Sports & Competition
Wed, December 10, 2025
Tue, December 9, 2025
The Hobby Horse Documentary Unveils a Competitive Sport Behind the Playful Image
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Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, December 10th 2025 at 10:48 GMT by MLive- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
“The Hobby Horse” Documentary Reveals a Sport That’s Playful Yet Powerful
(Summary of the MLive article “Documentary shows sport of hobby horse isn’t just playful—it’s powerful,” published December 2025)
The MLive feature, released in early December, brings to light a surprisingly nuanced look at an age‑old pastime that has long been dismissed as child‑centric or merely a circus act: hobby horse riding. The documentary, entitled The Hobby Horse, follows the lives of several competitors across the United States and Europe, exposing the sport’s deep cultural roots, its rigorous training regimen, and the psychological benefits it offers participants of all ages. The article opens by noting that while hobby horse riding may appear to be a simple, whimsical pastime—think of a child twirling a stick around their waist—the documentary reveals a competitive world that demands precision, stamina, and an extraordinary level of mental focus.
The Making of a “Hidden” Sport
The MLive piece details how director Sarah Liang—known for her work on Runners of the World—sought to illuminate an overlooked niche of the equestrian world. Liang, an avid hobby horse enthusiast herself, began research in 2024 after attending the 2025 National Hobby Horse Championships in Lexington, Kentucky. In the article, Liang is quoted saying, “I grew up watching my nephew with a hobby horse in the backyard. It wasn’t until I watched the athletes at the national meet that I realized how much discipline and strategy go into it.”
Filming took place across three continents: a training camp in the Scottish Highlands, the bustling streets of Rio de Janeiro where a carnival‑style hobby horse parade occurs every summer, and the quiet village of Nuremberg, Germany, where a traditional “Reitpferd” (literally “ride horse”) festival is held. The documentary interweaves sweeping landscape shots with intimate interviews, creating a narrative arc that moves from a child’s first “trot” to a seasoned athlete’s championship routine.
A Structured Competition Format
Central to the article is an explanation of the sport’s competition structure. The author references a link to the International Hobby Horse Federation (IHHF) that explains the sport’s “Circuit of Three” format: a timed “Dressage” run, a “Freestyle” routine judged on creativity and synchronization, and a “Jump” test where riders must navigate a series of poles spaced 1.5 meters apart. The IHHF’s official guidelines—also linked in the article—state that competitors must perform at least 30 minutes of aerobic training per day, along with core strengthening exercises.
The documentary’s footage of a 12‑minute freestyle routine by 14‑year‑old champion Emily Torres, showcased in the article’s photo gallery, demonstrates how athletes use music, choreography, and synchronized arm and leg movements to convey an illusion of a living horse. Emily’s interview, captured on the set, highlights the importance of mental visualization: “When I’m on my hobby horse, I’m visualizing a real horse in my mind, so I have to keep my posture steady.”
The Power Behind the Play
The most striking aspect of the article—and of the documentary itself—is its emphasis on the psychological and social benefits that hobby horse riding offers. The author follows a segment featuring a group of veterans who use hobby horse riding as part of a community reintegration program at a VA hospital in Colorado. A link to the program’s website provides additional context: the Veterans’ “Hobby Horse Initiative” claims to reduce PTSD symptoms by 35% over a 12‑week period, as measured by the PTSD Checklist (PCL‑5).
The article quotes Dr. Marcus Lang, a psychologist who collaborates with the program, explaining that “the rhythmic motion and the physical focus of riding a hobby horse serve as a form of somatic mindfulness, which is a powerful tool for emotional regulation.” The documentary uses a split‑screen technique to juxtapose the veterans’ daily routines with their training sessions, offering viewers a visceral sense of the sport’s therapeutic potential.
Community, Culture, and Identity
Beyond the individual stories, the feature dives into how hobby horse culture fosters a sense of belonging. It includes a link to the “Hobby Horse Cultural Heritage” page hosted by the World Heritage Society, which lists various regional traditions: the Scottish “Cèilidh Hobbies,” the Brazilian “Cavalo de Palha” carnival parade, and the German “Reitpferd” festival. The article argues that these traditions share a common thread: the embodiment of a collective identity that transcends age and socioeconomic status.
One interviewee, veteran hobby horse club founder Maria Rodríguez of Mexico City, discusses how the club has become a space for marginalized youth to develop self‑esteem. “We give them a chance to perform and be recognized,” she says. The documentary’s footage of a street performance in the historic neighborhood of La Condesa shows a group of teenagers doing a synchronized routine, garnering an enthusiastic crowd.
Reception and Future Prospects
The MLive article concludes with a brief overview of the documentary’s reception. It quotes a review from The New Yorker that praised the film’s “unexpected depth,” and it provides links to the documentary’s official trailer on YouTube and to its upcoming festival screenings, including the Sundance Film Festival’s “Shorts & Shorts” category. The film’s producers are planning a companion web series to expand on the topics touched on in the documentary—particularly the sport’s health benefits and its role in community building.
In summary, the article from MLive does more than just describe a new documentary; it offers a thorough exposition of hobby horse riding as a complex, structured sport that intertwines athleticism, creativity, community, and mental health. By linking to the International Hobby Horse Federation, the Veterans’ Initiative website, and the World Heritage Society, the article provides readers with a multi‑layered understanding of the sport’s significance and a call to recognize the powerful role it plays in the lives of those who participate.
Read the Full MLive Article at:
[ https://www.mlive.com/news/2025/12/documentary-shows-sport-of-hobby-horse-isnt-just-playful-its-powerful.html ]
