October 2025 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN October 2025 22 Hobby Horsing Makes Big Strides in America By LA Berry In 2024 -- neither an Olympic year nor during a Tri- ple Crown season -- only one horse sport commanded the editorial attention of the BBC, Chicago Sun Times, Detroit News, Inside Edition-TV, The Times (UK), US Equestrian, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Vogue Italia, and not for all the wrong reasons. Meet hobby horsing, whose creative and competi- tive appeal has brought young people together world- wide and, instead of breaking banks keeping up with the competition, is breaking all the rules about what it means to be a horse or rider. Make no mistake, this equestrian-inspired sport is not to be trifled with and, like any of its FEI forebears, isn’t ashamed of a little Olympic aspiration. What is Hobby Horsing? Combine kids and stick horses (some as custom- ized as Shelby Cobra kit cars) in judged competitive classes including dressage, show jumping, Puissance and Western riding (barrel racing and trail) and you get hobby horsing. While the majority of girls and boys who partic- ipate are between ages 12 and 18, hobby horsing has Super-Mini competitors ages three to five, Juniors ages 8 to 14, and Seniors 15 and up. The sport had already been a big deal since the 2000s in Finland, Germany, Sweden and the UK when, in August 2024, Michigan hosted the first-ever U.S. Hobby Horse Championships (USHHChampionships.com), drawing 120 competi- tors – from 28 continental states plus Hawaii, Canada and Finland, and about 400 spectators. “The U.S. Hobby Horse Championships was start- ed by four girls connecting over their love of the sport on Instagram,” says Kristin Zandstra, with the USHHC team. “Mackenzie Carlson, Liliana Whitman, Mirabelle Whitman and Mica Zandstra met on IG and Etsy, and were all engaged in hobby horsing: riding, making horses and tack, and producing and sharing videos with the hobby horse community. “Mica had competed twice in the Finnish Hobby Horse Championships and the girls discussed their de- sire to host a U.S. competition. They started planning and hoped to get 30 people to participate. Once 60 had signed up, the moms (Kristin, Kim Carlson, and Re- becca Whitman) thought they better get involved! We were shocked and delighted about the turnout.” But wait. There’s more. The second competition, in the same location, drew 280 competitors and about 600 spectators. “We added Western Trail and Flat to our classes and had over 20 vendors, a food truck, raffle, Test Track, sponsors and volunteers. We were grateful to have Breyer as a spon- sor and we’d love to find more sponsors who align with our sport and its positive influence. It has been so fun to see it grow! The mainly online community is sup- portive and fun, and there is something for everyone: trail riding, competition, creating horses and tack, vid- eo production and photography. The U.S. Hobby Horse Championships have joined the International Hobby Horse Federation, which aims to standardize rules, host international competitions and bring global awareness to the sport. Who knows?” Kristin muses, “Maybe a path to the Olympics?” What to Look For What a judge – or spectator - can look for in a good hobby horsing performance shares a lot with its four- legged counterparts, including penalizing misbehavior and going off course, while some of the differences might be unexpected. USHCC rules for show jumping (updated August 2025) are pretty straightforward and familiar. An en- try is judged first according to the number of faults re- ceived from knocking down poles and second accord- ing to time. Forgetting the course and not returning to track within 10 seconds are reason for disqualification, as are two refusals, leaving a ring before finishing a course, jumping the wrong course, or jumping a fence in the wrong direction. Proper show ring attire, however, is a horse of an- other color. IHHF (International Hobby Horsing Federation) show jumping rules (updated July 2025) have no re- quirements for attire unless otherwise stated: “Howev- er it is mandatory to wear suitable shoes, and sports- wear in general is recommended for show jumping. A skirt should not be worn during a show jumping per- formance; shoes with any kind of heel are prohibited. Safety equipment used on real horses, such as a hel- met or safety vest, do not provide additional safety for hobbyhorse riding and hould not be used. Such heavy safety equipment can interfere with performance and lead to injury.” USHHC dressage rules echo of Xenophon: “The performance section is judged on the overall elasticity and style of the rider as well as how the freestyle is choreographed. It will also be judged on technicalities such as the horse’s head position, rein contact, direc- tion changing, etc.” Riders receive faults for riding five or more seconds over or under time requirements, forgetting movements, sideline coaching, walking out of the arena, or the horse bucking or misbehaving. IHHF outlines three basic gaits: “Walk resembles human walk. At least one foot is touching the ground at all time. Trot resembles human jogging. Each step must have a flight in between (neither foot is touching the ground). Canter must have a distinct rhythm and flight; is either right or left depending on leading leg; and rider and horse are expected to perform a true can- ter unless asked otherwise.” IHHF dressage canter pirouettes are judged at a col- SM 2025 (the Finnish Hobbyhorse National Championships) saw Rosie and ROS Always Song kicked up their heels after earning Reserve in Advanced B Dressage. Image courtesy Rosie Mulari Pardon us, Ms Bredahl, there’s a new Charlotte B in town: Winning form of USHCC Grand Prix Dressage champion Charlotte Steel and hobbyhorse Carnegie Steel. Image credit Red Soule Studios, courtesy USHHC/CBodkin