The Helsinki International Horse Show is Finland’s largest annual indoor sports event. The event aims to become the world’s leading equestrian event in terms of sustainable development. This goal is being pursued through the ambitious Jumps Green environmental program, which sets concrete environmental goals, implements effective measures, and minimizes the event’s harmful environmental impacts.
Efforts toward sustainable development began as early as 2017. Since 2022, the event’s carbon footprint and other key environmental impacts have been comprehensively calculated and assessed. The carbon footprint calculation takes into account, among other things, emissions resulting from the travel and meals of employees, visitors, competitors, horses, and partners. The carbon footprint is calculated annually, and the goal is to systematically reduce it year after year.
The Helsinki International Horse Show was awarded the Ekokompassi certificate in 2019. The Ekokompassi environmental program supports the event in managing its environmental responsibility and guides it toward continuous development and improvement.
The horse’s well-being is at the heart of everything and guides all our activities.
The horse is the most important participant in our event. That is why the well-being, safety, and respectful treatment of the horse are the foundation of everything we do. We want to create an environment where horses can perform, compete, and participate in the event with as little stress as possible, while taking their needs into account. When the horses are doing well, the competitors, exhibitors, and the audience can also enjoy the event to the fullest.
The goal of the event is to create a space for community. We want to bring together everyone interested in horses for unique experiences. Finland’s largest horse event is for everyone, on an equal footing. That means it’s an event where everyone can come just as they are. Under the roof of the Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Center, you’ll find interesting content for professionals, enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys trade shows and might be interested in horses.
We want to promote opportunities for children and young people to participate in equestrian activities and discover the joy of physical activity and community.
The well-being of children and young people is one of the core values of our work. We want to promote physical activity, provide low-barrier opportunities for participation, and ensure equal opportunities to engage in sports and compete. The Amateur Tour was also born out of this idea—to offer more and more people the chance to experience success, develop their skills, and be part of the equestrian community.
Sustainable development, accessibility, social and economic sustainability.
We want to create an event that takes responsibility for people, horses, and the environment alike. This commitment to responsibility is reflected in all our activities through our adherence to the principles of sustainable development, our efforts to promote accessibility, and our support for social and economic sustainability.
The Helsinki International Horse Show is Finland’s largest annual indoor sports event. The event aims to become the world’s leading equestrian event in terms of sustainable development. This goal is being pursued through the ambitious Jumps Green environmental program, which sets concrete environmental goals, implements effective measures, and minimizes the event’s harmful environmental impacts.
Efforts toward sustainable development began as early as 2017. Since 2022, the event’s carbon footprint and other key environmental impacts have been comprehensively calculated and assessed. The carbon footprint calculation takes into account, among other things, emissions resulting from the travel and meals of employees, visitors, competitors, horses, and partners. The carbon footprint is calculated annually, and the goal is to systematically reduce it year after year.
The Helsinki International Horse Show was awarded the Ekokompassi certificate in 2019. The Ekokompassi environmental program supports the event in managing its environmental responsibility and guides it toward continuous development and improvement.
The Helsinki International Horse Show 2027 supports responsible choices by visitors, competitors, and partners, particularly with regard to transportation and waste management. The event’s new location at the Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Center provides excellent conditions for sustainable event management and reducing environmental impacts.
Messukeskus is centrally located and has exceptionally good public transportation connections from various parts of the Helsinki metropolitan area as well as from elsewhere in Finland. The venue is easily accessible by train, tram, and bus, and the use of public transportation is encouraged as the primary mode of travel. Good connections reduce the need for private cars and significantly lower emissions caused by travel to and from the event. Walking and biking are also convenient options in the area around Messukeskus, and there are ample bike parking facilities in the area.
Recycling and waste management are a key part of the HIHS 2027 event’s sustainability efforts. Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Center offers comprehensive and clearly marked recycling solutions that enable efficient waste sorting during the event. Separate collection bins are available for organic waste, cardboard, plastic, metal, and energy waste, among other materials. Clear signage and well-functioning sorting stations make recycling easy for both visitors and event staff.
The event aims to minimize the amount of waste generated from the outset through measures such as sustainable material choices, reusable structures, and thoughtful procurement. Recycling solutions support the principles of the circular economy and ensure that as much of the waste generated at the event as possible is diverted for reuse. In this way, HIHS 2027 concretely promotes environmentally responsible event production and also encourages visitors to make sustainable choices as part of the event experience.
Manure: A Boost for Growth
HorsEco, a partner of the Horse Show, is responsible for processing the manure generated at the event. HorsEco is an eco-friendly manure processing facility that accepts dry manure. The manure produced at the Horse Show is further processed into compost and soil conditioner.
This year, the Helsinki International Horse Show is placing a special focus on promoting physical activity and an active lifestyle among children and young people. The event aims to offer inspiring and accessible ways to be physically active and to learn about equestrian sports in a safe and supportive environment.
Spontaneous physical activity and play among children and young people are an important part of their well-being, and the event aims to create space for experimentation, hands-on activities, and socializing as part of the event experience. Activities geared toward young people encourage them to be active based on their own interests and skill levels.
The event features a dedicated hobby horse area for children and teens, set aside exclusively for their use. The area offers them the opportunity to move around, practice, and participate in hobby horse riding in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere. The hobby horse area encourages creativity, a sense of community, and the joy of physical activity without the pressure to perform. Competitions are held at the OP Uusimaa Hobby Horse Arena, even at the level of the Finnish National Championships. In addition, there are classes at lower skill levels, as well as a dedicated arena for recreational hobby horse riding.
By promoting physical activity among children and young people, the Helsinki International Horse Show fosters well-being and strengthens a positive relationship with physical activity and horses. At the same time, the event supports the development of a sustainable and inclusive culture of physical activity.
This is made possible by the City of Helsinki, Messukeskus, OP Uusimaa, and Fazer.
The Helsinki International Horse Show is committed to creating a safe and respectful event environment. The event adheres to the principles of a safe space, and no form of harassment, bullying, discrimination, or violation of another person’s integrity will be tolerated.
You can use this form to contact the Helsinki International Horse Show’s harassment liaison officers if
All reports will be handled confidentially and professionally. Our goal is to ensure that the Helsinki International Horse Show is a safe and inclusive event for everyone.
The John Nurminen Foundation is known for its significant contribution to efforts to save the Baltic Sea. The Foundation’s mission is to save the Baltic Sea and its heritage for future generations. Each year, the Foundation carries out more than ten projects aimed at solving the Baltic Sea’s most pressing environmental problems.
The most serious environmental problem facing the Baltic Sea is eutrophication, the symptoms of which include, for example, the annual blue-green algae blooms that occur every summer. To halt eutrophication in the Baltic Sea and save the sea, a significant reduction in nutrient emissions is therefore urgently needed.
Equestrian sports are among the sports that place the greatest strain on nature, so it’s time to give something back. Our partnership with the John Nurminen Foundation is a concrete way to show our commitment to the Baltic Sea, across which numerous equestrian teams travel to Helsinki to compete.
© Oona Lavonsalo
Volunteers are the heart of the event—their contributions make it possible to organize a smooth, safe, and high-quality international sporting event.
Volunteer work promotes a sense of community, inclusion, and equality by offering people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to help organize an event. At the same time, volunteers expand their skills, gain valuable experience in event management, and strengthen their professional and interpersonal skills.
Volunteer work at the Horse Show also supports a sustainable event culture. A local, dedicated network of volunteers reduces the need for resources and promotes responsible practices. Together with its volunteers, the Helsinki International Horse Show builds an event based on cooperation, responsibility, and shared pride.
