The 2018 World Equestrian Games venue has taken on another, slightly different, championship.
Tryon International Equestrian Centre (TIEC) in the United States will host a series of hobbyhorse qualifiers and championships this summer.
The craze, which started in Finland, has captured the attention of youngsters across the world after the release of the award-winning documentary Hobbyhorse Revolution.
An estimated 1,000 people came to watch the hobby horse championships held in the country recently. And it would appear the competitive pastime has now gone global.
TIEC has said it is “honoured” to host what is thought to be the first organised hobby horse competition in the US.
It will run during the Tryon Summer Series, which features five weeks of top-class international showjumping and hunter jumping — on real horses.
Demonstrations will take place on 3 June and 10 June with the competitive series running in earnest on 1, 8 and 15 July, with the final on 22 July.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Competitors can either bring their own hobby horse or buy one on site, with classes divided by school year.
There will be dressage and showjumping, with weekly special awards for best hobby horse, best turned-out rider and best kept stable.
“Pegged as a ‘safe, fun and affordable way to ride horses’, hobby horse competition offers youth the ability to experience the pressure of organised competition, without the expense or logistical efforts surrounding competing on a living horse, which can be demanding financially,” explained a spokesman for TIEC.
“Competitions run similarly to regular horse shows, offering different fence heights for jumpers and tests/levels for dressage riders.
“Riders receive ribbons and awards for top-placing finishes and practice their skills before competition with trainers and coaches.”
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.
