More than 2,000 people from 21 countries met in Seinäjoki, Finland, as part of a “hobbyhorse” or “stick horse” championship, the Finnish Hobbyhorse Championships 2024.
Founded in Finland, the activity is mainly practiced by girls and young women.
Despite the ridicule, “horse-and-stick”, which is not officially recognized as a sport, is attracting more and more participants.
“We had to deal with so much intimidation and judgment and everything else,” says one rider who participated in the competition. “I think that’s the biggest reason we have each other together, because we support each other. We know what we’ve been through, what everyone in the hobbyhorsing community has been through. »
The association has 400 members in Finland and there are around 10,000 horse-stick enthusiasts worldwide. The association was only registered in 2016.
