#FinnishCrazyGames: Join the hobby horse revolution

It's a crazy Finnish sport that's caught the world's attention over the past few years. And who can blame them? The Finnish Hobbyhorse Championships have been organised since 2012; children and teenagers gather and romp through fields on their hobbyhorses for leisure and there are 10,000 active competitors in Finland alone.

The movement has been documented in a new film from Oscar-nominated director Selma Vilhunen titled Hobbyhorse Revolution. It follows the lives of the girls whose lives have been transformed by the sport. Their confidence has skyrocketed; they've formed new friendships and have an inspiring dedication to the sport.

You might still have no idea what we're talking about. That's okay. We've got your back.

As a kid, you might have grabbed a broomstick from the cupboard and loped around the kitchen whinnying and generally carrying on, much to the dismay of your parents. Nowadays, kids and teenagers have taken this to the next level, having their own hobbyhorses, training seriously and also using it as an opportunity to socialise.

If this activity is drawing kids outdoors to be happy and active, and empowering girls to take charge, perhaps there's something rather special about it. We certainly think so. That's why we've built a brand new racetrack for Hobbyhorse Racing behind Embassy of Finland – the perfect opportunity for everyone (yes, adults included) to join in the fun!

Hobby Horse Racing Rules

1.  The contestants run the whole trace once. The track must be completed with given instructions.
2. Only the hobby horses provided by the Embassy of Finland is accepted.
3. Competitors are not allowed to wear high heels or any other shoes that may cause injury
4. Riders of any age can compete
5. Only two-legged horses will be accepted in the competition
6. The race must be completed in horse-like steps: galloping or trotting – running is not allowed (see video).
7. The competitor must wear the helmet during the race
8. Each contestant takes care of his/her safety and if deemed necessary, insurance
9. The contests have to pay attention to the instructions given by the organisers of the competition
10. The winners are those who complete the course in the shortest time.

Finnish Crazy Games is being hosted at the Embassy of Finland to Australia on October 13th 2018 from 10am with the assistance of our major partners KONE, Finnair and Wärtsilä. The event is a fundraiser for Canteen in support of their mission to help youngsters whose lives are impacted by cancer. If you can, please donate here. Head on over to our website www.finnishcrazygames.com to learn more about the games and other activities taking place this year.