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Finnish Warmbloods |
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Finnish Warmbloods |
Nationally important in Finland, this mesomorphic horse has an aptitude for light draft and farm work, trotting races, and as a riding horse. It is will and hard working with a docile and good-natured temperament. The Finnish Universal stands 14.3 to 15.2 hands high and weighs 1,100 to 1,280 pounds (500-580 kg). Its coat is usually
chestnut,
bay or
grey, but it is more rarely
brown or
black.
Its head is fairly small but rather heavy and square with a straight profile. The ears are small and pointed and the eyes are gentle. It has a strong neck of average length that is not well set-on, and its withers are quite pronounced. It has a rather short back, sloping croup and low-set tail. Its chest is high and deep, its muscular shoulder is fairly sloping, and its abdomen is well drawn in. The Universal's sturdy legs are not long, and have broad, clean joints and short pasterns. The feet are well-shaped.
Derived from the native ponies of Finland, the Universal developed through crosses of other breeds of varying type and origin. There were two distinct versions of the Universal in the past. The heavy horses were breed for use in more arduous work and the lighter ones are similar to today's Finnish Universal. The term "Universal" is used to describe this versatile animal which is also used in trotting races. Harnessed trotting contests are quite popular in the Scandinavian countries.
The Finnish Horse is descended from pre-Ice Age cold-blooded stock in the cold Finish Taiga (tundra). Possibly the due to the studbook registry, opened in 1907, this breed appears to have developed from the heavier Finnish Draft and the lighter Finnish Universal. Each of these breed were bred for performance. The sturdy, powerfully built Draft was fairly common in appearance, but it possessed quick and active paces. A general-purpose animal, the Universal was primarily used for light transport and harness racing. With the shift of emphasis toward lighter, more utilitarian breeds in the 1970s, the Finnish Horse seems to have evolved from the two older breeds. There is still a need to used horses in the forest and agriculture industries making it necessary to retain the heavier type.
Descending from a hardy, enduring base of the native Finnish ponies, the Finnish Horse has been crosses with both cold- and warmblood breeds. The studbook accepts registry for both the lighter and heavier types, and the Registry instituted rigorous performance testing. Introduction of Oldenburg blood fixed the characteristics of the breed and provided additional size and action.
The Finnish Horse has an even temper, and in spite of its relatively small frame, it has the draft power of a heavy horse to compliment its speed, character and agility. Very long-lived and enduring, this breed possesses remarkable stamina and is noted for its excellent constitution. It has a characteristic slope to its quarters which, when combined with the length of the body, provide excellent conformation for harness racing. This characteristic derives from the shift of emphasis in the breeding of the Finnish Horse.
Standing about 15.2 hands high, this horse may be found in all of the typical coat colors. Its head is rather plain, but has an otherwise honest, workmanlike expression which reflects the horse's pleasant disposition. The back is straight and the overall topline has a harness-type appearance. The shoulders are strong and suitable for harness, but less so for riding. There is little or no feathering on its uniformly correct legs.
For more information on Finnhorses, visit:
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© 1997-2018 NW Breyer Horse Club & Refiner of Gold Creations Equinealities in place since 1997, Section in place 2001, Updated 2/19/2018 |
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