Närpes Hästakademi
Welcome to Närpes Hästakademi, my small equestrian haven in the village of Kaldnäs, Närpiö — surrounded by serene coastal forests and open fields.
I moved to the farm not long ago, so some renovations are still underway, but the heart of the place — the horses and their peaceful environment — is already beginning to shine through.
Our horses live freely outdoors throughout the year: in the spacious yard, the large paddocks, and during summer, on the lush pastures. The stable does not take in boarders — only my own horses live here, forming a harmonious herd that enjoys a calm, natural rhythm of life together.
The farm features a new 45 × 24 m arena, jumping equipment, and a dedicated archery range. The cozy tack room offers a quiet place to rest and serves as a comfortable space for the theoretical parts of our courses, sheltered from wind and rain.
The farm is also home to my beloved Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs (Československý vlčiak). If you are interested in the breed, you may get to meet Ada and Viktor, who live here as part of our everyday life.
Safety
Please note that students are not insured by the stable. We recommend having personal accident insurance — for example, the one included in SRL membership, with extended coverage.
Our company and horses are insured, but each student is responsible for their own insurance against possible injuries or accidents. Our horses are kind and reliable, but they are still large animals. The most common minor injuries may be, for example, a foot accidentally stepped on or a slip from the saddle due to loss of balance.
We recommend wearing safety shoes, and using a helmet is mandatory when riding and strongly recommended on the ground, especially for younger students.
MY HORSES:
Kuva: Salla Kuikka
ILONA – Köyhien Ilo
Born in 2008, Ilona is a Finnhorse mare who has brought us joy for several wonderful years. Standing at about 153 cm, she is patient, kind, and loves working with people from the ground.
Ilona is a wonderful teacher — calm, gentle, and clear — and has also started to become quite the seat instructor! She enjoys liberty work, groundwork, and is enthusiastic about horseback archery.
A sweet and sympathetic soul, Ilona is always ready to try something new and meet new people. However, she is also a sensitive spirit who easily withdraws if the pressure is too high — she appreciates beautiful, mindful interaction, just like the rest of us.
Weight limit: 80 kg.
Kuva: Salla Kuikka
AURORA – “Aurora Salvatella”
Born in 2019, Aurora is our teenage lady — a Pura Raza Española (PRE) mare. She is learning many different things and occasionally works with clients on light groundwork exercises.
This cheerful and expressive young mare always brings a smile to your face! People tend to have mixed feelings about her — some fall in love instantly, others find her… let’s say, a little too much. 😉
Aurora currently has a foal by her side and is therefore not participating in lessons at the moment.
Please remember good hygiene practices when visiting us, especially now, to avoid bringing any unwanted germs.
Kuva: Katariina Cozmei
MURKKU – “TC Murphy Is Dun”
Born in 2011, Murkku is a Quarter Horse gelding with a big heart and even bigger personality.
With him, you can explore Academic Art of Riding, neck rope riding, seat work, groundwork, and small jumps or horsemanship games as he advances in those disciplines.
Murkku can do just about anything — as long as you ask nicely! He’s skilled, intelligent, and a bit of a philosopher: sometimes he works like a dream, and sometimes he’ll quietly stand by the gate looking as if to say, “Your bus stop is here…” 😄
He’s fine-boned and about 150 cm tall.
Weight limit: approx. 70 kg.
Kuva: Vilma Saarinen
CHIKI – “Chicadee”
Born in 2007, Chiki is a Swedish Warmblood mare and a true black beauty. Standing 162 cm tall, she has previously competed at Grand Prix level in show jumping.
She’s kind but sensitive — a powerful and graceful lady best suited for experienced riders.
From the ground, she’s gentle and already has some skills in the Academic Art of Riding.
Weight limit: 75 kg.
If none of our horses are suitable for you due to the weight limits, you are warmly welcome to attend lessons with your own horse — or to work from the ground, which can be surprisingly rewarding and deeply engaging.
We guarantee you’ll enjoy the experience — satisfaction guaranteed!
All our horses work using clicker training (“naksu ja maksu”) during lessons. Don’t worry if it’s new to you — we’ll learn it together step by step!
You can find more photos and stories of our horses on Instagram.
Arrival Instructions
Please arrive no earlier than your scheduled lesson time.
For example, if your lesson starts at 16:00, arrive at most five minutes before. The previous session may still be ongoing, or I might be teaching elsewhere on the property. We do not have staff to prepare the horses in advance — we do everything together as part of the learning process.
When you arrive, we will fetch your horse together, groom, and tack up — this is an important part of the lesson and helps build your connection with the horse you’ll be working with.
Address: Kaldnäsvägen 197, 64240 Böle
You can park your car just at the driveway entrance.
If you’re bringing a dog and would like a shaded parking spot, please contact me in advance so we can find a suitable place.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch — you’ll find contact information, prices, and services on the links.