An Introduction to the Finnhorse

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Finnhorses compete in up to 130cm classes in showjumping; some jump even higher.

Despite their versatility, most modern-day Finnhorses are used for harness racing. Approximately 1000 horses out of 18000 are used for riding, and less than a thousand for farming, forestry and competitive driving. The Finnhorse does, however, adapt rather easily to being ridden. The best jumpers compete in 130 cm classes, and the best dressage horses are taught Prix de St. Georges level movements, including flying changes, the piaffe and the passage.

Most Finnhorses, when adequately schooled, are able to collect themselvesd sufficiently to compete in Novice or Intermediate dressage classes.

The stud book was established in 1907, after which the breed has remained pure. In early 1900's, horses that did not represent the preferred type were excluded from breeding. Unwanted traits included conformational traits that hinted of foreign influence, and some unusual colours.
The breed was divided in two sections first in 1924, when a stud book section for draught type horses and another for trotters were established. In the 1970's, the stud book was further divided, and sections for trotters, draught horses, riding horses and pony-sized Finnhorses were opened. A horse can still enter more than one section, and the section of the sire and dam do not affect the offspring, as the owner can choose an appropriate section when the horse is listed in the stud book.

There is no particular harness racing season in Finland; races are run throughout the year

Stallions are performance-tested before entering the stud book, and their pedigrees and competition records are carefully evaluated. Riding type Finnhorses are put through their paces and asked to jump; trotters' racetrack records are evaluated, and the stallion committee will test the horse in front of a sulky; draught type horses must perform a traction test. There are also demands for the horses' type, conformation and character. Breeding licenses are given for specified periods, and the committee can insist on re-testing low-grade stallions after one or two years. Breeding licenses may be withdrawn, if a stallion is found out to pass on undesirable traits such as conformational faults or hereditary disorders.
Mares' conformation, gaits and character are evaluated before entering the stud book.

The stallion Viesker has reigned Finnish trotting for many years. The "Trotting King" has also succesfully competed against Swedish and Norwegian trotters

Part-bred breeding was heatedly discussed before and between the World Wars. Some army officials wanted to create a warmblood breed based on the Finnhorse, while others abhorred at the idea. Part-breds were inconsistently bred at some manors until the 1800's, and many modern-day Finnhorses carry some foreign blood from these outcrosses. The foreign stallions included Eastern and European warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, and even some Arabs. Norfolk Roadsters were imported from Great Britain during the 1800's, and some foreign draught horses were also used. Yet when the stud book was closed, all horses showing evidence of foreign blood were rejected. This breeding policy is still in favour. Part-bred Finnhorses do not get state funding in the form of the usual foal allowances. Part-breds are not accepted in any stud book and cannot compete in harness racing. The few existing part-breds some accidental, some deliberate crosses are mainly used for pleasure riding by amateurs.

Most of the 18,000 Finnhorses work as trotters.

In early 1900's, chestnut preferrably with a flaxen mane and tail was chosen as the breed's original and favoured colour. This had little to do with how common each colour was; old pictures show a rainbow of other colours, including blue duns, palominos, skewbalds, roans and greys. At the time, approximately 40 percent of Finnhorses were non-chestnut.

The once usual dark bay colour of the stallion Hovi-Ari is uncommon in modern-day Finnhorses

Today, a few lines still produce once-common bays, browns and blacks. There are less than 20 grey or palomino individuals. Dun colours are practically extinct. Distinct roans are uncommon, but some lines produce horses with some white hairs mixed in the base colour.
Due to the breed's history and the early breeders' views, more than 90 % of present-day Finnhorses are chestnut. The shades range from almost palomino to dark liver chestnuts. Only solid-coloured horses are officially recognized, but some of the more imperceptible types of overo spotting are frequently seen in Finnhorses. The authorities, however, seldom recognise these patterns as particoloured.

Part-bred breeding is strongly discouraged Finnish authorities, but some part-breeds do exist. Some are bred accidentally, others deliberately. Shown here is a part-bred pony mare by a Finnhorse stallion, out of a welsh sec. B x Arab mare.