Finland: the stick horse, a booming offbeat hobby

The arena bubbles with each show jump and cheers the riders, firmly gripping the reins of their horses… stick: the discipline is booming in Finland, despite the mockery it is subject to.

Enthusiasts, mainly girls and young women aged 10 to 20, galloped, trotted, and crossed obstacles measuring up to 1m10, perched on sticks with a stuffed horse’s head at the end, during the last championships of Finland mid-June.

The discipline was born in this Nordic country more than ten years ago, on the initiative of a group of young people. Local and national competitions are regularly organized and the practice has even begun to be exported.

This year, the 11th Finnish Stick Horse Championship, held in the western town of Seinäjoki, brought together 1,900 spectators from around the world to watch 260 riders compete. And 21 countries were represented in the international category, including Argentina and the United States.

This is the biggest competition ever seen for this activity, rejoices Julia Mikkonen, head of the Finnish stick horse association. And the discipline “develops from year to year”.

“Insane mobility”

At first glance the activity may seem like a zany hobby, but athletic ability is crucial for jumping over obstacles while holding the pole. Some top competitors have the physique of hurdlers or gymnasts.

“When you jump over obstacles, the mobility of your hips must be absolutely insane (…) Many don’t realize it,” explains Julia Mikkonen, 20, also a judge at the championships.

In addition to the competition, the ridden objects are exhibited and rewarded according to the finesse of their decoration. “Stick horses are an art,” says Nara Arlin, 24, who has always made her own.

Competitors go to great lengths with their horses, sewing their stuffed animals in a variety of ways, using different fabrics and carefully sanding the wood of the stick.

Nara demonstrated impressive mobility and speed during the competition, galloping, jumping and running nimbly between obstacles to the applause of spectators. “It’s the best leisure there is,” believes the young woman. “You do so much with your hands, your brain and your whole body.”

Like most of her classmates, Nara discovered this activity when she was little. “But the older I got, the more serious it became (a hobby) and for the past eight years, it’s been like a sport for me,” she says, adding that gymnastics, horse riding and barre dancing complements his stick horse training.

Rainbow flags adorn the walls of the arena, reflecting the community’s values ​​of openness. Equestrian sports are often “perceived as a girls’ sport, but that is not the case. Everyone is welcome,” notes Julia Mikkonen.

Harassment and Judgment

The values ​​advocated by the community of practitioners are very important to stick horse enthusiasts, many of whom have suffered mockery at one point or another in their lives. “We had to face so much harassment and judgment (…) I think that’s the main thing that unites us,” confides Nara Arlin.

Enthusiasts dream of one day seeing world stick horse championships. “But for now we are focusing on maintaining the national championships here in Finland,” says Julia Mikkonen.

According to her, there are some 10,000 enthusiasts around the world. His association has 400. Because despite the competitive spirit and the athletic level of the participants, “hobby horse” is not considered an official sport in Finland. Nothing to discourage the riders.

“I’m still a little out of breath, but I’m happy with my performance,” said Jojo Hanninen, 19, after her dressage test during which she made her stick horse evolve brilliantly.

When she gallops, “my legs are those of the horse, and my upper body is mine. I am both horse and human,” she says, pointing to her hobby horse named “Toope,” whose mane, adorned with pink ribbons, sparkles.

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