Hobby Horsing: What it is, what equipment is needed, and the many aspects of this trendy sport

Although hobby horsing is becoming increasingly popular and is emerging as a trendy sport, riding a hobby horse is actually nothing new. It actually originated in Finland in the early 2000s; however, it only gained international recognition in 2017 thanks to a Finnish documentary about the sport.

Hobby horsing has also taken off in the UK: a dedicated association was even set up to promote the sport. The first UK championship was held in 2024, and the first European Hobby Horsing Championship will take place in Prague in June 2026.

But what is behind this trend, which has long since stopped being limited to children?

What is Hobby Horsing?

Essentially, hobby horsing is nothing more than riding a stick horse; a role-playing game that has established itself as a sport. It has long since ceased to be just a way of introducing young people to equestrian sports without incurring the high costs associated with real horses, such as riding lessons, equipment and feed.

Hobby horsing is a sport in its own right, and a demanding one at that. It incorporates elements of dressage and show jumping, which are performed by the ’rider‘ – the hobby horser. It is the hobby horser who must demonstrate their own strength, stamina, coordination, agility, flexibility and jumping ability, not the horse. In particular, the skill of the hobby horse show jumper is evident when they have to jump over obstacles of varying heights with a stick between their legs.

Dexterity, precision and elegance are also required in hobby horsing dressage. Moves such as shoulder-in, half-pass and change of leg must be performed correctly, with the right posture and foot sequence. You can read exactly what these should look like in the official rulebook for hobby horsing.

Finland, the sport’s country of origin, drew up a rulebook that forms the basis for organised hobby horsing. An official UK rulebook on hobby horsing dressage and show jumping already exists to ensure that the exercises are performed correctly: everything is set out in it, from body posture and the position of the hobby horse to the footfall in the various gaits.

Hobby Horse – a sporty stick horse

Hobby horses have been used as children’s toys for centuries. The concept of pretending to ride a wooden stick adorned with a horse’s head is far from novel. Yet modern hobby horses have little in common with the carved wooden horses of yesteryear, apart from the stick itself.

The sturdy, varnished wooden pole is short enough to avoid getting in the way when moving and to prevent the rider from falling off when jumping. The pole of a hobby horse is usually between 25 and 35cm long, and should not extend beyond the rider’s bottom.

The head of a hobby horse is no longer made only of wood or cardboard; it is now often sewn from polyester and filled with soft wadding. Great importance is also attached to the design of the eyes, nostrils and markings, so that the hobby horse closely resembles its real-life counterparts. Due to the filling, the horse’s head has a certain weight: the hobby horse should not be too light, otherwise it will feel unstable in the hand. However, it must not be too heavy; otherwise, the arms will get unnecessarily tired. When jumping and galloping, it is ridden with one hand: One hand holds the reins and the other secures the pole between the legs.

Of course, every horse needs a mane. The hobby horse’s mane is made up of soft, plaits that can be combed and styled into a smart competition hairstyle.

Every hobby horse also comes with a bridle and reins. The reins are adjustable so they can be tailored to the rider’s height or arm length. The bridle itself is removable. So, after riding, you can lead it into the Hobby Horse Stable using the headcollar, where you can then brush it down with the Hobby Horse Grooming Kit. Finally, it gets an apple, a pear or a carrot – Treats specially made for Hobby Horses.

Checklist: What do I need for hobby horsing?

• Hobby Horse
• Hobby Horse Headcollar
• Hobby Horse Grooming Kit
• Hobby Horse Stable
• Fancy organising a competition? Competition Ribbons for Hobby Horses and their riders
• Stylish riding tights
• Trainers or vaulting shoes for a secure grip

Just as in show jumping with real horses, there are various types of obstacles in hobby horsing that you can use to build a course. Of course, you can also use natural obstacles such as ditches, puddles or fallen tree trunks. However, if you’d like to set up a proper course yourself, agility obstacles may be assembled to suit your needs.