Why Is It Called a Hobby Horse

From the term “hobby horse” came the expression “to ride one’s hobby-horse”, meaning “to follow a favourite pastime”, and in turn, the modern sense of the term hobby. The term is also connected to the draisine, a forerunner of the bicycle, invented by Baron Karl von Drais.

What was the hobby horse?

A hobby horse (or hobby-horse) is a child’s toy horse. Children played at riding a wooden hobby horse made of a straight stick with a small horse’s head (of wood or stuffed fabric), and perhaps reins, attached to one end. The bottom end of the stick sometimes had a small wheel or wheels attached.

Is hobby horse a real thing?

Though the horses are not real, competitors say their sport demands dancerly rhythm, gymnastic control and the athletic skill to complete jumps over obstacles that can be chest-high for many participants—mostly girls between ages 10 and 18, although boys are allowed to participate—all while keeping control of their …