She is 16 years old, juggling weekly athletic training at the gym, running, sewing her own bridles, and crocheting ear nets, all while being among the top Czech hobby horsing dressage riders. Eliška, known in the community as kht ghost, has over 60 rosettes, more than 20 trophies, experience from competing at the international championship in Finland, and a 7th place at the European Championship in Prague. Together with her faithful dressage partner, Ghostík, she proves that hobby horsing is a full-fledged sport requiring hard physical and mental preparation. What does her training plan look like, how does she face prejudice from others in public, and what is it like to stand in the competition arena hundreds of kilometers from home? Read an inspiring interview about determination, love for the sport, and dreams that might even reach the Olympic rings.
Photo source: kht ghost
How long have you been involved in hobby horsing, and what drew you to this sport?
I've been involved in hobby horsing since about 2018 when I got my first hobbyhorse for Christmas; it was one of those typical hobbyhorses from a toy store. I was inspired by one of the YouTube videos from Finnish championships.
What do you like most about hobby horsing?
I probably can't pick just one thing; I like it all, but most of all, my friends and the fact that I'm active in sports.
You are an active athlete, you've competed in Finland, represented the Czech Republic at the European Championship, and regularly participate in domestic competitions. You also have many other interests. How do you manage to combine everything?
Honestly, I have no idea. When I come home from school, I go to training, then for a walk with my dog, and then it depends on whether we have any tests or not. If we do, I study and maybe crochet or sew at the same time. If we don't have tests, I usually go for a longer training session or edit videos. During the holidays, I naturally have a bit more free time, so I dedicate myself to more activities.
What was it like to compete in Finland? What was the biggest experience you took away from that championship, and did you achieve all your goals?
Finland was great, but it's different there than here. They have more adult women than younger children, so it often happens that girls around 12-13 years old compete in events with 25-year-olds. For me, in some respects, it's great; it pushes boundaries and proves that age doesn't matter, but on the other hand, it can demotivate those children. I took away many experiences from Finland, both years, mainly thanks to the girls who were with me there. But I consider the very first start so far from home arenas as the biggest experience; I was stressed, but the feeling when you realize you're standing in THAT arena is indescribable. I haven't yet achieved my biggest goal in Finland, but this year I was really close, maybe I'll succeed next year.
Photo source: kht ghost
How would you compare the atmosphere at the championship in Finland with that at the European Championship in Prague?
Personally, I would say that I felt much more stressed at the European Championship, but it was great how everyone supported each other. In Finland, it's not practiced as much as here; they don't applaud during dressage or shout during show jumping, and overall, Finland has a calmer atmosphere. I like how the girls here support each other.
What place did you manage to secure at the European Championship?
I was 7th at the European Championship; if I hadn't made unnecessary mistakes, I could have fought for a much better placement.
If you had to pick just one competition from your entire competitive career, which one would it be? Which one would you say was simply the BEST?
I would say it was the competition in Černošice this January. Firstly, I set a personal best in terms of dressage percentages, but there were also so many great people there, and I probably won't forget the full "stands" of people applauding me during and after my dressage.
How many rosettes, trophies, and other awards have you collected in your career so far?
I've never really counted, but I'd estimate over 20 trophies and certainly over 60 rosettes.
Source: kht ghost, author of the left photo: barca by hobby horses
Would you share with the readers of this interview how you prepare for competitions? How many times a week do you train, and what does your training involve?
So, I have dressage training 3 times a week, then I go to the gym twice a week, and usually on the same day, I also jump rope for at least 20 minutes. I also run, but that depends on how much time I have. My classic dressage training is divided into specific parts: a warm-up, which I adjust according to the intensity of the training, then classic technique training, followed by something for endurance, which ranges from holding a certain exercise for as long as possible to entire routines. Then, of course, some final stretching to calm down. As for gym workouts, I do plyometrics for rebound, exercises for explosiveness and reactions. I certainly don't lift more than 40% of what I can maximally lift; I mostly do athletic-focused training rather than maximum weights. And at the end of the gym workout, I go on the treadmill for a little while to run off my legs.
It's common for many riders to have ten to twelve horses in their stable. However, in photos from camps and competitions, you shine with one main hobby horse. Would you introduce us to this special horse?
He's my main hobby horse mainly because he's a dressage type. I've been riding him almost since I started dressage. I've had him for two and a half years. He's quite heavy, according to what the children who try him say. My nickname, Ghostík, also came from him.
You sew accessories for your hobby horse yourself – what all have you sewn for them so far?
I've sewn bridles, breastplates, martingales, blankets, reins, and even hobby horses themselves, and I crochet ear nets.
Do you have any truly crazy hobby horsing experience you'd like to share with us?
I have many of them, both positive and negative. One of the positive ones is when I met two girls at the main train station in Hradec Králové; I was walking with my hobbyhorse in my hand, so it was visible, and they recognized me and came up for a photo. Unfortunately, there are more negative ones.
Photo source: kht ghost
Do you plan to train or judge competitions in the future? Would you enjoy leading a new generation of athletes?
Yes, I definitely plan to be either a coach or a judge for future generations, even though I plan a long career myself. Training incredibly excites me, and passing on experience is something that truly fulfills me.
What other goals have you set for yourself in hobby horsing?
Well, definitely to win the European Championship, win in Finland, and maybe one day, when there's a World Championship, that too. Another goal is to get hobby horsing into the Olympics, at least for the next generation.
What message would you send to children and young people who would like to pursue hobby horsing but are afraid of others' reactions?
Don't be afraid. An intelligent person and someone involved in sports will never mock them. And if someone does laugh at them, they should just tell themselves that it's someone with a lower IQ and rise above it.
There's no other way than to let them come to terms with it, and most importantly, they should pursue their dreams.
Photo credit: Barca by hobby horses
Would you share with us how you deal with criticism and what helps you the most?
Personally, I used to have an incredible problem with showing my hobbyhorse in public at all, but I gradually realized that everyone else can completely not care what I do, as long as I'm not harming anyone. Now, honestly, I don't care at all where someone yells at me; I usually even talk back (politely, of course). Most often, it happens to me on public transport or at train stations.
Would you like to add anything else at the end of our interview?
Do what you love and pursue your dreams!
Photo credit: Barca by hobby horses