Tourism and animals are certainly not always a successful combination. In Finland they have lived closely with nature and animals for centuries. People, reindeer, moose and huskies live together here and cannot live without each other. Using animals for tourist purposes is of course something different, but if it is done in a good and correct way it can only be recommended.
This blog was written by travel writer and Traveltomtom team member Ashley. She went on a traditional Finnhorse Sleigh Ride with Aurora Horses, on behalf of Traveltomtom, and wrote this blog about her experiences.
At Aurora Horses in Rovaniemi you will immediately notice that it is all about the horses here. The owners are real horse girls! The horses are their passion and their life. You notice and feel in everything that they want the very best for their horses. The horses are number one at Aurora Horses and are treated like kings and queens!
That's no surprise when you get to know the owner. Katri is the horse manager, the owner of Aurora Horses and the person who answers all the phone calls and emails. With Aurora Horses a long cherished dream has come true for Katri. She has trained as a riding instructor, professional horse trainer and blacksmith. Now she steps into a new area of work with her horse-assisted activities.
About Aurora Horses
Aurora Horses is a family owned company. It's not just any other company, but it is Katri's passion! Over 35 years of experience with horses now shows in this small company. They offer horseback riding tours, sleigh and carriage rides, horse care moments and horse assisted activity services. They consider their horses as their colleagues, how cool is that.
All horses from Aurora Horses are retired horses that are given a second life by Katri and her team. In fact, normally these horses would be put down after their racing or trotting career. So Katri really does an excellent job for these Finnhorses.
Location
Aurora Horses is located near Santa Claus Village. From Santa Claus Village you can easily find themby following the signs. The distance from the central square of Santa Claus Village to Aurora Horses is about 650 meters, so it will take you less than 10 minutes to walk.
Walking from the direction of Santa Claus Village you just walk along Joulumaantie, you will pass Husky Park and then when you have the yellow mansion on your right, you just turn left. After that just keep walking straight and you'll soon reach Aurora Horses.
You can very easily reach Santa Claus Village from Rovaniemi city center with bus nr. 8.
Finnhorse
Never heard of Finnhorse? Don't worry, neither did we!
The Finnhorse, literally horse of Finland, is a horse breed with both riding horse and draught horse influences and characteristics. It is the only breed developed fully in Finland. In 2007, the breed was declared the official national horse breed of Finland. The Finnhorse is claimed to be among the fastestand most versatile breeds in the world. The strengths of the breed in international disciplines are considered to be its good health and working qualities, its versatility, and its novelty value outside of Finland.
Tours
At Aurora Horses they offer various types of tours. Whether you want to ride horseback or prefer to be pulled along in a sleigh, it's all possible here!
Horseback riding with Finnhorses
They provide a wide range of professional horseback riding tours. They offer this activity all year round. Don't worry if you have never done horseback riding before. The Finnhorse is a cooperative, sweet and reliable co-worker. On horseback you can experience the untouched nature of Lapland.
Autumn is a great time to enjoy the colorful forest scenery with autumn foliage. In Lapland also called Ruska. Winter is amazing with the snow of course. You will hear the snow crunch beneath the hooves and snow covered trees bend above the trails. Spring still offers the snow but is bright with the sunshine and you can clearly feel the warmth of the sun. Summer time is vacation time for the Finnhorses. However, every now and then you can also go for a nice ride in the nightless nights of the Midnight Sun season.
The horseback riding tours include safety instructions and equipment and the riding which lasts about 40 minutes. After the ride you'll be offered a warm drink and snacks in their hut. Here the guide will tell you more about Finnhorses.
Sleigh and Carriage Rides
They offer multiple sleigh and carriage rides tours. You can do the Sleigh Ride near Santa Claus Village. This is a short 15 minute ride with Finnhorse. Perfect for those who want to experience what it is like but have limited time during their trip. This tour takes you around Santa Claus Village so be in for an atmospheric ride!
We did the Traditional Finnhorse Sleigh Ride, which is a 3km loop into the forest. The slow pace of travel truly gives you the time to admire the surrounding landscape. Especially in winter with the snowy landscapes this is magical. After the tour you can warm up in their hut and hot berry juice, cookies and marshmallows are included.
Farm Visit
Interested in the Finnhorse and life on the farm? Then this is your tour to book! You can join Katri and her team and spend the afternoon with the Finnhorses. You get to take care of the horses and tame them through the mission track. Of course there is always a hot drink and a snack waiting for you as well.
Aurora Tours
You can also book Aurora Tours with Aurora Horses. It should always be said that the Northern Lights are never a guarantee. Of course it is special to go into the forest on horseback late at night. If the Northern Lights show themselves it is an unforgettable evening, but there are no guarantees.
Overall thoughts
We had few expectations for our Aurora Horses tour, as we simply didn't know what to expect. It is often then that we are most surprised. And that was no different with this Aurora Horses activity.Katri's enthusiasm and love for horses is truly unparalleled. As soon as you get to know her, you know you are dealing with a true enthusiast. What I really liked was that her daughter also walked around and helped. Also a real horse girl. The future of Aurora Horses is in good hands of Katri and her daughter.
The unknown is often the most fun. This is certainly true for this unique experience with the Finnhorses. If you are looking for something different from the well-known, popular and overcrowded activities in Lapland, this is really one to remember.