females, less than 20 breeding males or population is 80-100, population is growing and more than 80% of population is purebred, or population is 1000-1200 and population is decreasing in number and less than 80% is purebred.
• Not endangered: more than 1000 breeding females and more than 20 breeding males or population is over 1200 and growing.

So FAO classifies the Finnish work horse (T, työhevonen) to endangered animals, since there are only about 500 finnhorses in work use, but not the finnhorse in general. Finnhorses’ population dropped about 95% during the 1950s to 1980s, the whole population is nowadays around 20 000. The pedigrees are narrowing down in increasing speed, mostly because of trotter breeding. There are more differences in riding- and pony-sized horses’ pedigrees, but the pedigrees have not yet differentiated much.

The most important issue to finnhorses in general is to grow their demand and usage, by finding more positive and supporting solutions in horse sport, travel and special working projects.It is common to freeze studs’ sperm during the breeding process, but so far the gene bank has stored sperm from only a few stallions.

Twenty-seven fine years with Avaruus

Kuukauden työhevonen: Avaruus (tyohevosharrastajat.net)

(Avaruus on the left)

Gelding AVARUUS 2319-85

b. 7.5 1985
s. V.T. Ajatus
d. Lohko-Muisto

owner & breeder Jarmo Varjonen

Varjonen has bred Avaruus himself. Though there was some argues with the young stallion, he has developed to a decent worker. Varjonen told that he was a great-looking wedding carriage horse. His only lapse was to neigh very loudly at his own image that mirrored from store windows… To a big disappointment to his owner, Avaruus had to be emergency-gelded in the age of five.

Jarmo got fond of plowing in the 80s as watching a plowing competition. It looked interesting and the horse seemed suitable for the work. Besides practising Jarmo has show-plowed in events, but they did not participate in any competitions until 2007. Jarmo’s “trade mark” has been to teach his horses take half steps in front of the plow, so that the pull would be more settle. He works with a pair of horses, Avaruus has worked with Tähti-Hetki, E.V. Kenraali and Hallanvaara.

Until the 60s Jarmo got his living by working with horses, mostly with wood and logging. When the last horses were to disappear from farms, he was considered old-fashioned, but as the times have passed, he has been asked to teach younger people who have not seen the working with horses.

Avaruus is already 27 years old. Jarmo speaks respectively and mildly sentimentally about this horse, with whom he has experienced so much and who has brought many moments of joy.

original text & photos byKirsti Forssen

Finnhorses performed well at Helsinki Horse Fair

Suomenratsut Horse Fairissa 3.-4.3. (Suomenratsut.fi)

Finnhorse rider’s association and their part-club, that specializes in finnish work horses, Työhevosharrastajat, were present at the Horse Fair in Helsinki. They had riding- and harnessing shows, pony-sized stallion (last year’s silver medalist in the finnhorse carriage driving championships by the way) Friisin Paletti performed in carriage driving show and stallion Silvolan Hemminki performed with original Finnish army saddle and traditional march music playing on the back. Riders had also two patting horses with them for the audience to pat and cuddle. Vänni and Prittakitti worked also as models at saddle fitting shows.

Silvolan Hemminki (photo from the original article at suomenratsut.fi)

One of the most discussed events of the weekend was Tunne Hevonen dressage challenge, which included a dressage course ridden without bit, spurs or whip. Two out of four ridden horses were finnhorses, Hessin Jeviiri and Silkki Musta performed well under saddle as well.

Silkki Musta at 3:14 and Hessin Jeviiri at 5:17 :)

Anan Jalo is a perfect package

Kuukauden työhevonen: Anan Jalo (Työhevosharrastajat.net)

ANAN JALO 2574-98T
born 21st of May 1998
s. El Vihuri
d. Tippa Ana

owner Laila Lahtinen
breeder Tuomo Setälä

Anan Jalo, or “Ansku”, is a first-prize work horse mare. She was inspected in Mäntyharju 2005 with pulling test.

Laila Lahtinen saw many horses until this individual was found. She bought her in 2004. The previous owner was so sure that the horse and the lady would match, that he brought Anan Jalo to Laila’s home and promised to take the horse back if she was not satisfied. Needless to say, Ansku stayed.

Anan Jalo is a familiar face in the work horse competitions, year after year. In 2011 she placed second in the work horse championships and in the Juankoski pulling contest she won.

Anan Jalo’s training program is mostly driving with a heavy carriage on hilly roads, which makes it diverse.  The strength practising goes with a sleigh on a field. They have 25kg sand sacks which they add to the sleigh up until 600 kilograms. Laila thinks that recovery is essential part of the training and massages the horse herself.

This well-planned training program has earned this pair a bunch of prizes from work horse events. The years of working together have taught both to read each other, so the teamwork is truly seamless. When asked for Anan Jalo’s best charasteristics, Laila answers without doubt “THE WHOLE PACKAGE.”

original text by Kirsti Forssen

photos by Tanja Lundsten/Kirsti Forssen

Vinkale-Tyttö is not afraid of cold

Tämä peli ei muuten hyydy pakkasilla (iltasanomat.fi 21.2.2012)

Vinkale-Tyttö and her owner Tapio Virtanen have started a hobby. Photo from the article.

