Hobby horse (toy)

In 1818, a London coach-maker named Denis Johnson began producing an improved version, which was popularly known as the "hobby-horse".

OED connects it to "the by-name Hobin, Hobby", a variant of Robin" (compare the abbreviation Hob for Robert).

Samuel Johnson, Dictionary of the English Language, 1755, glosses "A strong, active horse, of a middle size, said to have been originally from Ireland; an ambling nag."

In medieval times their duties were to reconnoiter, to carry intelligence, to harass stragglers, to act as spies, to intercept convoys, and to pursue fugitives.

[citation needed] Hobblers were another description of cavalry more lightly armed, and taken from the class of men rated at 15 pounds and upwards.Border horses, called hobblers or hobbies, were small and active and trained to cross the most difficult and boggy country "and to get over where our footmen could scarce dare to follow."

The hobby horse variant of polo started in 1998 as a fun sport in south western Germany and led in 2002 to the foundation of the First Kurfürstlich-Kurpfälzisch Polo-Club in Mannheim.

[5] In the 21st century Hobby horsing became a popular sport among young women in Finland and spread to other countries.