Curiosities: Hobby Horsing: Competition in show jumping without a horse – Panorama

Frankfurt/Main – Happiness on earth – it may be found on the backs of hobby horses: Around 280 participants are competing in “Hobby Horsing” in Frankfurt this weekend. This involves recreating elements from equestrian sports, such as dressage or show jumping, without animals. The trend originates from Finland.

At the German Championships, five age groups fight for a title in three categories: timed jumping, style jumping and dressage. “Each discipline requires a unique combination of precision, timing and elegance,” explains the President of the German Hobby Horsing Association, Kay Schumann. “It is a strenuous sport that demands a lot from the body.”

The response to the event in Frankfurt-Kalbach was great: over 1,500 tickets were sold or allocated for both days combined. Schumann is the first German Hobby Horsing Championships held by an association. The German Hobby Horsing Association, founded in 2023, currently has 750 members.

The youngest group of participants starts at the age of nine. According to association spokesman Andreas Karasek, the oldest athlete in the competition is 48 years old. Some boys also take part in the competitions.