Competitive hobby horsing is a unique (and silly) sport where participants simulate horseback riding using a hobby horse: a handcrafted or store-bought toy horse mounted on a stick. While hobby horsing is usually regarded as a children’s game, the competitive side of the sport requires extreme athleticism, coordination, and precision, as some of the main activities in competitive hobby horsing are dressage and show jumping, where the competitors must jump over and maneuver around obstacles.
As one may imagine, participants are almost always youths, but the sport is very serious among the riders. The riders wear riding attire, and competitors are judged on technique, presentation, and creativity. While hobby horsing may seem like a children’s game or a meme on Instagram that does not really exist, it has grown throughout the world, especially in countries like Finland. Although the sport may seem childish, many people around the world view it as a tradition and a competitive activity.
Take a look at the photos below to get inspiration for your future hobby horsing adventures!
Hobby horse championships are taking place all over the world. Washington Post/Rebecca Simonov
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