Already twenty-two years old finnhorse mare Vinkale-Tyttö was harnessed for logging some wood from the forest on a cold, bright winter day in Korpilahti, Jyväskylä. Working is nothing new to Vinkale-Tyttö, since she has even won a few work horse championships in earlier years, but now she and her 70-year-old owner Tapio Virtanen have started light working again as a fun hobby, told Tapio’s wife Leena to Ilta-Sanomat tabloid.

The original text and photo were published as a “reader’s photo” short article.

Tennari is a rarity

Kuukauden työhevonen: Tennari (tyohevosharrastajat.net)

Click the link above for more photos!

Original text by Kirsti Forssen, shorten & translated version

Photo by Leena Sihvo/Siru Saarinen/Tiina Pehkonen (from the article)

Tennari 1351-02T

b. 2.5 2002
s. Eri-Luonnos
d. Tutotar
breeder Liisa Hytönen, Konnevesi

The worry about finnhorse’s future and narrowing pedigrees made Siru Saarinen and Mari Luukkonen interested in the one-year-old Tennari, whose pedigree is not so common these days. Sire line goes through Luonnos to Uljaanpoika and her maternal sire line through Ihme-Toti to Kirppu.

In this mare there are fine, calm nature and easy driveability in a stiff work horse body. Her work has included all sorts of driving, with a sleigh, a plow and even a hearse carriage. She is a dependable and easy-to work horse, which makes her perfect for any public occasions and even a teaching horse on a logging course.

In the year 2009 Tennari was taken to Toivo Pulliainen for training. The goal was to inspect her for the T-studbook and attend a few pulling competitions. Toivo trained her into fine shape, but got sick and deceased soon. Tennari’s most important job so far has been laying Toivo to rest at Pieksämäki 11th of June 2010.

As an obligation to her uncommon pedigree, Tennari has foaled twice. The sire has been both times stud called R.T. Sankari, also a horse with an uncommon pedigree. The first foal, now gelded Tohvelisankari was born in 2006. The little colt born in 2011 has a planned name Tuohivirsu.

Jalo-Jussi, the Helsinki city worker

Kuukauden työhevonen: Jalo-Jussi (tyohevosharrastajat.net)

Original text by Kirsti Forssen, free & shorten translation

Starting a new series of posts, inspired by the work horse group’s website’s horse of the month-posts.

Click the link above for more photos!

Photo by Peppi-Emilia Salmi

First up is gelding Jalo-Jussi, a Helsinki city worker, owned by Lauri Karjalainen.

Born 26th of March 2001, owned by Lauri since December 2006.

sire Muiston Kihhaus, dam Hipuli

After having two not-so-nice-tempered mares in his stable, Lauri was already going to leave the horses. Yet he was convinced to take the gelding Jalo-Jussi for a two-week trial. This horse was the first that stood still while asked, which made him a keeper in Lauri’s stable. Earlier the horse had worked in endurance riding.

Lauri and Jussi work in Helsinki city parks, such as a fortress from the world war I  with its trenches. They are also highly expected visitors at the local day care centers.

Just like a work horse should be, Jalo-Jussi is calm and patient. Lauri tells he has also a sharp pull if necessary, but he won’t break the harness. Sometimes their load has fallen down but the horse stays calm. He goes well where the machines can’t, specializing in shore willow scything and other challenging environments.

Horse vs. tractor

Hevonen kyntökisassa traktoreita vastaan (Tyohevosharrastajat.net 2010) translated, all photos from the original article

Uuras, Siru and Tanja plowed well, though their speed was not as fierce as the Valmet on the neighbouring strip.

The tractor plowing championship competition was held 24th to 25th of September,2010 in Mäntsälä. On this event’s first day probably the most audience-attractive competition took place – a horse vs. tractor plowing contest! In this playful-spirited event a finnhorse, a 1959 Valmet and a 300 horse-powered Fendt tractor (the hottest, newest, biggest there is probably :D) all got their strips of field to plow.

The contestants in line hearing the rules.

The jury judged the performances in many aspects, for example exploitation of biofuel, emissions, dressing, the best team cheers and also the audience’s encouragement’s loudness. These judging methods were also able to change during the contest. After “tough thinking” the jury ended up to declare the contest a tie. ;)

The 2010 horse plowing contest’s silver medalist Uuras represented the genuine horse power, with owner Tanja Lundsten holding the reins and Siru Saarinen working with the plow.

There was also a chance for the audience to try plowing with a finnhorse. On the first event day gelding Uuras and second day the three-time horse plowing champion, mare Napsukka and her three months old colt Napsaus. Same horses also took people for a traditional carriage drives.

Saturday’s horse plowing exhibitioners, mare Napsukka, foal Napsaus, Eeva-Liisa Pitkänen & Reijo Nieminen (plow)

Carriage driving was popular. Tying the foal to his mother’s harness is a traditional way to accustom young horses to be walked in halter and later on to harness them. The mare is also much calmer when she has her foal by her side.

