Hobby Horsing: Could this be another reason Finland ranks as the world’s happiest country?

This presentation provides an overview of the rapidly growing hobby-horsing movement, which originated in Finland in the early 2000s. This unique activity sharpens diverse skills, including creativity, physical fitness, personal growth, commitment to community, connections to nature, fairness, and a sense of whimsy. Finally, the presentation will examine ways the benefits of hobby-horsing are similar to qualities used to explain why Finland has been consistently rated as the happiest country in the world.

Presenter Bio: Colette Marie McLaughlin serves as the Media and Grant Coordinator for the Hanka Homestead Finnish Museum and is the spouse of Edwin W. Räisänen, its Vice President. She holds a PhD from the University of California, Irvine’s School of Social Ecology, and an architectural degree from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc). Her professional background includes architectural design and environmental planning, and she has also taught in UCLA’s Landscape Architecture Program. Additionally, her research on ethnic communities and the sense of place they provide has been published in various academic journals.