A new craze which sees teenage girls riding toy horses at national showjumping competitions is sweeping Scandinavia.
Hobbyhorse riders straddle a stuffed toy horse on a wooden stick - complete with glued-on eyes and mane – and compete in front of judges.
The sport, which includes dressage and showjumping, has attracted more than 10,000 athletes and followers in Finland alone.
Next month the nation’s finest riders will compete in the annual Hobbyhorse Championships near Helsinki, while there are also many regional events throughout the year. As with traditional equestrian events, points are awarded for style and posture.
A subculture has reportedly developed around the sport, with riders making their own hobbyhorses, giving them names and even draping blankets over them while they ‘sleep’.
Oscar-nominated director Selma Vilhunen has produced a documentary about the craze, titled Hobbyhorse Revolution.
She said: “It’s like dancing, it’s empowering, it’s fun, it’s amazing to watch.
“They keep getting better and better, jumping higher and higher. New talent is coming through.”
The film, launching in Switzerland on April 23, follows a group of girls who find a sense of belonging and empowerment in the hobbyhorse community.
It shows them exercising outdoors in woods and parks, as well as training seriously and organising nationwide competitions.
“Life has its ups and downs,” says one rider, Mariam Njie, 14. “This is not the easiest time in my life. But I gotta just jump over it.”
Hobbyhorse riders are mostly girls aged between 12 and 18, although there are some boys.
