Finnhorse Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Finnhorse
Breed standards
Finnhorse stallion, trotter section
Distinguishing features	Dry and strongly muscled, with strong bone and good hooves. Most often of chestnut colour.
Alternative names	Finnish Horse, Finnish Universal, Suokki
Country of origin	Finland
Hippos	Breed standards
Horse (Equus ferus caballus)

The Finnhorse or Finnish Horse is a special horse breed from Finland. It's actually the national horse breed of Finland! This amazing horse is super versatile. It can be used for riding, pulling carts in races, and even as a strong workhorse on farms.

What is a Finnhorse?
- History of the Finnhorse Breed
- Finnhorse Skills and Uses
Images for kids
See also

What is a Finnhorse?

The Finnhorse is known for being strong and tough. It usually stands about 156 centimeters (about 5 feet 1 inch) tall. While Finnhorses come in many colors, the most common ones are brown and black. You'll often see them with white markings on their faces and legs, which makes them easy to spot!

History of the Finnhorse Breed

The official record book for Finnhorses, called a studbook, was started in 1907. This helped keep track of the horses and make sure the breed stayed strong and healthy. Over the years, the Finnhorse has been very important to people in Finland. They helped with farming, transportation, and even in the military.

Finnhorse Skills and Uses

Finnhorses are known as "universal" horses because they can do so many different things.

Finnhorse in Harness Racing

One popular use for the Finnhorse is in harness racing. These horses are fast and strong, making them great for pulling a light cart called a sulky with a driver. It's exciting to watch them race!

Finnhorse for Riding

Many people also enjoy riding Finnhorses. They have a good temperament, which means they are usually calm and friendly. This makes them suitable for riders of all ages and skill levels.

Finnhorse as a Workhorse

Even today, some Finnhorses still work on farms. Their strength and calm nature make them excellent partners for pulling plows or other farm equipment. They are truly a valuable helper.

Images for kids

A founding sire, Jaakko (Tt 118), photographed in 1882
Black is one of the rarest Finnhorse colours.
Draught-type stallion Murron-Ryhti 3531 pulling a stone cart at a pulling competition in the 1930s, exhibiting the typical low, effective pulling stature of the breed.
Murto 2306 (b. 1917) was ahead of his time both in speed and type. His light, "foreign" looks combined with flashy markings almost kept him out of the studbook, but once at stud he proved highly successful, and became exceedingly influential in the breed, especially through his son Eri-Aaroni.
Finnhorse stallion competing in dressage
Despite its small size, the pony-sized Finnhorse is not a pony, and possesses the same body proportion and movement as the larger sections.
Finnhorse stallion performing in the pulling test with a measuring car. His breeder is allowed to sit on the car, an exception to the rules. Car pulling was part of stallions' studbook evaluation from 1936 to 1970.
Finnish horses and a horse-drawn tram in Turku, 1890
Contrasting early types: A small, stocky roan Finnish horse from Karelian Isthmus, photographed in 1909. 12.3 hands (51 inches, 130 cm) high.
Contrasting early types: A more refined flaxen-maned chestnut Finnhorse from Central Finland, photographed in 1910. 14 hands (56 inches, 142 cm) high.
Historical re-enactment of early 20th century cavalry use of the Finnhorse. 1922 Ratsumieskilta ("Horseman Guild") uniform.
The Orlov trotter was one of the breeds widely used for crossbreeding the Finnish horse. Late 19th century drawing.
One of the Finnhorse founding sires, Kirppu tt 710, pulling an early sulky at full speed, c. 1890
A late experiment of crossbreeding: an estate's carriage horse in the early 20th century, presumably of a Thoroughbred mix.
Horseman towing a ski messenger returning from the front
Gelding Reipas, first horse in Finland to earn over one million Marks, was one of the harness racing stars that became a popular hero during the hard decline of the Finnhorse.
A Vyatka horse exhibiting an overall expression similar to the Finnhorse
Jumping a basic cross-rail
Harness racing has been the main use of the Finnhorse since the 1960s. In the lead is two-time winner of the Ravikuningatar title, I.P. Vipotiina, during her August 2010 Finnish record run.
The Finnhorse's popularity as a breed for recreational riding in Finland has been increasing since the late 20th century.
A Finnish family making hay in 1954. The Finnhorse's mild nature makes the breed a valuable companion in agricultural work as well as a therapy mount.