Horses Take Over Central Finland’s Museums in 2027

Central Finland holds a special place in the history of the Finnhorse, as most present-day Finnhorses can trace their paternal lineage back to Jaakko, a foundation stallion from Central Finland.

The horse-themed summer is being created by the Museum of Central Finland, the Jyväskylä Art Museum and the Craft Museum of Finland in Jyväskylä, together with the Saarijärvi Museum and the Keuruu Museum. Together, they form a diverse programme in which the horse appears as a national treasure, a mythical symbol, an inspiration for craft and a long-standing companion to humankind. The exhibitions in Jyväskylä will open to the public on 8 May 2027, followed by the exhibition in Saarijärvi on 19 May 2027 and the exhibition in Keuruu on 22 May 2027.

 - The relationship between humans and horses is something that is at once deeply tangible and mythical. The role of the Finnhorse in building Finnish society is particularly unique. So much of our agriculture, industry and transport has been built on the strong shoulders of the Finnhorse. The horse is a trusted companion, a workmate and a confidant. This is why it also plays such an important role in visual art and literature, as well as in people’s personal stories, says Hanna-Kaisa Melaranta, Director of Museum Services for Jyväskylä Museums.

The exhibitions, united by a shared theme, tell the story of the horse’s significant role in the lives of Finnish people and how that role continues in new forms today. The 2027 exhibition programme offers experiences for horse enthusiasts, lovers of culture, families and everyone interested in Finnish history, art and living heritage.

Today, there are around 19,000 Finnhorses in Finland, accounting for approximately one third of the country’s horse population. The breed was named Finland’s national horse in 2007, and the knowledge and skills associated with it were included in Finland’s National Inventory of Living Heritage under the UNESCO Convention in 2017. Within the EU, the Finnhorse is classified as a native breed whose preservation is of cultural and genetic importance. 

The Resilient Finnhorse as a Trusted Companion

The Museum of Central Finland’s exhibition The Finnhorse – Our National Treasure, opening at the Aalto2 Museum Centre, celebrates the 120th anniversary of the establishment of the Finnhorse’s official studbook. The Finnhorse is one of the world’s most versatile horse breeds and the only one developed entirely in Finland.

The story of the Finnhorse is closely intertwined with Finland’s history and identity. The breed is often described using the same words applied to Finnish people themselves: resilient, dependable and hardworking. For Finns, the Finnhorse has always been much more than a domestic animal. It has served as a means of transport, a source of power in agriculture and forestry, a loyal workmate, a comrade in arms, a hero of the racetrack, as well as a friend and a therapeutic companion. The exhibition explores these many roles and the changing relationship between humans and horses across different eras.

For the exhibition, the museum has also extensively documented the region’s contemporary equine sector, with a particular focus on Finnhorse. Through objects, photographs and memories, the neighing history of Central Finland comes to life, complemented by interactive content.

The exhibition will be on display at the Aalto2 Museum Centre from 8 May 2027 until 23 April 2028.

The Mythical Horse in Visual Art

The Jyväskylä Art Museum’s exhibition The Mythical Horse explores the horse through visual art. Having travelled alongside humans for thousands of years, the horse has been a companion, a workmate and a means of transport. In visual art, however, it has become something more: a symbol of strength, freedom, beauty, war, movement and imagination. Throughout history, the horse has been a figure onto which people have projected their dreams, fears and stories.

The Mythical Horse brings together visual interpretations of horses from prehistoric times to the present day. Rather than following a straightforward timeline of art history, the exhibition places works from different periods and artists side by side, allowing them to enter into a visual dialogue. This opens new perspectives and surprising connections within a familiar subject.

The exhibition will feature around 60–70 works, ranging from classic masterpieces to contemporary art, where the horse is also explored through new technologies, sound and moving image. The exhibition will include, among other works, a new video by Fanni Niemi-Junkola.

The exhibition at the Jyväskylä Art Museum will be on display from 8 May to 5 September 2027, after which it will travel to museums in Vaasa, Joensuu, Mikkeli and Kouvola during 2027–2028.

Hobbyhorses Create a New Generation’s Relationship with Horses

The Craft Museum of Finland’s exhibition Hobbyhorses offers a glimpse into one of Finland’s most distinctive leisure phenomena. The exhibition explores the history, craft skills and sense of community associated with hobbyhorsing.

On display will be hobbyhorses, stables, jumps and other props made by enthusiasts, as well as audiovisual material from the world of hobbyhorsing. Visitors will also be able to try hobbyhorsing for themselves and take part in events and workshops.

The museum is also inviting enthusiasts to share their own experiences and stories of hobbyhorsing as part of the exhibition through a website launching in autumn 2026. The exhibition at the Craft Museum of Finland will be open from 8 May to 29 August 2027.

Local Stories from Saarijärvi and Keuruu

The Saarijärvi Museum’s exhibition Hevosella PÄÄ-SEE explores the relationship between horses and humans, as well as the qualities associated with horses, through art, cultural-historical objects and images. The exhibition presents the history of the Finnhorse and its various uses in the past and present, also illustrated through visual presentations. Horses are explored through different forms of art, including sculpture, painting and graphic art.

Sculptor Kirsi Tapper has been invited as the exhibition’s featured artist. Works by, among others, Hannes Autere, Yrjö Hakala, Anneli Klemola, Riitta Uusitalo and Kain Tapper will also be included. The exhibition will be on display from 19 May to 17 October 2027.

The Keuruu Museum’s exhibition From Jaakko to Polara – The History of the Finnhorse in Keuruu and Petäjävesi Region highlights the area’s significant role in the development of the Finnhorse. Born in Keuruu in 1864, Jaakko is the breed’s oldest known progenitor and an important foundation stallion. Polara, from Petäjävesi, is one of the most recent cold-blooded trotting horses from the region to enjoy a distinguished racing career.

The exhibition tells many other stories of the region’s horses, which ploughed fields, worked in winter logging camps and served on the war front. At the same time, it tells the story of determined breeding work, active association life and lively local trotting races that brought village communities together. The exhibition will be on display at the Keuruu Museum from 22 May to 15 September 2027.

Further Information
Tiina Koivulahti, Senior Curator, Jyväskylä Art Museum
tel. +358 500 542 082, [email protected]

Johanna Rekonen, Curator, Museum of Central Finland
tel. +358 50 313 9743, [email protected]

Mikko Oikari, Senior Curator, Craft Museum of Finland
tel. +358 50 553 3880, [email protected]

Kirsi Hänninen, Director of Museum Services, Saarijärvi Museum, tel. +358 44 4598 292, [email protected]

Helena Kukkamo, Curator, Keuruu Museum
tel. +358 40 965 5538, [email protected]