Me "Kaisa"

I'm born in 1985 in a small town in Finland. I have lived here all of my life except 6 months after High School when I worked in a hotel in London. The work wasn't very classy. I was a chambermaid. But I still have great memories from that time.

My home is a farm with cows and at some point we also haved a donkey stallion and shetland pony living at our own stable. The belonged to local 4H but they lived at our home for 4 winters. For the summers they were in small animal farm in the city.

I just didn't want the donkey at all! I just wanted the pony to come at our stable. But then we had to take the donkey too. The donkey, Velmu, wasn't the easiest to handle. He tried, and sometimes succeeded, to bolt and ran to the horse stable next to us. I was unable to pick up his feet and when farrier came we also needed to call to the vet to tranquilize him first.

But he got better and in 4 months I was able to pick up his feet and after one year we didn't need to tranquilize him anymore and the farrier didn't have any problems with him since.

That donkey teached me a lot.

The donkey, Velmu and me

Then after 4 years I finished my school and moved to London so we couldn't take care of the pony and the donkey anymore.

During those summers when our "boys" were on animal farm I had a horse from neighbor farm at our field. She was big finnhorse mare. I rode her every ray on the trails and I loved it.

And then I moved to my own flat and I had a break from riding for maybe 2 years.

Now we are in a year 2008 and Finnish Donkey Breed society was established. I was one of the founders and my first job in the society was to work as a secretary.

I also bought my first horse, Pokko. He is the foal from the mare from my parents neighbor! Or was a foal, she was 5 years old when I got him. I had the horse for 3 years.

Heikki and me

At some point I got to know one Finnish mule, Heikki, and fell in love with him. He was so kind, nice and safe mount when I rode him. I knew that this is exactly what I need in my life.

But I didn't have enough money to have a mule in a livery/boarding stable. They cost around 400 euros in a month at my area. So I saved money and looked for mule ads from Internet. I bought many mule books and subscribed Mules and More magazine for 2 years. I wanted to know everything about mules.

Then in 2015 I had changed my job and got better salary and I had enough money at my savings account. I was ready.

I paid my mule at the same day I turned 30 and got her to Finland a few months later from Spain. The rest you can read from Muuli's own page and this blog.

Pic by Reetta Ollila

I currently live in Southern Finland near Helsinki with my 2 abyssinian cats and my husband. I'm the president of the Finnish Donkey Breed Society, so donkeys are still part of my life. I work full time in a school office and part time as a cashier in a supermarket. I also work as a private entrepreneur. Mainly I work as a groom at the stable.