Anna Rubingh - The Nordsvensk Brukshäst of Backfors Gård

Photography & words: © Anna Rubingh

Published in Seasons Magazine 12-2022

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In the far North of Sweden Jonas & Elin keep horses. They are not just any horses, but Nordsvensk Brukshäst, an old type of Swedish workhorse. “They are not very big,” Elin explains, “they are an old-fashioned type of all-round horse.” “But they are very strong,” Jonas adds. Elin nods. Originally, this type of horse, which comes from northern Sweden, did all sorts of work on the small farms. They ploughed the fields, did forest work, and helped with haying, but were also used driving people to the village. “And they are good riding horses as well,” Elin says.

On their farm Backfors gård near the tiny village of Bjurholm in Västerbotten in northern Sweden, they work and breed with their Nordsvensk Brukshäst. “We started of with a variety of old Swedish farm animals, sheep, chickens, cows, but eventually we decided to concentrate on these special horses.” Jonas does forest work with the horses in nearby nature reserves. “It is good to keep that type of work alive and to work with horses in rough forest terrain is convenient. With machines you can’t get everywhere easily, horses are much more flexible,” Jonas explains. He really loves the work he does with their horses.

When winter turns the northern Swedish landscape into a fairy tale, a special kind of work begins for Elin and Jonas and their horses. "We take guests on sleigh rides, which is very magical in this beautiful, remote winter wonderland."