Enthusiastic bouts of applause ring out in the background as The New Daily speaks with 15-year-old horse riding enthusiast Adelaide.

But rather than watching the powerful forms of horses bound over obstacles, the crowd is applauding the strength and flexibility of humans leaping over bars more than a metre high – sticks mounted with horse heads held firmly between their legs.

Adelaide is competing at the hobby horse Queensland championships, where riders compete in everything from jumps to dressage while atop the unusual mounts, known as hobby horses.

She has chosen to ride her favourite mount, Kingston, a custom-made “warmblood cross”.

He’s a far cry from Adelaide’s first hobby horse, which she bought from Kmart three years ago when she first discovered the sport on social media.

“I train about every day in my front yard,” Adelaide said.

Adelaide’s passion for horses takes different forms. Photo: Liz Sbeghen

“I’ve set up obstacles and I can make obstacles [from] stuff I can find … I buy stuff and use it to fake-bond with [my hobby horses].

“I actually don’t tell anyone, except if they find out, because it can lead to being bullied, misjudged, and it can be found as cringe … [but] it’s not cringe because it can help you get exercise and creativity.”

Hobby horses may resemble cheap children’s toys, but they are a significant investment for those seriously taking part in the sport.

Adelaide says she has 14 mounts, several of which were ordered on Etsy and made in Poland.

Her mother Liz Sbeghen tells The New Daily the hobby horses cost between $300 and $500 each.

And riders aren’t just running amok.

“[Riders are judged on] their legs. They have to switch their leg out like a normal equestrian event, and the way they hold their hands on the horses, whether they’re holding them soft or hard, where you put your hands on the reins and stuff like that,” Sbeghen said.

Physical and social benefits

Since Adelaide was already attending weekly horse riding lessons when she became interested in hobby horsing, Sbeghen asked her EquusTerra coach Irina Amelina to create a hobby horse club.

The Brisbane-based club has about 15 members, and Amelina says hobby horsing has physical, creative and social benefits for the young riders taking part, many of whom also taking therapeutic horse riding lessons with EquusTerra.

“For the kids, when they’re struggling to create meaningful connections, this environment is so inclusive because they love what they’re doing,” Amelina said.

“It’s an extension of that passion for horses where they can learn about … equestrian sport and different aspects of it … without actually incurring expenses of owning the horse.

“You need to be very physically fit, which is exactly what we’re looking for with kids: To get them away from the technology, and get them into the physical activity that they enjoy and they can pursue consistently on their own accord.”

Many Australians may be unfamiliar with the sport, but it is gaining ground across the country.

Irina says enthusiasts from New South Wales and Victoria travelled to attend the Queensland event on Friday, and a national championship is hoped to take place by the end of August.

The sport has taken off internationally, with Finland’s annual hobby horse championships the most major event on the calendar; in 2023, about 1800 people from more than 20 countries took part.

Just a small selection of Adelaide’s hobby horses. Photo: Liz Sbeghen

Adelaide hopes to attend the Finnish event one day to learn from riders at the top of their craft, and Amelina is among those planning to set up a GoFundMe to send an Australian team of hobby horse riders to compete in Finland next year.

The goals may surprise some critics. Amelina is aware taking part in hobby horsing opens up riders to “ridicule”, leading many to keep their passion private.

But she says the concept is not too different to rhythmic gymnastics, a widely respected sport for children and adults alike.

“[Hobby horse riders are] not harming anybody. They’re truly doing it for themselves and to find friendships.”