How to Make a Stick Horse

Last Updated: September 16, 2021

Making a stick horse, or a hobbyhorse, can be a fun project that pays dividends in creative play and exercise for your child. You can make a stick horse for your child, other children or the young-at-heart. Making a stick horse may be a good rainy-day activity. You may have several items on hand to make a hobbyhorse.

Steps

1
Select and gather decorative materials for the riding toy. You can use ribbons, yarn, googly eyes, large buttons and other materials to add creative touches to your hobbyhorse.
2
Purchase a dowel that is approximately 3/4 inch (1.9 cm) in diameter and 3 feet (1 m) in length. You will use this dowel for the body of the stick horse.

Advertisement
3
Cut a groove in the dowel 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) above the spot where the hands will grasp the horse's body. This groove will help you to attach the head of the hobbyhorse to the dowel.
4
Cut out ears from a stiff, heavy fabric.
5
Sew the ears onto the heel of the sock, which will be the top of the head.
6
Use a permanent fabric marker to draw eyes and nostrils onto the bottom of the sock.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Make a Head With Fabric

1
Make a pattern for the head.
- You can create a pattern for the head of the riding toy by drawing the shape of the head freehand on cardboard or poster board. Optionally, enlarge, photocopy and print an illustration you want to use for a pattern.
- Include a long neck on the stick horse pattern.
2
Cut out the pattern along the outlines.
3
Fold the fabric in half.
4
Place your pattern on the fabric and cut around it. You will now have 2 identical pieces.
5
Sew the 2 pieces together to make a head for the stick horse. Leave the bottom of the neck open to insert the dowel.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Finish the Stick Horse

1
Stuff your hobbyhorse's head about half full with cotton batting. You can cut up old socks or fabric if you don't have batting.
2
Decorate the face to make eyes, nostrils and a mouth.
3
Glue or sew on curtain fringe or yarn to make the stick horse's mane.
4
Fit the dowel into the hobbyhorse's head all the way to the top of the head (or the heel of the sock).
5
Finish stuffing the head while holding the dowel inside.
6
Tie the head tightly to the dowel using yarn, string or hair elastics over the fabric. The fastener should sit in the groove you cut into the dowel.
7
Add finishing touches to your riding toy, such as reins made of ribbon, if desired.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I make the dowel stiff and secure?

Community Answer

Dowels are wooden and should already be stiff, but if you mean attach it securely, use glue and sew the head around the dowel.
Question

Where do I find the wood for this?

Community Answer

Walmart or any craft stores have wooden dowels. You can find them near the scrapbook/craft sections at Walmart and near the fabric and yarn and craft stores such as Hobby Lobby.
Question

How much batting/polyfill would be needed for 10 horses?

Community Answer

It depends on the size of the horse head. Make one and then multiply the amount you used by ten.

Warnings

Be sure that all stick horse materials are child-safe, non-toxic and age-appropriate.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 8 Not Helpful 2
Supervise children working with scissors, needles or glue.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 8 Not Helpful 3
Check the wooden dowel after cutting it to remove any rough or sharp spots. Sand it smooth, if necessary.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 7 Not Helpful 3