The Horseman (Finnish: Ratsumies, Swedish: Ryttaren) is an opera in three acts by Aulis Sallinen, based on a libretto by Paavo Haavikko.

[1] According to George Loomis, writing in The New York Times, the work "is widely credited for helping to precipitate a wave of Finnish operas".

It was also performed in place of the first night of Boris Godunov on July 24 that season due to a badly inflamed foot injury to Martti Talvela (who was to play Boris); cast and technicians, uncontactable by phone, were gathered from day trips in the local countryside, and the conductor was flown by seaplane from the Helsinki archipelago for a last-minute replacement evening.

The last act is set in a forest place near the hovel of a poacher, Matti Puikkanen where are living Antti, Anna, a woman, and a groom.

Women try to persuade guards to open the castle gates but the army has secretly followed the plans and starts shooting the rebels.