Ten young stallions transported by ferry to summer grazing island in Siilinjärvi

Ten young stallions were moved to their summer grazing grounds on Tuesday, continuing a century-old tradition in Siilinjärvi, eastern Finland, according to a report by public broadcaster Yle. The horses were ferried across Lake Juurusvesi to Rahvo Island, a 90-hectare site within the Karelia Air Command’s operational area.

The stallions, described as energetic, were transported on a repurposed ferry adapted for equine travel. Local owners accompanying the animals noted that the young horses typically return in autumn calmer after spending the summer grazing in the island’s varied terrain, which strengthens their motor skills and leg muscles.

The grazing also serves an ecological purpose, maintaining the island’s open landscapes and supporting biodiversity among plants, insects, and birds. While the area experiences frequent military air traffic, Hannu Ala-Korpi, the operation’s organizer and managing director of the North Savo Horse Breeding Association, stated the horses adapt quickly to the noise.

Rahvo Island has been used for this purpose alongside Otus Island in previous years. The annual migration is coordinated by the North Savo Horse Breeding Association, using a modified ferry originally designed for vehicle transport.