When a good Finnish horse changes hands, the buyer or seller is very often Otto Salojensaari.
Otto Salojensaari has been trading horses since his teenage years, which means that his career in horse trading has continued for about 70 years. Ville Toivonen
- Over the decades, thousands of horses have passed through Otto Salogensaari.
- The merchant continues his active career even at the age of 83.
- This year too, Salojensaari has bought and sold many good horses.
The horse trade is a world of its own, and the trade of Finnish horses is particularly special. Many people complain about how difficult it is to buy a competitive Finnish horse, but one man seems to have a knack for finding and buying a good horse.
From Kauhajoki Otto Salojensaari, 83, trades in horses under the name of S-Tall, and trade is also born. If an interesting Finnish racing horse has changed owners, S-Talli appears remarkably often as the horse’s seller or buyer.
And often S-Talli can be seen very quickly as both buyer and seller. Salojensaari is specifically a businessman who has always known how to sell a horse. His career as a horseman has already lasted well over 60 years, and Salojensaari calculates that he has owned the same horse for a good three years at the longest.
– A deal has always been made, and horses have not been clung to. We have always tried to buy good horses, bad ones when there are always enough in exchange, Otto Salojensaari describes.
The list of successful horses that have passed through the hands of Salojnasari is impressive. At some point in her career, the trotting king Patrikin Muisto, the king’s second runner-up Tuokkolan Touho, the trotting queen Puhetyttö and the queen’s second runner-up Yllin Kyllin, to name just a few, have ridden her at some point in her career.
– In total, thousands of horses have visited. At most hundreds of horses have been sold in a year, and at the same time there have been at most more than 20 horses at a time. Now there are only a few horses at a time, but probably a few dozen horses a year will do, Salojensaari sums up.
A good horse is strong
The 2009 trotting king Patrikin Muisto was owned by Otto Salojnesaari in the early part of his career. Patrikin Muisto achieved its best achievements in the hands of Jouko Tarvainen, who is also in the picture. Ville Toivonen
Otto Salojensaari’s reputation as a horse dealer has grown over the decades. He is constantly looking for a good horse, and he also knows how to offer horses.
Saljonsaari has long had a reputation as a merchant who is not afraid to buy even a valuable horse.
– A good horse always goes up for sale, but one is hard to buy. You could buy as many cheap tusses a day as you can, but decent horses are not available all the time. Good rarely costs too much, but bad is always too expensive.
The criteria for a good horse are tough both when buying and selling.
– Everyone is looking for that really good Finnish horse. You have to be a good three- or four-year-old, or already competing at level 75, for it to interest people.
– When I buy a horse, I mostly look at the general label. The horse must be a model of a runner, and not a heavy work horse.
Advice for troublemakers
This year, for example, Viesmanni, who came to him from Mikkeli, has passed through the hands of Salojnesaari From Raineri Puikkose and quickly moved on to Salojensaari’s long-term business partner Jouni Miettinen To Pori.
The description of the very successful gelding trade tells about Salojnaari’s straightforward operation.
– Raineri Puikkonen called to ask if you are still buying good horses, and I said that when the opportunity arises. He offered Viesmann, told it the price and said it would be at the start in Jyväskylä on the same day. I told Puikkonen that it will take some time for me to put my cap on, but then I will leave to come to Jyväskylä. The horse was looked at and deals were made there, Salojensaari says.
The Salojensaari are an old horseman’s family, as Oto’s brother too Valte Salojensaari and a nephew Martti Salojensaari were well-known horse traders.
Oto’s granddaughter continues the business Terno Grönstrandwho is responsible for training the stable’s horses.
Otto Salojensaari also continues his equestrian career to the fullest. In addition to Viesmann, S-Tall also had a spin this year, as well as many other successful trotters, such as Vauhti Teppo and Steffe.
And there is no end in sight.
– I guess I’ll do it as long as I’m in the mood.
For those worried about the difficulty of finding a good Finnish horse, the merchant has clear advice.
– If you can’t find them elsewhere, you can get them from us, Salojensaari laughs.