Hobby Horse Riding is a new and growing sport in Australia and on the Sunshine Coast.
In many other countries it is attracting thousands of competitors and spectators.
And now this new sport that mirrors other horse events, will be show cased at the Queensland Hobby Horse Championships on Friday 5 July.
Matty Sormani and Coralie Kedzlie have developed “Hobby Horse Riders” to help bring together riders from all over Australia and around the world.
Encouraging and helping riders and their families to build their own Clubs, they are seeing the growth in the sport of Hobby Horse riding and plans for the Queensland Championships are well under way.
The Championships will feature dressage and show jumping events, including a high jump competition, which is expected to see horses and riders clearing at least 1.2 metres.
This Championship event will be held at The Morayfield Sport and Events Centre, providing an excellent indoor venue centrally located to encourage participation from a wide area.
Kicking off in Finland early in the 21st century, Hobby Horse riding as a recreational activity as well as a sport, has been spreading around the world and now attracts more than 10,000 Hobby Horse enthusiasts to the Finnish annual championships.
Hobby Horse events are thriving in many other European countries, in United States of America and in Canada.
Social and competitive events are regularly organised at Belli Park in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast hinterland. Other groups and clubs have events on the Coast and in Brisbane, and throughout New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.
Members of the Hobby Horse Riders team recently travelled to Canberra to assist the Finnish Embassy to showcase Hobby Horse riding in Australia. Hundreds of visitors joined in the fun from tiny tots to mums and dads as well as serious Hobby Horse high jump enthusiasts. Some Hobby Horse riders travelled hundreds of kilometres and brought their own Hobby Horses along.
You may wonder, “Why Hobby Horses?” The sport provides a safe and friendly opportunity to explore and learn all about horses and horse events. The rules for Hobby Horse events are similar to those of all other horse events so it is a fun way to learn.
Hobby Horse riding is fun and a good way to meet others who want to have a go and join in. Riders of all ages participate and are always welcoming to newcomers.
Coralie Kedzlie says “It’s great to see young people getting outside and being physically active and it doesn’t end there, as many also get creative, designing and making their own Hobby Horses and the tack to go with them.”
If you would like to know more about Hobby Horse riding check out www.hobbyhorseriders.com. Membership is free and then you can keep up to date with all that is happening in the world of Hobby Horse sports and recreation.
