One of the highlights of spring for mare owners, and why not other horse lovers, is the Stallion Days held in Ypäjä. There will be two opportunities to admire the stallions this spring. The Horse Days will be held this coming weekend, 7-9 April 2016, and the Pony Days a few weeks later, 23-24 April 2016.
Riding ponies, Finnish horses and half-breeds at the equestrian days
The Finnish Hippos Horse Days are organized in cooperation with the Finnish Horse Breeding Association and the Finnish Horse Academy. The event lasts three days, and the program starts early on Thursday morning with veterinary examinations. In the afternoon, the program includes show jumping and free gaits and conformation assessments. On Friday and Saturday, you can also watch the horses being presented on horseback, and everything culminates with the quality assessment school and show jumping competitions on Friday and the stallion parade and award ceremonies on Saturday.
The Saturday program is particularly interesting, as well-known horse trainer Warwick McLean will also be holding a clinic for young horses in Ypäjä in the afternoon. Both the Riders' Days and the clinic are free to the public.
Kaurialan Kille in Ypäjä 2015. Photographer: Pirje Fager-Pintilä
Admire the cute ponies
The Pony Days last two days, and this year, especially on Sunday, a wide variety of different pony breeds will be on display. The breeds registered for the Pony Days this year are the Shetland pony, New Forest, Gotland Russ, Fjord horse and Welsh. In addition, Connemara ponies have also been seen at the Pony Days in previous years. Icelandic horses are judged in their own shows.
Saturday's halftime show will feature the Orishow and the Shetland Pony Association's program, and on Sunday there will be a stallion parade.
More information and schedules:
http://www.hippos.fi/ratsuoripaivat
http://www.hippos.fi/ponioripaivat
