Mackenzie
Hey! My name is Mackenzie, you may know me from my instagram, kht.winnerponies! I am a hobbyhorse enthusiast and a freshman in high school!
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I discovered this amazing community while I was watching YouTube around 4 years ago. As a horse lover and equestrian, I was fascinated by the creativity and athleticism of this sport, and I was eager to try it.
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I eventually started making hobbyhorses in November 2023. After a while, WP Hobbyhorses was born! I progressed a ton in the craft and now I take commissions and finally made some for myself! I have many hobbyhorses and train regularly. Each and every one of my ponies are super special to me and I love sharing the joy of hobbyhorsing with others!
I am so excited that I am an organizer of the USHHC! The hobbyhorse community has already grown so much here in the US, and I cant wait to make it grow even more! See you in August!!
Mica
My obsession with hobby horses began when I saw a hobby horse in-person back in 2019. The artistry and realism blew me away, I had never seen anything like it! I spent hours watching as people soared over meter-high fences and danced to music on a hobby horse on YouTube.
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I started to make hobby horses and opened my Etsy shop in August of 2020. It brings me so much happiness to bring joy to people all around the country through my hobby horses! I have now been hobby horsing for about four years and have been dreaming of having a hobby horse championship in the USA from the beginning!
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I am so excited to be able to bring my love of this sport to people around the country through the United States Hobby Horse Championships; I am also really looking forward to being able to meet all those who are already into the sport! Community is a huge component of the hobby horse sport–let’s create that community here in the USA!
Mirabelle
Hello! I'm Mirabelle Soleil Whitman, a USA based hobby horser who loves spreading this amazing sport, especially in the form of the United States Hobby Horse Championships! I am 14 years old, and I am a passionate entrepreneur and hobby horser.
I am so grateful to be able to host this Championships with my two best hobby horsing friends and my sister, Liliana. When I first started hobby horsing around 4 years ago, I never would've thought I'd be here now. I am so honored to be a part of this, and I am amazed at how far my friends and I have come as a team!
A few fun things about me:
I LOVE crafting hobby horses, I am the 2024 USHHC Dressage United States champion, and I am hoping to continue grow my YouTube channel and share lots of hobby horse advice, behind the scenes, and special content with all of you!
I hope to see you in person at the United States Hobby Horse Championships this year!!
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​Peace, Love, Horses,
Mirabelle Soleil Whitman <3
Liliana
Hello! My name is Liliana, and I am 11 years old. I first got introduced to hobby-horsing when my best friends made a sock stick horse for me (and my sister) as a Christmas present. After that, my sister Mirabelle found out about hobby-horsing! Then she bought a hobby horse pattern, and with my mom, made a hobby horse for her and for me! I named my hobby horse Bob after a horse in a TV show. I now have multiple hobbyhorses!
I feel so honored to be helping host the US Hobby Horse Championships and to make this event come to life! Thank you Mica, Mackenzie, and Mirabelle!! It is a big thing for me to be a part of this!
I love hobby horses, and look up to the other USHHC organizers so much. My hobby horses all are so fun to ride! I go to my hobby horses when I am sad, mad, excited, or if I simply want to kiss them goodnight! The last thing I want to say is always have faith in your hobby horse, and confidence in yourself! <3
Why Hobby Horsing?
Mirabelle shares why Hobby Horsing is here to stay . . .
I love so much about hobby horsing, but here are some of my favorite things about it!
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It is such a supportive community– hobby horsers are so supportive of each other, and it is amazing to be a part of this group of people who are helping the sport grow!
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There is really a place in hobby horsing for everyone– adults will often sew hobby horses, and kids, teens and adults compete in this amazing sport!
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It is the only sport I’ve seen where it isn’t all about training for or competing in competitions– sure, that’s part of it (and if you haven’t tried it yet, it’s a fabulous workout!), but you can just as well ride your hh on a trail ride or to the mailbox as compete in shows with it! I really love that about hhing, it’s a sport and a hobby all at once together!
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I also love how creative and imaginative hhing is– from creating unique horses to the fact that every one of my hh has a different personality!
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I really enjoy how hobby horsing can give a “horse” to someone who can’t own a real one at that time, so they can still have an equine to ride and love on (even in the city or places where it’s more challenging to own a real horse)!
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My hobby horses also help me with my emotions! (This might sound weird, but you’ll see!=) Whether I am angry, sad, or something else, I can go to them and they will always understand. I can cry in their mane, gallop off the anger, or just hug them, but it is always a place where I can have someone who will always understand me, and can help me like a real animal!
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Maybe most importantly, hobby horsing teaches you not to care what others think of you, but to always follow your dreams and never give up what you love!