Hobby horsing
 A hobby horse rider jumping | |
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Mixed-sex | Yes |
| Type | Hobby, with competitions |
| Equipment | Hobby horse |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | Originated in Finland |
Hobby horsing is a sport with gymnastic elements which uses hobby horses, also known as stick horses.[1][2] 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.[3][4][5]
The sport was introduced to a wider public through Selma Vilhunen's 2017 film Keppihevosten vallankumous (Hobbyhorse Revolution),[6] which won two awards at the 2017 Tampere Film Festival.[7]
In Finland, the country of origin of the sport,[8] an annual national championship is held in addition to regional competitions. This sport, which can be classified as a fun and trend hobby, is particularly popular with girls and young women between the ages of 12 and 18[5] years[9] and is gaining popularity beyond the other Nordic countries in other parts of Europe.
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."[10][11]
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".[5] The hobby had spread to Australia by 2016.[12]
Hobby horses[edit]
 |
Most hobby horses are sewn by hand. They are usually made of two halves of the head, which have an opening on the lower side, and a strip in the middle and filled with stuffing wool. The head is mounted on a stick, similar to a broom handle. Many hobby horsemen still design their hobby horses in the style of equestrian sports with elements such as snaffles, breastplates, halters, ropes and fly ears.
References[edit]
- ^ "Definition of HOBBYHORSE". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ "hobbyhorse – LEO: Übersetzung im Englisch ⇔ Deutsch Wörterbuch". dict.leo.org. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ Barton, Laura (30 April 2019). "Hobbyhorsing: what girls everywhere can learn from the Finnish craze". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ "Hobby-horsing is a popular sport in Finland. 'It's very bizarre for other people to see'". National Post. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ a b c Terry, Martha (17 June 2022). "Want to compete, but struggling with horse power? Check out the hobbyhorse championships". Horse & Hound. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ "Hobbyhorse Revolution – Films". Visions du Réel. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ Pham, Annika (30 March 2017). "Hobbyhorse Revolution reaches Finnish and world audiences". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ Haug, Kitty (10 May 2021). "Hobby Horsing – der neue Trendsport mit Steckenpferd". www.abendblatt.de (in German). Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ "Aktuelle Nachrichten aus Osnabrück, Melle, Lingen, Papenburg und Umgebung – NOZ | NOZ". noz.de (in German). Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ Germany, Stuttgarter Zeitung, Stuttgart. "Videos von Mädchen mit Steckenpferden: Hobby Horsing – dieser schräge Trend kommt aus Finnland". stuttgarter-zeitung.de (in German). Retrieved 6 February 2022.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ ""Hobby Horsing" ist der wohl verrückteste Sport der Welt". bigFM (in German). 6 April 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ "How it all started". Hobby Horse Riders. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
External links[edit]
- Hobby Horse revolution by Selma Vilhunen Official trailer on Youtube
- Hobbyhorse Revolution at IMDb
