Enthusiastic about trotting, Iivo Niskanen takes on a new kind of challenge on Wednesday in Pihtiputaa.
Ski hero Iivo Niskanen enthusiasm for trotting sports has been common knowledge for a long time, but in recent years the Olympic champion’s hobby has deepened even more.
Last year, Niskanen completed his trotting license, and he has guided a total of five starts at raves.
The first race of this season was in June in Vieremä, where Niskanen steered the Black And Quick crawler to second place. The ranking was clearly the best of Niskanen’s career, as previously he had been eighth at his best.
Niskanen’s next guiding duties are ahead on Wednesday at Pihtiputa’s summer raves. The native of Kuopio will ride three horses on Wednesday, and in the first start of the trot, he will face a new kind of challenge.
Niskanen is racing a Finnish horse for the first time in his career.
Although warmbloods are significantly faster than Finnish horses, riding a Finnish horse is generally considered clearly more challenging than riding a warmblood.
Finnish horses are on average more uncertain, i.e. more sensitive to galloping. Warmbloods are generally more sensitive and easier to drive than Finnish horses.
Suonsilmän Reino
Iivo Niskanen will be seen on Wednesday in Pihtiputaa. PASI LEISMA
The first Finnish horse rider in Niskanen’s career is a successful trainer Antti Ojanperän stable Suonsilmän Reino.
– It is interesting to be able to race a Finnish horse for the first time. There seemed to be some gallops on the board, but at least the trainer has a strong enough name that he is not a good horse. It’s nice to try it out, Niskanen describes in the news release of Suomen Hippos.
Niskanen’s other drivers are in Pihtiputaa Kimmo Ahola coached by Reverend Dred and Petra Kivimaan coached by Shape Of You.
– It’s hard to say what kind of seams we have, but aren’t the horses so much better than the handler that it’s up to the driver, Niskanen assesses in the press release.
Niskanen describes trotting as a fun hobby.
– I have followed the sport for a long time and of course I am interested in competing. This is an interesting sport, especially as an instructor. It has its own kind of excitement and charging before and during the race, says Niskanen.
– Let’s hope that there will be reasonable races and that I will be able to offer the horses the opportunity to run from the best positions possible. We try to be as little as possible an obstacle to success.