Germany Hosts First National Hobby Horsing Championship

Germany's inaugural hobby horsing championship will take place in Frankfurt this weekend. Approximately 300 competitors, mostly children but also 20 adults, will engage in events like time jumping, style jumping, and dressage on their wooden stick horses. This event, expected to draw a crowd of 1,500 spectators, aligns with a global trend, with similar championships held in the US and Australia this year.

Hobby horsing, originating in Finland over two decades ago, surged in popularity through social media during the pandemic, promoting female empowerment. "It was very important to us to set an example and make the sport more popular," stated Kay Schumann, president of the German Hobby Horsing Association. Founded just a year ago, the German association boasts over 5,000 members and more than 200 clubs today.

Despite its growing popularity, hobby horsing faces criticism and online bullying, with detractors debating its status as a sport. However, enthusiasts like Julia Mikkonen of the Finnish Hobbyhorse Association defend it, noting that it demands athleticism, core strength, and stamina. Competitors will be judged on criteria such as precision, timing, and elegance in dressage and style jumping, with marks awarded by judges for posture and skillful execution. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)