It’s billed as being one of the fastest growing activities in the UK and now hobby horse enthusiasts have their first-ever international fixture to look forward to — at Thoresby Park’s Eventing Spring Carnival next month.
Running across the weekend of 28-30 March and taking place in Nottinghamshire, the hobby horse competition will run alongside three days of international eventing.
Hobby horse classes for adults and children will take place, including a clear-round, Grand National races, mounted games, Chase Me Charlie, barrel racing and scurrying, as well as showjumping.
Entries can be made in advance or on the day and start from £7. ‘Loan ponies’ will be available for people to borrow.
Hobby Horse Adventures, which showcased hobby horse jumping at last year’s Your Horse Live, will be running a range of qualifiers across the country as a pathway for competitors to compete at their first international fixture.
“For Thoresby, one of our key aims is to build a wider audience we can showcase the best of eventing to,” said event director Stuart Buntine.
“By welcoming Hobby Horse Adventures to The Spring Carnival, we’re bringing a new type of equestrian audience to the event, and giving our family audience a new activity to engage in.”
Storming across the UK
A spokesperson for Hobby Horse Adventures added:
“Hobby horsing has always been good old-fashioned wholesome fun! We have all done it as kids with the traditional long-sticked hobby horses, but this is hobby horsing with a twist now,” they said.
“The current sport storming across the UK, Europe and the World is showjumping on hobby horses with shorter sticks to enable the child to compete over custom-made (lightweight) show jumps made for little legs
“Just come and have a go — even the parents can join in! Suitable for any age — who doesn’t like running, jumping and just having fun.”
Find out more at Hobby Horse Adventures.
Tickets to Thoresby Spring Carnival are available here.
