Germany's first hobby horsing championship gallops through Frankfurt

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(14 Sep 2024)
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Frankfurt - 14 September 2024
1. High jumping competition underway at first German Hobby Horse Championships
2. Max Gohde, 15, competitor from Gifhorn, jumping over 1.40, winning part of competition
3. Various of dressage portion of competition
4. Young girl with wooden stick horse
5. Various of dressage
6. Wide of time jumping competition underway
7. Display reading (German): “Germany's first hobby horsing championship”
8. Various of adults competing
STORYLINE:
Germany's first hobby horsing championship gallops through Frankfurt this weekend, with hundreds of young riders competing in time jumping, style jumping and dressage on their wooden stick horses.

Roughly 300 riders — mostly youngsters, but there are about 20 adults enrolled — were expected to canter around a gymnasium Saturday and Sunday, watched by 1,500 spectators.

The competition is part of a growing wave of hobby horsing events internationally: the United States and Australia also held their first championships this year.

The events stemmed from a grassroots movement in Finland, where riders trotted their hobby horses through Nordic forests more than 20 years ago.

The pastime has since exploded in popularity through social media during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, and it has been credited with highlighting female empowerment for the enthusiasts.

Julia Mikkonen, head of the Finnish Hobbyhorse Association, said hobby horsing combines Finnish handcrafting culture — some riders make and decorate their own sticks and stuffed horse heads — with gymnastics and sport.

In Germany, the national hobby horsing association was established a year ago with just 13 members. Now there are more than 5,000 active athletes and 230 clubs across the country, Andreas Karasek, Managing Director of Public Relations for German Hobby Horsing Association, told the Associated Press.

While organisers want to promote empowerment and acceptance through a positive and inclusive experience for competitors, critics have pounced on the activity. Many riders have faced bullying and misogynistic comments online. Other detractors say the pursuit is not a sport.

Mikkonen countered that just like in other sports, hobby horse riders need athleticism, strong core muscles and stamina to succeed.

Competitors in Germany this weekend will be judged on factors including precision, timing and elegance, according to the German Hobby Horsing Association's website. Judges will award marks in the style and dressage contests, and the highest score wins.

For dressage, officials will be looking at the rider's posture, skills and body positioning. Are they using elegant leg movements, with their toes touching the ground first? Are they using various speeds and gaits in their routine?

Style jumpers will also be judged on their posture, as well as jumping over the centre of the obstacles, sticking the landing and keeping a steady pace.

Andreas Karasek, Managing Director Public Relations of German Hobby Horsing Association, said “of course, when you see it like that, it looks funny at first. In fact, it really is a strenuous sport. It's a mixture of athletics and gymnastics, and you need to be in good shape for it.”

“It's actually predominantly girls' sport. You see girls and women the most. But we also have boys and the numbers are increasing now,” he added.

AP Video shot by Daniel Niemann

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