The hobby horse or stick horse is a toy made from a long stick, approximately three feet in length, that has a three dimensional head of a horse mounted on it's upper end. This horse head is approximately 1/4th the size of an actual horse's head. The head may be stuffed fake fur with a mane, ears, and reins for holding onto. Although, in years past, the horse head was more commonly made from papier-mâché.
The stick part of the horse is either painted or covered with fabric. The modern versions of the hobby horse do not usually include wheels at the opposite end of the stick.
Modern hobby horses often include a battery operated part sewn into the ear-piece of the stuffed head that when pulled, will imitate the sound of a whinnying horse.
Hobby horse toys are considered "open-ended" toys because the child playing with them must be using his or her imagination to be arriving at, coming from or developing some more elaborate drama that includes a bit of "horse play" in order to engage with the toy.
You can store hobby horses upright in an umbrella stand. I keep a small corral for these stuffed friends in the basement playroom at our house. If you do the same, make sure there are enough for a whole herd of children to play with!
These hobby horses are sold at HearthSong. Their versions
are made from corduroy and have mop yarn manes.
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