HOBBY HORSING
No. Hobby horsing is not on the Olympic programme, including the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. It is still a real sport, with rules, judges, national associations and championships.
A sport joins the Olympic programme through an international federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee. Hobby horsing has no such federation: it is not a member of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF). The Los Angeles programme is already set: in October 2023 the IOC added five sports — baseball and softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash.
Hobby horsing comes from Finland, which hosts the biggest championship. Germany has had a national association, the DtHHV, since September 2023; according to the German Sport University Cologne, the country has more than 9,500 active riders and over 350 clubs, and official dressage and show-jumping rules were published in July 2024. In Russia, championships and cups are run by the Russian Hobby Horsing Association and regional clubs.
Instead of the Olympics there are national championships and open competitions in Finland, the Czech Republic, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Russia and other countries. Many events are open to children, teenagers and adults, with classes for beginners.
No. The Los Angeles programme has been approved and does not include hobby horsing.
There is no IOC-recognised international federation for hobby horsing. Competitions are run by national associations and clubs.
Yes. It has rules, judges, age classes and championships, and it trains endurance, coordination and jumping power.
Sources: IOC, 16.10.2023: Session approves LA28’s proposal for five additional sports (olympics.com); Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) — Mitgliederliste / member list (Wikipedia, 2025); Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln, Zeitlupe 2/2025: Hobby Horsing (dshs-koeln.de)