Equestrian Competition
Hobby-Horse Riding Event Takes Place in Schiltberg, Germany
A hobby-horse riding event took place recently in the picturesque town of Schiltberg, Bavaria, as part of a combined vacation program with Kühbach. The event, which continued the festivities that started in Kühbach, was characterized by great enthusiasm and energy, just like its predecessor.
The grassy area beside the Schiltberg parking lot was transformed into a lively riding arena, where eight girls, each with their own hobby-horse, showcased their skills in galloping, dressage figures, and small jumps. Gabriele Merkl-Guttropf and Sabine Bittner provided guidance for the event, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants.
Hobby-horse riding, a modern take on equestrian sports, has been gaining popularity, particularly in Germany and Finland. It offers an accessible alternative to traditional horseback riding, allowing children to engage in the sport without the need for real horses. The sport has been recognized for its athletic demands and has organized competitions, with Germany hosting its first hobby horse championship that scores competitors on multiple categories.
The event in Schiltberg was a testament to the growing trend of hobby-horse riding events for children. It provided an opportunity for the participants to immerse themselves in the world of hobby-horse riding, simulating real equestrian sports with their stick horses adorned with horse heads. Despite the absence of real horses, the event was filled with the same spirit and excitement as any traditional equestrian event.
The towns of Kühbach and Schiltberg, with their strong equine cultures and youth interest in horseback riding, likely participate in this trend. While direct references to hobby-horse events there do not appear, Germany's embrace of the sport, as documented by the first German championship, suggests a natural extension of regional interest in equestrian activities to hobbyhorsing.
In conclusion, the hobby-horse riding event in Schiltberg was a success, showcasing the athletic prowess and community spirit of its young participants. It serves as a shining example of how hobby-horse riding, as a modern and democratized form of equestrian sport, is rising in popularity and offering an accessible alternative to traditional horseback riding.
In Schiltberg, the hobby-horse riding event took place, transforming the grassy area into an outdoor-living riding arena for children to experience home-and-garden styled equestrian activities authentically, even in the absence of real horses. This event, a celebration of updated equine culture, underscores the growing trend of hobby-horse events and its potential expansion within Germany, particularly towns with traditional equestrian interest like Kühbach.
