{"id":1266,"date":"2021-09-09T08:38:52","date_gmt":"2021-09-09T08:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/horseycounsel.com\/?p=1266"},"modified":"2021-09-09T08:38:52","modified_gmt":"2021-09-09T08:38:52","slug":"what-is-hobby-horsing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/horseycounsel.com\/what-is-hobby-horsing\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Hobby Horsing and What Are Its Main Competitions?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image courtesy of HOBU Hobby Horses<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I know we generally only talk about real horses here on HorseyCounsel but I wanted to touch on a slightly different yet related subject today. That’s right, today we’re going to talk about hobby horsing, and by the end of this article, you should know everything there is to know about this sport. Hobbyhorsing is officially accepted as an organized sport<\/a> in most parts of the Western world<\/strong>, and it is definitely growing in popularity. But what exactly is it?<\/p>\n

Basically, hobby horsing involves riding artificial (man-made) horse heads placed on a stick<\/strong>. Riding stick horses might not be as glamorous or as popular as riding real horses, but it does have its charm and its advantages. One of the main reasons why hobby horsing has become so popular in the first place is because it offers a cheaper alternative to real horseback riding. It might look like “playing pretend” but it is undeniably fun, and it’s good exercise.<\/p>\n

Hobby horsing is mainly practiced by teenage girls or girls aged between 10 and 18<\/strong>. However, there are no rules preventing boys from participating, and quite a few of them have started to enroll in competitions in the last few years.<\/p>\n

Hobby horsing origins.<\/h2>\n

Hobby horsing first kicked off in Finland in 2012, but the exact founders of the sport are currently unknown. That’s because this equestrian trend was being practiced in secret for a long time before it actually became popular nationwide. In Finland, hobby horsing is officially recognized as a sport and it has more than 10,000 fans.<\/p>\n

While not as popular as in Finland, the sport also has a decent fan base in the USA, and in Australia. As with most sports, there are several different hobby horsing divisions, and each competition has its own strict set of rules.<\/p>\n

Hobby horse competitions.<\/h2>\n

You might be wondering by now: how exactly do you compete with a hobby horse? Well, these competitions are quite similar to those involving real horses. This means that the rules are similar and that there are judges involved. Participants need to perform a series of stunts such as jumping over obstacles, but they are also judged on their gaits, posture, running style, the hobby horse itself, and overall energy.<\/p>\n

As for divisions, hobby horsing dressage is one of the most popular ones, especially since it includes three different levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The jump heights depend on the contestant’s age.<\/p>\n

Beginners are required to perform 6 to 8 movements including various gaits such as walk, canter, and trot. They might also perform movements such as loops, reverse loops, turns, and half-turns.<\/p>\n

Intermediates usually perform 8 to 10 movements that include the beginner ones as well as extended gaits, half passes, and flying charges.<\/p>\n

Advanced hobby horse competitors perform 10 to 12 movements that include tempi changes, passages, zig-zag turns, and half passes. They must also complete the beginner and intermediate levels as well. If successful, these competitors can consider themselves hobby horsing professionals.<\/p>\n

What are the rules?<\/h2>\n

It’s important to note that hobby-horsing competitions are not governed by an official body. Therefore, they’re not subject to an official regulatory set. However, there are a few general rules that need to be respected by all competitors:<\/p>\n