Hobbyhorse Revolution

If you try to imagine the real-life version of Quidditch, but with hobbyhorses instead of brooms – then you might get an idea of what Finnish teen girls Aisku, Elsa and Alisa spend most of their free time doing. According to this documentary, the old hobbyhorse has been the subject of somewhat of a revival in recent years. There now exist a number of specialty competitions and cups, training camps and so on for these hobbyhorse enthusiasts.

Serving a balanced mix of intimate interviews on one hand and recordings from trainings, competitions and convention on the other, director Vilhunen manages to provide a truly fascinating glimpse into the largely unknown world of the hobbyhorse. As we get to know the girls – because yes, just like with real horses, the toy version also attracts mostly young girls – we also learn more about why they invest so much of their time and emotions into such an unusual hobby. Several of them are struggling with their mental health, challenging social lives and family situations, and other things that will resonate with teens across the world. So what is it that draw just these girls to just this hobby? Does the answer have anything to do with the fantasy aspect of it, as they ride their «horses» through obstacle courses and dressage courts? Or maybe it lies somewhere in the nostalgia of extending the use of a comforting childhood toy into the difficult teenage years. Perhaps it is simply a classic case of «if you need to ask, you’ll never know». Either way, Vilhunen has received praise for her using her exploration of the hobbyhorse revolution as a method for examining the all-consuming enthusiasm and fascination that many youngsters experience for one specific thing. Hobbyhorse Revolution has even been called a manifesto to standing up to bullies and a sceptical outside world.