Ridlärarutbildningen i Finland – en historisk analys

Abstract: Riding is a popular leisure activity throughout the Nordic countries. The transition from military to a popular sport has followed a similar path Sweden and Finland. In Sweden there is some research on the subject, but this is lacking in Finland. The aim of the study was to investigate how riding instructor education in Finland developed from a military profession to a civilian one. The questions used were: How has the content and implementation of Finland´s riding teacher education evolved from its inception to the present day? How has Finlands riding teacher education developed in comparison to Swedish riding teacher education? How has the transition from military education to civilian taken place? In the material used, literature in Finnish, previous research on the development of Sweden's riding instructor education, and six interviews were included. The interviews were conducted on Microsoft Teams, transcribed, and analyzed. After processing the literature and conducting interviews, the research questions could be answered. The results indicated that the first facility with civilian horse education, which later organized riding instructor education, was established in Ypäjä in 1937. There was no military riding instructor education in Finland, only a military riding and horse caretaker school. Ypäjä's facility became civilian in 1955, but it wasn't until 1976 that the riding instructor education started. The Finnish Equestrian Federation, together with "Suomen Ratsastusopisto," initiated gradual riding instructor courses at Ypäjä. In summary, the results of this study show that Finnish riding instructor education has been influenced by the Swedish riding instructor system through collaboration between Finland and Sweden, already in the early 1900s when Finnish officers were trained at the riding school at Strömsholm. The content and implementation of riding instructor education have changed over the years, from a few months' courses to one and two-year programs. The early courses indicated, like in Sweden, on a stable culture which were characterized by one-way communication, hierarchy, respect, and discipline. The courses were perceived as instructive, and participants were motivated to develop in riding and teaching.