Christmas Calendar day 6: leaving for war

The sixth of December is Finland’s independence day. Finland was announced independent in 1917 after fighting for years, and yet more was to come in 1939-45. Finnish independence day is not very wildly celebrated, it’s more about honour for the veterans of our wars and thanking them. Tuntematon Sotilas movie plays on TV every independence day and for many people it’s a tradition to watch it annually.

Us horse people, beside the veterans, remember also the work finnhorses did on our wars. They were the heart and the legs of the cavalry, the food suppliers, they brought the injured back home and pulled the canoons to their positions. They were irreplaceable helpers that served honestly even under the most horrible circumstances one could imagine. Hopefully anyone won’t have to experience that ever again.

Horses and carriages requisitioned in the mobilization before Winter War.

Photo from Wikimedia commons

Christmas calendar, day 5: Jalo-Jussi

Jalo-Jussi at a work horse course in Lahti 2010.

Photo by Peppi-Emilia Salmi

Christmas calendar day 1: Karu Usva

Starting a Christmas calendar, yay!  :D

Photo of the week-posts are on hiatus for December. Instead, a photo in a day, until 24th d December.

I know how much you love them. ;)

Karu Usva 2010

Photo by Peppi-Emilia Salmi

Tough self-defence course

Raskas itsepulustuskurssi (Tyohevosharrastajat.net) by Pentti Torppa, free & shorten translation

Photo from Winter war 1942 / Wikimedia commons

One can only imagine the Sufferings that Iivari went through in the front line battles, in those endless freezing winters, skinny and tired, most of the time outside, tied to a tree or a pole.

Iivari was a gelding from our close neighbour, my father’s childhood home. He was taken to war, and so he left… First to Joensuu, then to the front up until Syväri line. He stayed for years and saw the war. He had always been humble and good servant. That’s why he was often memorized by his owners and even their neighbours. As his groom “out there somewhere” got to know the owner’s name and address, he sent them a postcard to tell about Iivari’s condition. A package of oats and bread was sent back immediately, it got there just in time for Christmas. Iivari was strong and coped.

Finally it was time to bring Iivari back. The horses were tied to one line and walked for sixty kilometers. Over five kilometers away from home stable Iivari got restless and his eyes began to water. The soldiers saw it best to let him free, and so he limped pass the others and headed home. His steps were low, he did not trot neither did he walk, but he was in a hurry. His muzzle was near the ground, his mouth foamed and for the whole journey he made strange noise. Those who heard it, told that it sounded just like laughter or crying. Finally the bony horse walked to straight to his home yard. He got a long recovery break to gain his strength, and still served for many years as the loyal servant for the house. Tough he did not manage without scars. He had become more alerted about his surroundings and surprising noises, and whenever a plane approached, he hid himself low below the nearest tree. He had had a tough self-defence course. We tended to ask him “How is our veteran doing?” as we walked by.

Pentti Torppa
Saarijärvi

Video: Jojoriina pulling at work horse championships

Jojoriina‘s style sample from 2011.
Video by Ulpukka81.

Finnhorse beats the machines

Suomenhevonen päihittää koneen rankametsässä (YLE Savonia 7.9.2011)

Finnhorse stallion Viklari with his owner Seppo Kröger

Photo by YLE / Minna Kaipainen

Every third horse in Finland is a finnhorse. The amount of these horses was highest in the 50s, when there were as much as 400 000. Nowadays there are about 20 000 of them.

Seppo Kröger from Suonenjoki has been around finnhorses practically all his life. Since childhood he remembers the finnhorses were part of their everyday life: taking crops to the mill nd milk to town, wood from the forest and – of course – to church on Christmas. At war they were irreplaceable due to their calm  and tough nature.

As a co-worker a finnhorse is very humble.

- You could say they hav brains where they are supposed to be. They are wise horses and easy to school to anything. Besides they are not so tender to get sick and do not ask much, thanks Kröger.

Fuel is needed only at rest

The finnhorse population dropped in the 80s. Effective machinery put them out of work on busy farms.

Kröger still feels that finnhorse has its place on crops and forest farms. He uses Viklari actively for working at softened fields and young forests where machinery could make more damage than profit. He has calculated that it is also cheaper as nowadays the fuel prices have gone up dramatically.

Old equipment works just fine

Working equipment is not manufactured anymore, but one can find very well preserved sleighs, harrows and even swamp shoes for horses on the farms. If they have been stored in a dry, cool place, the equipment is most often quite easily fixable or just fine for taking back to work straight away.

Photo of the week: Vienti pulling a car

“Finnhorse stallion Vienti 4817 doing a horse show pulling test (2. class), pulling the measuring car. Breeder J. H. Vesterinen exceptionally sitting on the car, possibly allowed to do so because of his old age. Car pulling was part of stallions’ show prowess in the 1st and 2nd class during 1936-1970.”

Stallion inspection done old style!

Photo from Wikimedia commons