Surrounded by nature, Stall Falkberg is a special place.
Stall Falkberg is a modern and spacious equestrian facility offering boarding and training. Situated on 15 hectares (about 37 acres) with lake views, perched on a hill, the property is surrounded by nature. The stable grounds are home to a 24-stall barn, indoor and outdoor riding arenas, a covered walker, large grass pastures and sandy gardens.
Stall Falkberg is owned by Anni Roslin, an accomplished show jumper from Finland. Anni’s husband, Doctor Kim Roslin is her biggest fan and supporter of her equestrian dreams. They have two beautiful children together, Adele and Wilhelm.
Anni’s passion for horses started early on in life. She began riding at age nine and never looked back. A few years after Anni started riding, her family co-founded a local riding school with 42 horses. Anni spent every minute of her spare time after school at the stables. Horses quickly became a very important part of her daily life. Anni competed throughout the years and learned a lot along the way.
“There were times when I took a break from riding but I could not keep away from horses; I groomed and even that time of my life was so rewarding, since it taught me another aspect of viewing the profession.”
After Anni’s children were born, she wanted to pursue her equestrian passion at a new level and began competing again. Along with the help of her husband, they began looking for their own horse property.
“Our youngest child has Angelman’s syndrome, which is classified as a severe handicap. After Wilhelm was born I realized that I was running around from one stable to another giving riding lessons. I had to start thinking of a change. I needed to find myself new avenues of fullfilling my dreams. At that time I also decided to quit my job. That brought the idea of getting our own stable even closer.”
Finally, Anni and Doctor Roslin found a stable in Kirkkonummi. It’s a quick 45 minute drive from the capital of Helsinki, yet perfectly situated in the countryside. The land is located on the slopes of the highest point of Kirkkonummi – Falkberg. This area of Southern Finland is Swedish-speaking, the name means Mount Falck.
“That gave us the idea of the barn name as well; Stall Falkberg. Stall meaning Stable and Falk meaning Falck. We have also noticed that the name has a bearing, you can see a lot of falcks flying above us every day.”
The ability to ride a variety of horses has transformed Anni into the skillful rider she is today. Her early years spent grooming horses taught her about the importance of proper care. Anni understood that you needed a great team in order for the horses and riders to do their best.
“There is a living creature underneath you, which has a mind of its own. You do your best trying to find the balance between you two, Anni said. “I am quite a perfectionist. In fact, I have found I just compete against myself and just want to become a better rider. At the shows I often feel so joyous when a round has been completed. I consider that I have done a good job, regardless of the placing I have. Then again I might have placed well but still do not feel totally happy due to the fact, that I did not feel I did a good enough job in the riding itself. I am quite a critical person, especially with myself.”
The good looking barn is lined with box stalls down the center aisle. Manure storage and the hay and equipment storage are located on the opposite ends of the barn. The thoughtful stable layout is designed so you do not need to go outside to do daily chores.
Anni keeps four of her own horses, a pony for her daughter and one miniature horse here at Stall Falkberg. The rest of the stalls are for clients. Anni also keeps one broodmare and a few foals in the Netherlands.
Tack Room
The center of the barn holds the solarium, laundry room, bathroom and a cozy tack room. The stable is equipped with video surveillance for security and peace of mind.
The Bathroom
The beautiful bathroom was upgraded with several unique finds. Family friends were planning on throwing out this oak sideboard, Anni happily gave it a new home. The golden sink was a lucky find at a local hardware store. The sink and the sideboard are a perfect pairing. Additional gold accessories were sourced from family and a local flea market.
“Our clients are busy working people, who might arrive to the stable straight from work still wearing high heels or a suit. We wanted to create a serene and clean bathroom for them to change clothes to more appropriate apparel.”
The indoor arena is located next to the stable. Summer in Finland is short and autumn brings rain, which turns into winter snow. The arena gets plenty of use during the colder months. Both riding arenas have an OTTO surface, which is standard at all the major international shows. It provides a top of the line surface and footing for the horses.
A large horse walker on the grounds can hold eight horses at once. It’s an essential piece of equipment for keeping competition horses legged up and in top shape.
Anni’s first year of stable ownership has involved a lot of work and improvements around the facilities. Just like many barn owners know, it’s always an ongoing process which takes time. Several improvements have been made including the addition of chandeliers in the barn aisle. The tack room, bathroom and shower facilities have been upgraded. The upgrades have been done one room at a time. It has always been Anni’s goal to create a beautiful and clean barn for herself and her clients.
One of the most significant changes was doubling the size of the outdoor riding arena for training. That arena faces the beautiful lake and is surrounded by trees. The views offer a feeling of serenity and gratitude when you ride.
Riding through the property, ascending pathways lead to the hillside in the forest and then descend down towards the lake. The pastures are located near the lake so it’s easier for the freshly planted grass to grow. Anni is in the process of expanding the existing paths so the horses can ride by the lake. A jump course is currently being built by the lake.
“My normal day starts by taking our children to school and pre-school, then our two dogs, Nelson and Nella will jump on a car with me and we drive up to the stables. Then I either will do some stable chores or start riding my horses one at a time. After this I will ride our clients’ horses and the day will normally end with riding lessons to our clients.”
” We are just blessed and every day I drive to the stables from our home, which is 15 minutes drive away, my mind just calms down and I am ready to jump on a horse.”
Future plans include expanding the indoor riding arena and building a small house on the premises.
Thank you Anni for sharing your property with Stable Style. She is happily living out her dreams owning Stall Falkberg.
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