Joint trips are planned by the entire stable community. Photo: SilverHill's stable
The SilverHill's horse stable located in Ylistaro is a community stable that focuses on personal guidance, emotional skills training and increasing well-being. Being involved in stable activities brings children and young people positive experiences and it strengthens their self-esteem. The investment support granted by Liiver played an important role in the initial stages of the operation.
Working as an entrepreneur of SilverHills's stable Elina Hopevauri has worked with horses almost his entire life. Hopevauori has had his own horses and previously he has e.g. made braids and gave riding lessons. When in 2016, after a long search, Hopevauori and her husband Jani found a stable in Ylistaro's Mäki-Pohdo that fits their vision, it was time to take a big leap in business. The stable was acquired and renovated to meet the company's needs.
- In the past, I have been in club activities implementing projects, but now for the first time as a project leader. Doing the investment project left a good feeling, and I got a lot of support and help, Elina says. Without the investment support granted by Liiver, such an outcome would not necessarily have been reached, or at least it would have taken much more time.
Community spirit was taken into account in the design of the stable's premises. They were made comfortable and where everyone can be. SilverHill's stable has 16 horses, six of which are ponies. Some of the horses are owned by the company and some privately. In addition, there are sheep and rabbits on the farm.
Emotional skills and well-being
At SilverHill's stable, personal guidance plays an important role. Listening to the horses and taking their behavioral needs into account in all activities is also important. Hopevauori, who previously worked as a nurse, has studied to become a social pedagogic horse activity instructor and the lessons are utilized in everything she does.
Community spirit has been important to Hopevauori from the beginning, and at the stable it can be seen, for example, in the way that riding customers stay at the stable after hours to take care of the horses. Many horse owners and their families also visit the stable.
- The stable works as a community and everyone can find important jobs, Hopeavuori says.
You can join by booking a riding lesson or by coming to see the action. Group sizes are kept small, groups have 3–5 enthusiasts. Riding lessons are organized both for groups and as private lessons 3–4 days a week. On those days, the doors are open to everyone who wants to come and see the stable. Those interested can find up-to-date information on Instagram and Facebook.
Being involved in stable activities brings children and young people positive experiences and it strengthens their self-esteem. Photo: SilverHill's stable
Preventive and rehabilitative activity
The stable also organizes social-pedagogical horse activities, which are part of Familar's child protection and family services. The activity is preventive and rehabilitative and is organized in a planned manner. At first, we think about the goals and then plan the means to reach the goals.
- Horse activity is based on emotional coaching, recognizing emotions and how different emotions are shown on the outside, and putting those emotions into words. Participating in activities brings positive experiences and develops self-esteem.
In Hopevauori's opinion, you should stop at the edge of things and gather courage. A horse is a big animal, and bad experiences can easily occur if you just try riding superficially quickly.
- Horses mirror us in everything and you can immediately tell from the animal's behavior if a person is having a bad day. When an adult notices a youngster's feeling and says it out loud, it calms the youngster down and then the horse calms down as well. You have to have time, you don't have time to pay attention to feelings in a hurry.
Study and development
Hopevauori's speech and future plans exude a passion for action. In January, Hopevauori will start riding therapist studies, and in the spring, the stable plans to organize seven horse care and riding courses, which will allow you to get to know the activities in a variety of ways. In the next few years, it is planned to build a manse, for the construction of which we intend to apply for Liiver's investment support. The construction of Manees enables operations regardless of the weather, and the needs of special children and young people can be taken into account even better.
- Horse activity control is the route I stay on. The job is the best in the world, and I wouldn't change it for anything else, Elina is happy.