Have Hobbies Become A Thing Of The Past?

In an era of side hustles and the never-ending pursuit of success, doing something pointless just for the joy of it is often seen as a waste of time. But having a hobby can make you happier, healthier, better at time management and more successful at your job.

- Liesl Robertson

I have been riding since the age of 10. Now, before you start picturing rows of rosettes and shiny trophies, I want to be clear: I don’t ride competitively. And despite the amount of time I have put into it over the years, I am still not very good at it. Recently, I heard someone define horse riding as ‘the art of keeping the horse between yourself and the ground’ – and in my experience, that description is all too apt.

I do it because it’s fun. I love horses, despite wholeheartedly agreeing with Sherlock Holmes that they are ‘dangerous at both ends, and crafty in the middle’. Once a week I spend an hour out in the open air, trying to persuade a Clydesdale/ thoroughbred cross named Boston to listen to me. Clydesdales are known for being steady and unflappable, thoroughbreds for being flighty and a bit temperamental. True to form, Boston flips between the two; you are never quite sure what you are in for on any given day. Some days we soar over jumps, and other days a plastic bag blows across our path and he bolts and heads for the hills.

I am never going to be a championship showjumper, or even own my own horse. But the hour a week that I spend riding, just for the fun of it, is something I really look forward to.

I’ve also got to know an amazing group of people I probably wouldn’t have met or befriended otherwise. Our group is not the horsey set who grew up on horseback and own their own; most picked it up as adults, everyone has a day job, and we all do it just for the sheer love of it.

The side hustle trap