User:Pitke/Lines

Sire lines
Contemporary Finnhorses are descended from four sire lines. Both existing and ended lines were founded by stallions foaled in the late 19th century, between XXXX and YYYY.

''1800-luvun loppupuolella ja vielä osittain 1900-luvun alussa syntyi useita orilinjoja, jotka jatkuivat kymmeniin polviin. Vilkkaan työhevoskauden kolme suurinta sukua olivat Murto-, Kirppu- ja Eino-suvut. Murto-suvun levinneisyysalue oli aluksi Pohjanmaalla, Kirppu-suku oli enemmistönä Etelä- ja Länsi-Suomessa ja Eino-suku Savossa.

Käyttöhevosten hinta romahti syksyllä 1948 koneellistumiskehityksen takia. Sen jälkeen alaa ovat vallanneet ne orisuvut, joissa on esiintynyt eniten juoksijataipumuksia.''

Murto line (previously Jaakko line)
The Murto line was founded by Jaakko tt 118, foaled in 1864. He was raced in Northern Tavastia under a number of renown horsemen, and was bought for breeding by the horse breeding association of Porvoo in 1875.

After all other branches of the Jaakko line died out, the line was renamed after Murto 2306, the new main sire. Foaled in 1917, Murto was the first Finnhorse ever to break the ghost limit of 1 minute, 30 seconds per a kilometre, previously thought impossible for the breed. Through his more than 1000 offspring, of which 52 studbook licenced stallions, Murto became the single most influential sire in the breed. His son Eri-Aaroni, also a highly successful trotter, appeared in the pedigrees of more than 90 % of Finnhorses in the 90s.

Lohdutus line (previously Eino line)
The Eino line is descended from the so-called Riistavesi type, developed in Northern Savonia in an area separated by lakes. The type was distinct, and usually bay in colouration. Of this type was Väkpäinen, a leading shared pasture stallion, known as the grandsire of Eino 680 tt 1906, the founding sire of the Eino line.

Väkpäinen was true to his name, "Formidable", and despite his good behaviour in-hand he was unstoppable when harnessed, and reigned fiercely on pasture, becoming a major influence in the local horse population. Eino tt 700, son of Väkpäinen, was a notable trotter in his time, with his 1:57,3 per kilometre, and although he was lacking in size, he was popular in breeding in Central Finland and the Kuopio area.

Eino 680 tt 1906 (more commonly known only by his studbook number, as Eino 680), by Eino tt 700, was foaled in 1888 in Nilsiä. He inherited Väkpäinen's bay colouration, good in-hand behaviour, and relentless drive to run. He was 153 cm high and managed a personal best of 1:45,5 per kilometre. As both a crown stallion and in private ownership, Eino 680 tt 1906 served numerous mares. The strong influence of these three stallions created an uniquely homogeneous horse population in Northern Savonia. The practice of shared pastures was continued until the turn of the 20th century, which served to further unify the population, although being uncontrolled, allowed for inbreeding. Eino's offspring were sturdy, muscled, and deep-chested with commendable strength, although with steep rumps and faults in leg conformation.

The best renown and current main sire of the line is Lohdutus yh 232, Kuninkuusravit national championship winner, foaled in 1929. A number of his progeny became Kuninkuusravit winners after him, one of his grandsons being Ero-Lohko, a major sire of the line. Today, the Lohdutus line is the second rarest of the four Finnhorse lines. Three branches by Lähetti, Pölytys and Lohko survive. Of these, the Lohko branch is the strongest through Ero-Lohko, four-time winner of the Kuninkuusravit national championship. The Pölytys branch continues through Tähti-Pampu, Vivan Villikko an R.T. Sankari, and the Lähetti branch through Manu, Pette and H.H. Hurma.

Kirppu line
Kirppu tt 710 was foaled in 1879 in Rovaniemi, Laponia. In 1886 he was bought by province veterinarian Ludvig Fabritius in Turku. Living more than 30 years, Kirppu founded a number of important lines. Of Kirppu's sons, Alarik was the most influential in his time, known for his working offspring. The Alarik line died relatively quickly with Alarik's great-grandson Vorna 3098-AA, and the new main sire of the Kirppu line is Ihme-Toti yh 1138, a 1948 fifth generation son of Kirppu.

The continuation of the Kirppu line is not certain, with only a few sires of the Ihme-Toti branch remaining, of which none have strong infuence. The main contender to continue the line is a 1994 great-grandson of Ihme-Toti, Kesä-Toto 2033-94J, who is the fastest horse of the line with his 1.22,0 per kilometre, and already has one studbook registered son.

Uljaanpoika line


Uljaanpoika 1649, foaled in Valkjärvi in 1914, was a talented trotter, known unofficially as "the racing king of Karelia". His line exists via two branches today, one through Vilperi Jo 18 Valio, sire to famous and influential trotter Vieteri 407-71TJ Vj, and one through Luonnos Jo 99. The Luonnos line has been a major influence to modern working horse lines, but its continuation seems uncertain, with no strong sires.

Manu line
Manu 49 tt 2939 was foaled in 1897, in Jyväskylä. He was used widely in breeding, and his offspring was known for durability. Perhaps the best known horse of the line was a mare, the two-time Kuninkuusravit mare champion A.K. Tyttö by Alikersantti 3948, a sixth generation son of Manu. The latest sire in the line was Häyry 5114, a 1944 son of Alikersantti. The influence of the line continues through maternal grandsons of the latest Manu sires.

Mörkö line
Mörkö tt 678 was foaled in 1877, in Viitasari. Good looking and a good trotter, he was a popular sire, with offspring throughout the counry. Ludvig Fabritius considered him not a pure Finnish type, and suggested he had some Orlov influence. The foreign looks were passed on to his progeny, and his grandson Reipas tt 2441 was commented to be "beautiful, but not of pure [Finnish] type". The slightly foreign, lighter and nobler looks were carries on to Reipas' offspring. Reipas was great-grandsire to Äly 3152, a two-time Kuninkuusravit national champion, and the first Finnhorse to officially break the ghost limit of 1 minute, 30 seconds per kilometre. The Mörkö line ended with the 1955 pony-sized stallion Erkki 428-72P, seventh generation son of Reipas, who died without offspring.