Allandale Mansion Hobby Horse Derby

Kingsport Parks and Recreation is bringing back last year’s breakout springtime event – the Hobby Horse Derby. It’s time for an exciting afternoon of jumping, racing and just plain “horsing around” on the front lawn of Allandale Mansion.

Hobby Horsing is a unique sport that involves participants riding stick horses for events like barrel racing and jumping courses. Kingsport’s 2nd annual hobby horse derby promises to be a fun-filled, family-friendly event celebrating the art of hobby horsing.

Kingsport’s Hobby Horse Derby will take place at Allandale Mansion on April 26 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  The three-hour event will include Barrel Racing, a Jump Course and a Speed Race and is broken down by age categories: 3 to 6, 7 to 11, 12 to 15 and 16 and older.

Each event costs $7 per person to participate and participants must bring their own hobby horse to the event. Winners will be selected based on course time and fewest faults.

“Last year’s hobby horse derby was extremely popular and well-received by the community, so we’re excited about bringing it back for a second year,” said Program Leader Jennifer Henry. “Allandale Mansion used to be a horse and cattle farm, so what better venue to hold our second annual derby.”

To register, visit https://bit.ly/422oUUG. You can also click on the CivicRec link in the Connect Kingsport app or go to www.kingsporttn.gov and click on the “CivicRec” link, then search for “hobby horse” in the search bar.

For information about other programs, activities and classes offered by Kingsport Parks and Recreation, please visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org.

Kingsport Parks and Recreation is improving quality of life by offering essential services and recreation opportunities for the community of the City of Kingsport. They provide facilities, programs and recreational experiences that are available to residents and visitors. Kingsport Parks and Recreation makes sure community members have places to play, get fit and stay healthy, as well as opportunities to foster new relationships and forge a connection with nature. For more information, please visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org.

Founded in 1917, the City of Kingsport (pop. 55,400) is located on the Tennessee-Virginia border at the crossroads of I-81 and I-26 near the geographic center of the eastern United States. The city is widely known as a planned community, designed by renowned city planner John Nolen and wrapping around the foot of Bays Mountain – a 3,750-acre park, nature preserve, planetarium and observatory. Kingsport is recognized as an International Safe Community by the National Safety Council, a Healthier Tennessee community, and won the 2009 Harvard Innovations in American Government Award for its higher education initiatives. While many city names are duplicated throughout the U.S., there’s only one Kingsport – a fact that invokes community pride, known locally as the “Kingsport Spirit.” For more information, please visit www.kingsporttn.gov.