Hobbyhorsing craze alive at Wicklow equestrian centre’s show

BOSWELL Equestrian Centre’s cracking summer show took place on Sunday, June 30, with something for everyone, including those with wooden horses.

Though there was fantastic equine and canine competition for all ages in many of the rings, an unusual class caught the eye.

The hobby horse class was designed for riders wishing to showcase their own jumping talent, ‘aboard’ their wooden horses.

These traditional children’s toys have been around for centuries, and have often been made with wheels on the bottom of the single wooden pole that makes up the horse’s body.

However, it was not until the mid 2010s that the sport of hobby horsing began to take off, driven by a group in Finland.

Fast forward to the present day and here in Ireland Boswell’s young riders were having a ball, racing around a small showjumping course on their trusty wooden steeds.

Well-deserved rossettes were awarded to many of the talented and speedy competitors, with Amelia Santos, and her handsome bay hobby horse Goldilocks, and Serene Doyle ,on her diminuitive grey hobby horse Sky, landing top honours.

Both hobby horse champions also saddled up some less wooden equines for showjumping fun.

Attention now turns to the first of three summer pony camps, which begin at the centre this week, and Boswell’s two summer showjumping leagues are also continuining on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

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