She is a rising talent in a new sport with more than 10,000 athletes and followers in Finland: equestrian jumping and dressage on hobbyhorse-back. While the British pop song “Wings” played off a portable speaker, Ms. Filppa squared her shoulders while leading Jadwa through passage, a serene but powerful walk. When the song came to an end, horse and rider bowed in front of the judges and Ms. Filppa patted Jadwa’s neck. Hobbyhorse riders, including an estimated 5,000 in Sweden, dismiss such comments as elite snobbery. “If your hobbies are ice hockey, nobody asks you when you’re going to stop,” said Ms. Filppa.

Source: Wall Street Journal March 28, 2017 15:10 UTC