Germany's first stick horse championship kicks off in Frankfurt

On September 14, 2024, Frankfurt, Germany welcomes the first stick horse championship. Hundreds of young riders will compete on stick horses in events such as timed jumping, fancy jumping and dressage. About 300 riders are expected to participate, most of them young people, and about 20 ***s have also signed up. On Saturday and Sunday, they will gallop in the stadium, and 1,500 spectators will watch on site.

This competition is part of the international wave of stick horse events. The United States and Australia also held their first championships this year. It originated from a grassroots movement in Finland. More than 20 years ago, riders rode stick horses and strolled in Nordic forests. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it quickly became popular through social media and was also praised for highlighting female empowerment.

When the German Stick Horse Association was established a year ago, it had only 13 members. Now there are more than 5,000 active athletes and more than 200 clubs across the country. Kai Schumann, the president of the association, said that holding the championship is to set an example, make this sport more popular and provide goals for enthusiasts.

Although the organizers hope to promote empowerment and acceptance, they have also been criticized. Many riders have been bullied and received misogynistic comments online, and some people question whether this is a sport. Julia Mikkonen, the head of the Finnish Stick Horse Association, countered that stick horse riders need athletic ability, strong core muscles and endurance. This weekend's participants in Germany will be judged based on factors such as accuracy, timing and elegance. Children and young riders brought stick horse riding to Germany through social media and it quickly spread.