We bring you an interview with Nikola, known as @benila.4u, who became a JUHI brand ambassador in August last year. With her charm and friendly presence, Nikola has already gained over 17,000 followers on Instagram. She regularly shares vlogs not only from her everyday life, which she spends training, working with, and caring for horses. She is the proud owner of a blue-eyed mare named Bayli, and her family also owns another horse, a western horse named Jack, who often appears in her posts. In addition, Nikola plays the drums and takes part in other sports activities.
When did you start hobby horsing, and what got you into it?
I’ve been doing hobby horsing since I was 13. What mainly drew me to it was that I didn’t really see it as a sport at first, so I wanted to give it a try. After a while, it just clicked with me and I started to really enjoy it 🙈
What were your beginnings like? Do you remember your very first hobby horse?
My beginnings were quite tough, probably like for everyone. I fell a lot, I couldn’t keep up even on simple courses, and it was really hard to jump higher than 70 cm 🙈 And yes, I do remember my very first horse – it was a beige one named Popcorn 💗
Do you ever face criticism for doing hobby horsing? What would you recommend to other kids who deal with misunderstanding, and how would you support them?
I actually do hobby horsing to change people’s opinions 💗 I hear criticism quite often, but it usually comes from people thinking the horse is real, or that we can’t afford a real one… That’s why I decided to support this sport even though I have two real horses. We can’t change everyone’s opinion, but we can try – the most important thing is not to be afraid 🩵
At the beginning of August last year, you became a JUHI ambassador. What is it like for you?
It’s an amazing opportunity. I had wanted to try JUHI hobby horses before, but I didn’t expect to fall in love with them this much 🤭💗
What does it actually mean to you to be a brand ambassador?
It means a lot to me – in every way. I get to create content and support a brand that is truly amazing in all aspects. For example, the products are made by people with disabilities 💗 I can also organize more giveaways, which is great not only for me but for my followers as well 🩵 I have so many opportunities that it would take months to list them all! 😂 This is something I’ve always dreamed of, and becoming an ambassador made that dream come true. I’m incredibly grateful for it 🫶
You already have several JUHI hobby horses. Black Red with Swarovski crystals was the first, followed by Cora and Vanilla Berry. Each of them is a completely different size (Adult Horse, Foal, and Sport Pony). What do you think of them, how do you compare them, and how would you evaluate them?
I assigned each of them a different discipline, but first I tried them all in various disciplines to see which suited me best 🤭 It’s really great that the difference between the horse and foal sizes isn’t as big as with other brands – it feels like a smooth progression from the largest to the smallest, so everyone can find their perfect fit! 🥹
Which hobby horse from this trio would you recommend for beginners, dressage riders, or on the other hand for show jumping and puissance? And which one would you take to top-level competitions?
For dressage, I would recommend either the foal or the adult horse to everyone – it really depends on your age, so the horse isn’t too big for you when you’re starting out 🫶 For show jumping up to 90 cm, I would choose the foal, as it helps you better feel and control the horse. For higher jumps and puissance, I’d go for the sport pony 💗 As for top-level competitions, I’d honestly take all of them just to be safe! It depends on the discipline, of course, but you never know which horse you’ll work best with under pressure, so it’s better to have them all with you 🙈
In December last year, you took part in the Czech Hobby Horsing Championship (ČeHoF) in Brno. What was the overall atmosphere like?
It was definitely better organized than other national championships I’ve attended. People were very kind, and overall there wasn’t as much stress as at other events 🫶
How did you prepare for these important competitions?
Honestly, not that much 🙈 I mainly exercised, stretched, and trained whenever I had the chance 🩵
Before the Czech Championship (ČeHoF), you also took part in a qualification round. Which one was it, and how did you enjoy those competitions?
Unfortunately, I don’t remember exactly which qualification it was. I usually attend quite a lot of competitions. But I really enjoyed them – the atmosphere is great and the people are amazing 🩵 Even if you arrive alone and don’t know anyone, you quickly find a great group! 💗
Which disciplines did you compete in at the Czech Championship (ČeHoF), and which hobby horses did you use?
I mainly competed in western and show jumping style, and I rode with Vanilla Berry and Cora 🩵
At the Czech Championship, you even managed to take first place! How satisfied are you with your results overall?
I’m very happy overall! 🥹 I’m really proud because I not only enjoyed it, but I also managed to win something 🩵
What are your goals in hobby horsing for 2026?
Definitely to change more people’s opinions about hobby horsing and to take part in more competitions 🤭
Would you like to share anything with the readers at the end of this interview?
I’d definitely like to say: go after your dreams and don’t pay attention to people who laugh at you or don’t support you. Those people usually don’t even know why they do it – they just want to take away something they themselves don’t have the courage to achieve 🩵