{"id":4072,"date":"2026-01-28T13:52:56","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T12:52:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.horsevoyage.it\/2026\/01\/28\/hobby-horse-when-horse-riding-becomes-imagination-and-sport\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T10:06:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T08:06:43","slug":"hobby-horse-when-horse-riding-becomes-imagination-and-sport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horsevoyage.it\/en\/2026\/01\/28\/hobby-horse-when-horse-riding-becomes-imagination-and-sport\/","title":{"rendered":"Hobby Horse: when horse riding becomes imagination (and sport)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Hobby Horse: quando l\u2019equitazione diventa immaginazione (e sport)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If you grew up surrounded by stables, stirrups and sand arenas, the idea of riding without a real horse probably sounds\u2026 bizarre, to say the least. And yet there is a structured discipline, complete with rules, official competitions and top-level athletes: it\u2019s called hobby horse. <\/div>\n
No, it\u2019s not child\u2019s play. Or rather: it\u2019s not  only<\/i><\/div>\n
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What is hobby horse?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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The hobby horse began as a symbolic toy, but in recent years \u2013 particularly in countries <\/a>in Northern Europe \u2013 it has become a fully-fledged sport. Athletes ride an \u2018imaginary\u2019 horse, represented by a horse\u2019s head mounted on a pole, and compete in events such as show jumping,< 5 >dressage< 6 >and even< 7 >cross-country. There\u2019s no horse, but the physical exertion is very much there. And how.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Technique, preparation and\u2026 stamina<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Those familiar with traditional horse riding will immediately recognise some familiar elements: posture, balance, precision of movements, rhythm, and memory of the course. In show jumping, the jumps can exceed one metre in height \u2013 and yes, they are cleared using one\u2019s own legs. It requires strength, coordination, flexibility and a considerable level of physical fitness. In dressage, on the other hand, the quality of the movements, the fluidity of the movements and the ability to \u2018interpret\u2019 the horse are judged. It is an exercise that requires concentration and great body control. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The imaginary horse\u2026 well, not quite<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Una delle cose che pi\u00f9 colpiscono chi guarda dall\u2019esterno \u00e8 il rapporto tra atleta e hobby horse. Ogni cavallo ha un nome, una personalit\u00e0, una \u201cstoria\u201d. Viene curato, personalizzato, trasportato e trattato con un rispetto sorprendentemente simile a quello riservato a un cavallo vero. Per chi vive l\u2019equitazione come relazione, non solo come sport, questo aspetto \u00e8 forse il pi\u00f9 comprensibile. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Perch\u00e9 interessa anche ai cavalieri \u201cveri\u201d?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Many riders view the hobby horse with scepticism, others with a touch of irony. But there are also those who are beginning to see it as a   complementary tool: ground work, route memorisation, coordination, or simply a way to continue \u2018experiencing the horse\u2019 when they cannot ride. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

And then there\u2019s a key point: it\u2019s inclusive. There are no financial constraints associated with keeping a horse, no risk to the animal, and it\u2019s accessible to anyone with a passion for the sport and a desire to get active. <\/div>\n

A strange but interesting future<\/h3>\n
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Hobby horsing divides opinion, brings a smile to people\u2019s faces, and sometimes sparks debate. But like many disciplines that originated on the fringes, it is finding its own identity. And perhaps it reminds us of something that horse lovers should know all too well: riding is not just about \u2018mounting\u2019 a horse, but about imagining, feeling and interpreting. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Anche quando il cavallo\u2026 \u00e8 nella nostra testa.<\/p>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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