Hobby horsing

Not to be confused with Hobby horse polo.

Hobby horsing is a sport^[1][2][3] with gymnastic elements which uses hobby horses, also known as stick horses.^[4][5] Movement sequences similar to those in show jumping or dressage are partly simulated in courses, without real horses being used. The participants predominantly use self-made hobby horses.^[6][7][8]

Hobby horsing

A hobby horse rider jumping
Characteristics
Mixed-sex	Yes
Type	Hobby/sport
Equipment	Hobby horse
Presence
Country or region	Originated in Finland

Origin and popularization

The sport was introduced to a wider public through Selma Vilhunen's 2017 film Keppihevosten vallankumous (Hobbyhorse Revolution),^[9] which won two awards at the 2017 Tampere Film Festival.^[10]

In Finland, the country of origin of the sport,^[11] an annual national championship is held in addition to regional competitions. This sport, which can be classified as a fun, active and trendy hobby, is particularly popular with girls and young women between the ages of 12 and 18^[8] years^[12] and is gaining popularity beyond the other Nordic countries in other parts of Europe. The hobby had spread to Australia by 2016,^[13] and the first Australian national championship was held in Queensland in 2024.^[14] The european championships of hobbyhorsing will be hosted for the first time ever in 2026 in the czech republic. It will be hosted by the IHHF (international hobbyhorse federation)

Reception

stick horse stable

While the sport may be perceived more as a childish pastime by "real riders," Fred Sundwall, secretary general of the Finnish Equestrian Federation, views it positively: "We think it's just wonderful that hobby horsing has become a phenomenon and so popular." "It gives kids and teenagers who don't have horses a chance to interact with them outside of stables and riding schools."^[15][16]

A 2022 article in the British equestrian magazine Horse & Hound said that in the UK hobbyhorsing takes place occasionally as a novelty charity fundraising or Pony Club event but that "hobbyhorse competitions are probably more likely to be seen as a bit of fun at a school sports day than as a serious competition".^[8]