Much like Marmite, hobby horsing divides the general public. It is something you either embrace with passion or simply cannot comprehend.
Popular in Finland and most recently spreading to other parts of the world, it is a sport which involves riding a wooden stick, with one end decorated to look like a pony’s head.
Riders compete by trotting, galloping and cantering around a ring, even leaping over jumps as high as three feet – all the while gripping the reins of the plush horse.
For better of for worse, this phenomenon has taken over TikTok. And while it has helped with growing its reach, participants complain of facing a torrent of abuse.
Originating in Finland, hobby horsing is a combination of sport and creative play, in which participants mimic equestrian activities by riding and performing various movements.
It was introduced to a much wider public through the Finnish movie ‘Hobbyhorse Revolution’ in 2017.
It is mostly popular with teenagers and young people in their early 20s. White it is not recognised as a real sport, despite growing attention, there are competitions – and even prizes.
In the UK, the British Show Pony Society announced in April plans to embrace the ‘hobby horse craze’ by introducing a contest with £300 prizes for the winners.
Meanwhile, this year’s championship in Finland is the biggest so far.
Meanwhile, earlier this week 260 riders from 22 countries – most women and girls aged between 10 and 20 – turned up for the 11th annual event in the town of Seinajoki.
Some people find it hard to take hobby horsing seriously, claiming it is not a real sport, but a juvenile and frivolous activity.
The use of stick horses, which are often associated with children’s play, often leads some to dismiss any athleticism that the riders may show.
Gender bias can also affect the recognition of hobby horsing. It is predominantly popular among teenage girls, which can lead to it not given the same respect as sports favoured by boys.
Because of this, some riders have complained of facing ‘bullying and judgement’.
Nara Arlin, 24, who says is one of the victims of such abuse, said: ‘We know what everyone in the hobby horsing has been through… I think that is the main thing that pulls us together.’
And some top competitors could give elite hurdlers or gymnasts a run for their money.
‘If you jump over obstacles your hip mobility has to be absolutely insane,’ said Mikkonen, 20, with some fences up to 110 centimetres (3.6 feet) tall.
Earlier in June, a 40-second video was posted to TikTok showing the aftermath of a hobby horsing performance in a sports hall.
The rider, Anna, can be seen convulsing on the ground, completely out of breath.
Countering the claims that hobby horsing is easy, like a children’s game, she said: ‘This is me after my dressage routine… I was passing out, couldn’t breathe, almost throwing up, dizzy, shaking, whole body burning in pain…’
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