Ronivaara · Kuusamo, Finland

Plan your visit to Ronivaara

A little practical preparation leaves more time for the horses, the farm and the day ahead.

Come in the season that suits you

Ronivaara is home to the Finnhorses and other animals throughout the year, and most of our Finnhorse experiences follow the same year-round rhythm.

You can ride, visit the farm, spend time learning with a Finnhorse or choose a private horse experience in different seasons. Snow, light, forest trails and the life around the farm change as the year turns, giving each visit its own character.

Horse-drawn sleigh rides belong to the snowy winter months.

For the other experiences, choose the time of year that suits your trip and check the individual programme calendar for available dates.

Explore Finnhorse Experiences

Most of Ruska Laukka’s experiences are offered through the changing seasons, while sleigh rides are specifically part of winter.

Your visit begins before you reach the yard

Check your programme, dress for the weather and leave enough time to arrive without rushing. Then you can step into Ronivaara with the day’s practical things already taken care of.

Ruska Laukan tallilla rekiajelua suomenhevosilla Ruka-Kuusamossa

Finding Ronivaara

Ronivaara is in Meskusvaara, Kuusamo.

Address:
Meskusvaarantie 79B
93800 Kuusamo
Finland

The drive takes about 20 minutes from Kuusamo town centre and about 25 minutes from Ruka.

The last part of the journey brings you away from the busier resort and town surroundings and towards the forest and farm landscape of Ronivaara.

When you arrive, you are coming to a working family farm. Horses and other animals may already be outside, people may be moving between the yard and horse areas and the ordinary work of the day is going on around you.

Contact & Getting Here

Arrive a little before your programme

We recommend arriving 10–15 minutes before the programme begins.

That gives you time to arrive calmly, find your way around and get ready before the experience starts.

Horse activities have their own rhythm. Horses need to be prepared, equipment checked and people introduced to what will happen next.

A few unhurried minutes at the beginning help the whole group start together.

Toilet and changing facilities are available for guests, and there is also a stable cabin at Ronivaara.

Sosiaalipedagoginen hevostoiminta Ruska Laukan tallilla Ruka-Kuusamossa
Ruska Laukan tallilla teema- ja ratsastuspäiviä harrastaja perheiden kanssa Ruka Kuusamossa

Dress for a farm – and for Kuusamo weather

A visit to Ronivaara often means spending time outdoors, around horses and on natural ground.

Choose clothes that allow you to move comfortably and that suit the weather of the day.

For riding, wear:

  • long trousers
  • a long-sleeved top or jacket
  • sturdy footwear with a good sole
  • gloves.

In cold weather, warm layers, warm footwear, gloves and a hat are especially important.

The ground around a real farm can also be snowy, wet, muddy, frozen or uneven depending on the season, so practical footwear matters even when your experience is not centred on riding.

For riding, a riding helmet is always used. Helmets and safety vests are available to borrow at Ronivaara.

Choose the experience that fits you

You do not need to approach every Finnhorse experience in the same way.

Some experiences are made for first-time or less experienced riders. Others require previous riding skills. Farm visits offer another way to meet the horses and other animals, while private experiences can focus more closely on riding, horsemanship or spending time with a Finnhorse.

The important thing is to choose according to your actual experience and what you would like to do.

On the individual programme page, check:

  • riding or horse experience required
  • age and other participation requirements
  • duration
  • group size
  • clothing and equipment
  • season and availability
  • programme-specific arrival information.

These details vary between experiences, so the individual programme page is always the final source before booking.

If you are unsure which experience suits you, ask us. We would rather help you choose well before you arrive.

Explore Finnhorse Experiences
Contact Us

First time with a horse is still a real horse experience

Many people arrive at Ronivaara without years of riding behind them.

Some may be sitting on a horse for the first time. Others have ridden before but not recently, or feel more comfortable meeting a horse from the ground.

That is useful information for us.

When an experience includes riding, tell us about your previous experience as accurately as you can. It helps us choose a suitable horse and guide the activity accordingly. Ronivaara offers experiences for different levels, including options suitable for beginners.

You do not need to make yourself sound more experienced than you are.

Knowing where to begin is part of a good day with a horse.

You do not need to know everything before you arrive

Tell us what experience you have and what kind of time with the Finnhorses you are looking for. We will guide you through the rest when you get here.

Maastoratsastusta suomenhevosilla Ruska Laukan tallilla Ruka-Kuusamossa

Weather is part of the day

Ronivaara looks and feels different in different weather.

Fresh snow can change a familiar path overnight. A spring afternoon may soften ground that was frozen in the morning. Summer can bring warm sun or rain, and autumn mornings can begin with frost.

We follow the conditions of the day when working with the horses and choosing how activities are carried out.

For riding, routes and pace are chosen according to riders’ experience, the horses and the conditions. Safety and horse welfare guide the decisions made during the programme.

For you as a guest, the most useful preparation is simple:

check the weather, dress for it and come ready to experience the day that Kuusamo gives us.

Life & Seasons at Ronivaara

When you arrive among the animals

Ronivaara is the everyday home of the animals you meet.

Move calmly around the farm and follow the guide’s instructions when approaching horses and other animals. Horse paddocks, pastures and working areas are entered with staff guidance.

Please give food or treats to the animals only when instructed.

There is plenty to notice even before anything has been formally introduced.

A Finnhorse may be standing with its familiar companions. Sheep may be watching what is happening in the yard. Chickens may be busy with their own morning. Somewhere nearby, a dog or cat may be moving through the same farm day.

Your programme becomes one part of that day.

Animals at Ronivaara
Horse Welfare

Before you book

Each experience has its own exact price, duration, availability and participant requirements.

Read the individual programme page before booking and use its information when deciding whether the experience suits you. Current availability and bookable times are shown through the booking system.

For questions that need a more detailed answer, continue to:

Frequently Asked Questions – for practical questions about riding, horses, facilities, arrival and payment.

Booking & Cancellation – for reservation, cancellation and booking conditions.

Contact Us – when you are unsure which experience to choose or need help with your visit.

Ready for your day at Ronivaara?

You do not need to prepare for every detail.

Choose an experience that suits you, tell us honestly about your previous horse or riding experience, dress for the weather and arrive a little early.

Then there is time to turn your attention to what you came for:

the Finnhorse in front of you, the people around you and whatever kind of day is unfolding at Ronivaara.

Explore Finnhorse Experiences

Book an Experience

Contact & Getting Here