- Title: 'Hobby horse' riders compete at championships in Hungary
- Date: 26th October 2024
- Summary: TULKARM, WEST BANK (OCTOBER 26, 2024) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS) SMOKE RISING FROM BUILDING HIT DURING ISRAELI RAID AMBULANCE HEADING TO BUILDING VARIOUS OF DAMAGED BUILDING AND VEHICLE IN FRONT OF BUILDING VARIOUS OF BLOOD ON THE GROUND AND WALLS INSIDE BUILDING WALLS INSIDE BUILDING BLACKENED VARIOUS OF INTERIOR OF BUILDING BURNT VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF BUILDING THAT WAS
- Embargoed: 9th November 2024 13:21
- Keywords: hobby horses hobby horsing horse horse championship new sport unusual sport
- Location: TISZAFURED AND DUNASZENTGYORGY, HUNGARY
- City: TISZAFURED AND DUNASZENTGYORGY, HUNGARY
- Country: Hungary
- Topics: Europe,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001487326102024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:More than a hundred participants of all ages 'rode' their hobby horses in a tournament for the sport in Tiszafured in eastern Hungary on Saturday (October 26).
Clutching sticks with stuffed cuddly horses' heads, the competitors make trotting and galloping motions with their legs while imitating real horse rides with their upper bodies and arms.
Different disciplines such as dressage, time and style jumping, and racing were included in the tournament, with the rider's posture on the reins, body position, rhythm and speed being assessed by judges.
"I completely feel like when I gallop and jump on a real horse but I feel more proud because here it is me who jumps over the obstacle, not the horse", said Hungarian competitor Lizett Mocsanyi.
Lotta Kemppainen, a hobby horser from Finland who came to judge the competition, said the community spirit among lovers of the new sport was the most important aspect for her.
While Kemppainen said the sport, which has gained popularity on social media as 'vegan' horse riding, was ridiculed by some, she hoped it would gain recognition over time like others.
Pastimes like breakdancing and skateboarding "were weird and different and people were thinking 'what is this, why do people do that?'" when they first began, Kempainnen said.
One indication of the growth of hobby horsing is the rise in the number of hobby horses sold.
Manufacturers DorkaHorse in the village of Dunaszentgyorgy began in 2019 when family members made hobby horses for themselves.
It has since grown into an online business, making around 1,000 hobby horses over the past three years.
(Production: Krisztina Fenyo, Lewis Macdonald) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None